Home Forward administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Multnomah County, and Portland landlords cannot refuse voucher holders. Inspection, lease addendum, and reasonable-rent review by Home Forward apply before tenancy begins.
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Portland are administered by Home Forward, the housing authority for Multnomah County. Under PCC 30.01.086 and ORS 659A.421, landlords must consider voucher holders on equal terms. Once selected, the unit undergoes a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection, the rent must pass Home Forward's reasonable-rent test, and a federally required HAP contract addendum is signed. Landlords receive monthly subsidy payments directly from Home Forward; the tenant pays only the calculated tenant portion. Annual recertification and HQS reinspection follow.
Refusing voucher applicants or stalling the inspection process violates Portland and Oregon source-of-income discrimination law, exposing landlords to BOLI penalties, tenant damages, and Home Forward delisting.
See how Portland's section 8 voucher acceptance rules stack up against other locations.
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