Portland launches room-rental pilot to ease housing crunch
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Portland is launching a pilot program aimed at persuading homeowners to rent out their spare rooms for cash.
Why it matters: The city is grappling with a severe shortage of affordable housing and rising rents, prompting leaders to try tapping underused space in existing homes.
State of play: The one-year program, beginning this month and run by the Portland Housing Bureau, offers a $1,000 one-time grant to homeowners who rent a room to low-income tenants through one of two approved home-share providers.
- To qualify, the room must be in the owner's primary residence, rented to the same tenant for at least one month and not leased to a relative.
- Homeowners can receive another $500 for each additional room they rent.
- Mayor Keith Wilson pushed for the pilot program during budget negotiations last year, securing $500,000 to get it up and running as city leaders worked to fill a sizable budget gap, per the Oregonian.
Homeowners must use either PadSplit or the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon as their home-share provider.
Yes, but: Homeowners cannot require a security deposit and cannot charge more than $200 a week or $800 a month, including utilities and fees.
- A full list of the stipulations and requirements is available here.
Between the lines: The idea isn't new. Several private initiatives have tested home sharing in Portland in recent years.
- Most recently, the nonprofit Home Share Oregon suspended operations in December amid financial struggles.
What they're saying: "As we work together to solve our housing crisis, the City of Portland is exploring creative solutions to activate existing housing that may be underutilized," Wilson said in a statement.
- "For many Portlanders, home sharing is a win-win solution, helping homeowners to supplement their incomes while providing low-income tenants with affordable housing options," Wilson said.
What's next: The city plans to offer classes on local rental codes and how to navigate interpersonal issues with roommates starting next month.