Where We Stand
Section: Public Health
Policy: Support for Tenants Rights - Rent Forbearance During Hospitalization
Appendix AC

Support for Tenants Rights - Rent Forbearance During Hospitalization

Existing OMA policy is as follows: 

The OMA recognizes that a safe, permanent, and affordable home is needed for individuals to appropriately address medical needs, mental health concerns, or substance addiction. The OMA will work with stakeholders to support state policies, legislation, and investments that promote the development of affordable housing that incorporates supportive health services to help Oregonians who experience housing instability and high medical needs to achieve optimal health outcomes.

While renters have new legal rights that provide protections from evictions for late payments if they are able to pay the overdue rent prior to a court hearing, there are no protections for vulnerable patients from experiencing late payment charges when extenuating circumstances arise such as hospitalization.

For the most vulnerable and socially isolated patients who have no local support network and make rent payments via mechanisms that require in person drop-off (check, cash, or money order), being admitted to the hospital represents a situation where the pursuits of physical health and wellbeing are a barrier to ensuring timely rental payment and avoidance of further financial hardship. Being hospitalized represents an acute physical and/or mental situation that can limit a person’s ability to perform usual Activities of Daily living and Instrumental Activities of Daily living including paying rent.

Health system infrastructure and support systems to help patients experiencing hardship [due to hospitalization] make payments that require physical drop-off of rent payment are variable by institution and often limited or non-existent, thus patients must choose to leave the hospital prematurely or potentially incur late-payment fees and/or negative impacts to credit reporting agencies.

According to Healthy People 2020, housing instability has negative impacts on physical health. Access to housing is important to help obtain optimal health outcomes[1].

Taking into consideration discussions around eviction, the policy committee supported the original resolution regarding housing instability that many Oregonians face.  The committee, however, removed “eviction” from the original resolution following discussions and concerns from both the board and the policy committee that eviction was outside the scope of the OMA.

[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Housing Instability. 2024 Housing Instability - Healthy People 2030 | odphp.health.gov