STOP 2023 HUD rent increases!

Hello, My name is Deb, and I’m raising money for a small group of Portland Gray Panthers. We are planning a trip to Washington, D.C. We aim to present a petition to President Joe Biden asking for a moratorium on rent increases taking effect in January 2023. We are asking you to do these things: (1) Sign the petition at Change.org, (2) Donate as you are able so we can deliver the petition to the President, and (3) Call Congress.

Each year Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets rent increases supposedly based on the Fair Market Rates of an area. Since 2017, those increases have been profoundly higher than in past years, forcing many tenants out of their homes. These rent increases affect everyone who is a tenant – only renters like the elderly, disabled, veterans and others living on small fixed incomes are especially at-risk of becoming homeless. In the video below, Deb pleads to the Portland City Council. They seem helpless to help.

On October 26, 2022, I testified to the Portland City Council to make this request of the mayor. The mayor and commissioners were dismissive of my concerns, saying that state and federal agencies override local decisions. In other words, Portland can’t stop the increases, and neither can the state. Only HUD can halt the rent increases. That’s why Portland Gray Panthers are going to Washington. These rent increases are not stable or sustainable. They are inflationary. On October 26, 2022, I testified to the Portland City Council to make this request of the mayor. The mayor and commissioners were dismissive of my concerns, saying that state and federal agencies override local decisions. In other words, Portland can’t stop the increases, and neither can the state. Only HUD can halt the rent increases. That’s why Portland Gray Panthers are going to Washington. These rent increases are not stable or sustainable. They are inflationary. (Apologies for the poor video quality.)

These increases may not seem like much to most people. But they are devastating to some low-income seniors like us, who already spend 80% of our income on rent. This problem is not just a poor people problem. Because of these increases, everyone who is a renter has less money to spend on good food, health and meds, kids, pets, travel, entertainment, shopping, coffee and drinks, and all the happy little things that make life worth living.

Below is a comparison chart of HUD and Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) rate increases from 2017 to 2023 for a 0 bedroom studio apartment. HUD rent increases amount to a $554 since 2017 or ~59%. PHB rent increases amount to a $830 since 2017 or ~64%. Such increases wreak havoc on the lives of poor people. Is it any wonder that thousands of people have become homeless each year since 2017?

Comparison chart of HUD and Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) rate

increases from 2017 to 2023 for a 0 bedroom studio apartment

President Biden, you can STOP the HUD rent increases with the stroke of a pen. He did it during the pandemic, and you can do it now. It won’t cost the government a cent. Calling for a moratorium on rent increases will save taxpayers money. These rent increases are a gift to wealthy landlords. The extra money goes straight from the bank accounts of poor people to those of the rich.

On October 26, 2022, I testified to the Portland City Council to make this request of the mayor. The mayor and commissioners were dismissive of my concerns, saying that state and federal agencies override local decisions. In other words, Portland can’t stop the increases, and neither can the state. Only HUD can halt the rent increases. That’s why Portland Gray Panthers are going to Washington. These rent increases are not stable or sustainable. They are inflationary. On October 26, 2022, I testified to the Portland City Council to make this request of the mayor. The mayor and commissioners were dismissive of my concerns, saying that state and federal agencies override local decisions. In other words, Portland can’t stop the increases, and neither can the state. Only HUD can halt the rent increases. That’s why Portland Gray Panthers are going to Washington. These rent increases are not stable or sustainable. They are inflationary.

Panthers have many suggestions on fairer ways to calculate rent increases if they need to exist at all.

We intend to deliver the petition to the White House and to visit Congress. We will ask strategic members to pass a budget that fully funds HUD. It has been underfunded for years. The money will pay for a week's travel, lodging, and meals. It will also cover expenses that may present a barrier for us to make this trip – things like missed wages, 24-hour child/elder/pet care for some, travel clothes, and other things. We are frugal and will spend the money judicially. If we raise more than our goal amount, the excess will fund other projects benefitting poor and homeless people.

There is a sense of urgency in this mission. Usually, HUD doesn’t post the annual rent increase until late April – to take effect in July. This year the increases were posted in October 2022 to begin January 2023. It’s not something you would notice unless you were keeping a sharp eye out for it. It means that rent increases will start about six months earlier in 2023. That just seems cruel.

Dear petitioner, will you help us keep people housed? Sign the petition at the link below and then donate a dollar or two if you can afford it. Thanks for your support!

Here are more things you can do to help:

Call or email the White House today!

White House Email: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

White House Phone: (202) [phone redacted] 

Tell your Senators and Representatives to fully fund HUD.

Contact Congress

• Sign our petition at Change.

• Donate here to our Go Fund Me account.

• Visit the Portland Gray Panthers website for more ideas on helping houseless people find homes.

You may send a check to the address below:

Thank you for being so supportive.