Southern Oregon residents facing housing insecurity may soon feel the effects of a major shift in state policy, as Oregon House Bill 5011 dramatically reduces funding for eviction prevention services. Passed as part of the state’s biennial budget for housing and homelessness, the bill cuts the emergency eviction prevention fund by approximately 74 percent—from around $130 million in the previous budget cycle to roughly $44.6 million.
This significant reduction comes at a time when eviction filings are rising across the state, including in Jackson and Josephine counties. With rents continuing to climb and wages struggling to keep pace, the drop in funding for services like rental assistance, legal defense, and housing stability programs could leave many Southern Oregon residents without vital support. For those already living paycheck to paycheck, even a short-term financial disruption could lead to housing loss.
In previous years, state-funded eviction prevention programs provided emergency rental payments, utility assistance, and legal aid to tens of thousands of Oregon households. These programs often acted as a final safety net to keep individuals and families housed while they navigated unexpected crises, such as job loss, medical emergencies, or rising costs of living. With the new budget, only a small fraction of those in need will be able to access such help. Initial projections suggest that under the current funding level, statewide programs may serve fewer than 5,000 households over the next two years—compared to more than 27,000 in the last cycle.
For Southern Oregon, which already faces unique economic pressures, the impact could be more severe. Many communities in the region are still recovering from pandemic-related economic challenges, wildfires, and chronic housing shortages. Legal aid organizations and nonprofit housing advocates in Medford, Grants Pass, and surrounding areas have already warned that they are seeing increased demand for help, while resources are being stretched thinner by the month.
The reduction in eviction prevention funds is part of a broader reallocation of the state’s housing budget. While funding for emergency shelters and transitional housing saw an increase—growing to over $200 million statewide—advocates argue that addressing homelessness after it occurs is often more expensive and less effective than preventing it altogether. By diverting funds away from preventive programs, they fear the state may inadvertently contribute to a rise in homelessness, overwhelming already-limited local shelter systems.
In communities like Grants Pass, where affordable housing is scarce and public resources are limited, the consequences could include longer waitlists for emergency shelters, increased reliance on local nonprofits, and more families facing the difficult reality of sleeping in their cars or on the streets.
As Southern Oregon enters the peak summer moving season—a time when rents often rise and evictions typically increase—the loss of prevention funding may hit hardest in rural and low-income areas, where fewer support systems are available. Residents and service providers alike are bracing for a growing wave of need, as the policy change shifts the burden from state-level programs to already-strained local networks.