Overview
While we know that there are clear racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in eviction filings, there is still much we do not know about discrimination in the eviction process. One concrete way to shed light on this understudied phenomenon is by talking directly with evicted tenants about their experiences as members of Fair Housing-protected identity groups and other marginalized populations. Drawing on focus groups with 101 Oregon tenants who have experienced an eviction since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this report examines the role that discrimination plays in Oregon evictions. We find that many tenants are specifically targeted for eviction or experience prejudicial treatment during the eviction process because of their identity or background. This includes being treated unfairly based on their race, language, criminal record, gender, sexual orientation, or disabilities. Tenants faced harassment, threats, utility shut-offs, unaddressed habitability issues, and other forms of prejudicial treatment. Additionally, some tenants reported that they either did not challenge their eviction or did not report the discrimination they encountered because they did not expect to be treated fairly by the legal system.
Key Findings
Over one-third of the tenants we talked with reported encountering discrimination or prejudicial treatment at some point over the course of their eviction experience.
Black tenants reported being treated differently than white tenants when it came to late rent payments. One tenant also reported that after their building was sold to a new owner, the new landlord threatened and harassed all of the Black tenants in the building to try to force them out.
Tenants with disabilities were treated differently from other tenants and had their reasonable accommodation requests ignored.
Latine immigrants and farmworkers reported facing language discrimination and maintenance delays from their landlords. One Latine tenant, who said they were targeted for eviction because of their identity, had their water and electricity shut off by their landlord after repeated threats.
Tenants with a criminal record reported feeling judged and surveilled by their landlords. They also reported that it was difficult to find housing even before their eviction, due to the stigma surrounding their legal record.
To combat the discrimination faced by tenants during eviction, we recommend a multi-faceted approach. First, landlords’ capacity to harass and intimidate tenants can be directly challenged by bolstering tenants’ knowledge and power through the creation of tenant unions and the expansion of tenant support organizations. Second, it is crucial to expand the education and enforcement of fair housing law in Oregon. State and local officials can accomplish this by funding additional fair housing testing programs, targeted outreach programs, and legal aid programs in their communities. Finally, landlords’ ability to discriminate against tenants during the eviction process can be restricted by creating an eviction prevention program that connects landlords and tenants to resources (e.g. mediation, rent assistance, or legal assistance) before an eviction case can be filed. By providing educational materials on fair housing law and referrals to legal assistance, eviction prevention programs can ensure that landlords and tenants are aware of landlords’ responsibilities under the law before tenants are displaced.
General Information:
Researchers: Dr. Alex Farrington, Natalie J. Cholula, and Dr. Lisa K. Bates.
Funding: Portland Housing Bureau, Oregon Housing and Community Services. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the views and opinions expressed in the report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Portland Housing Bureau or Oregon Housing and Community Services.
Citation Details: Farrington, Alex; Cholula, Natalie J.; Bates, Lisa. (2024) "Targeted, Harassed, and Displaced: The Role of Discrimination in Oregon Evictions." Evicted in Oregon. https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42491