COVID-19 Response Resource Center for Home Owners and Tenants

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Resources

Banks

Banks have posted their own policies and ways for consumers to contact them for assistance:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Protect Your Credit: Find resources to ensure your credit is safe during this challenging time.

Protect Yourself Financially: Here you will find resources on challenges with paying your bills, income loss, financial protection and potential scams. There are also many helpful contacts.

Department of Labor (DOL)

Learn More on how to be protected at work, and as an employer learn your role in supporting your employees and community during this time.

Tenants

Immediate Foreclosure and Evictions Relief for Homeowners for the Next 60 Days. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has authorized the FHA to implement an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium (PDF) for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days. Read the full press release.

The State of Oregon and many other cities and counties have also supported a moratorium on residential evictions on the basis of nonpayment of rent due to wage loss resulting from COVID-19.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Here are the latest updates on the IRS response to COVID-19.

Living Room Realty Updates

Mortgages

3/23/20 update to loan processes:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued the following guidance:

Homeowners who are adversely impacted by this national emergency may request mortgage assistance by contacting their mortgage servicer
Foreclosure sales and evictions of borrowers are suspended for 60 days
Homeowners impacted by this national emergency are eligible for a forbearance plan to reduce or suspend their mortgage payments for up to 12 months
Credit bureau reporting of past due payments of borrowers in a forbearance plan as a result of hardships attributable to this national emergency is suspended
Homeowners in a forbearance plan will not incur late fees
After forbearance, a servicer must work with the borrower on a permanent plan to help maintain or reduce monthly payment amounts as necessary, including a loan modification

Fannie and Freddie have also created pages with additional information:

Oregon Homeowner Support is a service offered by the State of Oregon to help Oregon Homeowners avoid foreclosure. It provides free advice from a certified, trustworthy source, and offers foreclosure counseling, workshops, and legal assistance.

National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)

Visit the NAR page for updated resources for property owners.

Portland Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)

If you own a business in Portland and are looking to learn more about your options, please visit the EO’s site focused specifically on COVID-19 response.

Small Business Support

To learn more about National resources and programs to support your business, visit the main SBA resource page or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan page.

Business Portland has a list of resources for Oregon businesses looking for assistance due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Greater Portland, Inc is also a great source for local businesses in need of assistance. Their Resources for Greater Portland Businesses page includes City, County,

The City of Portland has created an emergency fund for small businesses located in Portland’s Jade District or Old Town Chinatown. Asian and Pacific Islander business owners will be prioritized.

Facebook has announced a Small Business Grants Program which will distribute cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses.

Several relief funds have been created for restaurant owners and food service workers, including the James Beard Foundation and the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation.

Opportunity Fund is providing grants and low-interest rate loans to businesses owned by women, immigrants and people of color.

Student Debt

The Department of Education announced that it will allow forbearance on federally-backed student loans for sixty days beginning on March 13, 2020. Likewise, the Administration has also waived all interest on student loans for this period. You must contact your loan servicer to being a forbearance. Visit the Student Aid page to learn more.

VA Home Loan Program

Visit the VA Home Loan Page or read their latest update (PDF) on how the VA is supporting Veterans and stakeholders.

General Resources

State of Oregon Unemployment Insurance: Information on COVID-19 related business layoffs, closures, and unemployment insurance benefits for workers, employers, and job seekers.

Mental health: crisis lines available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help:

Additional mental health resources available here (PDF) from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

If you are facing a life-threatening emergency, please dial 911.

Food Insecurity: If you need help securing food for yourself or your family, organizations are still operating under limited contact rules to provide help.

Oregon Food Bank is still operating and many of their over 1,400 partner pantries and food assistance sites across Oregon and Southwest Washington are open. Find food available near you here .

Clark County Food Bank is also still operating. Map of Food Pantry locations. Please call ahead to verify hours of operation.

Hunger Fighters Oregon in Lake Oswego is currently open extended hours. Find more information here.