Salem, OR — Oregon experienced a record number of eviction filings in 2024, with nearly 27,300 cases filed statewide, signaling growing instability among renters amid the state’s ongoing housing crisis. Housing advocates warn that the problem is expanding beyond traditionally vulnerable populations, increasingly affecting middle-class families who had previously not been considered rent-burdened.
Sybil Hebb, director of legislative and policy advocacy at the Oregon Law Center, testified before the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness on Wednesday, highlighting that rising housing costs combined with stagnant wages have created a perfect storm pushing many Oregonians toward eviction. “The presence of a child in a home is the single greatest risk factor for eviction,” Hebb said, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on families with children, as well as Black women.
The average monthly eviction filings in 2024 hovered around 2,300 and have already increased to nearly 2,400 filings per month in early 2025. Hebb attributed this rise directly to the increasing cost burden faced by tenants. According to Oregon Housing and Community Services, the state ranks sixth in the nation for housing cost index, with one in four households spending more than half of their income on rent.
Despite the surge in filings, eviction cases are not always resulting in tenants losing their homes. Legal aid and rental assistance programs have proven critical in preventing homelessness. Hebb noted that tenants who received legal representation maintained their housing in 91% of eviction cases, compared to only 51% when tenants were unrepresented.
Community organizations are calling for continued and increased funding to support these vital services. Kemp Shuey, executive director of Community Action in Washington County, urged lawmakers to back House Bill 5011, which proposes millions in funding for housing stabilization programs. Shuey reported that eviction prevention efforts by his organization have successfully kept 91% of the 2,500 households served over the last two years housed.
Governor Tina Kotek, who declared a homelessness emergency on her first full day in office, has prioritized addressing the housing crisis. In her December budget proposal, she recommended allocating $173.2 million to maintain eviction prevention services aimed at keeping Oregonians housed and reducing homelessness.
As housing costs continue to rise faster than family incomes, advocates emphasize that eviction prevention and legal assistance programs remain essential lifelines for many struggling Oregon families.
