(Update: Adding governor's news release)

Vaccinated veterans, those who got shots out of state can sign up for sweepstakes

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — As Oregon nears its vaccination target to reopen the economy, Gov. Kate Brown announced Friday she is extending the state’s mortgage foreclosure moratorium through September.

However, the governor was unable to extend the state’s eviction moratorium for renters, which began in April 2020, as tenants financially struggled during the pandemic. That is set to expire at the end of June.

“This means that renters must pay their July rent, or their landlords can evict them for nonpayment,” Brown said, urging renters to reach out for financial assistance.

Last month, Brown signed a bill that reinstated Oregon’s moratorium on foreclosures, which allow homeowners to put their mortgage in forbearance at least through June 30. The law also gave Brown the authority to extend the end date, which she announced she was doing on Friday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjk9OWuf9Tg

“This is vital protection that the legislature has provided to Oregon’s home owners as we continue to rebound from the economic impacts of the pandemic,” Brown said.

However, the governor was unable to extend state’s rent moratorium. Brown urged those who will struggle to pay rent in July apply for rental assistance.

Currently the governor is working with lawmakers to pass a bill that would give tenants who apply for rental assistance “safe harbor from eviction.”

Last month, Oregon lawmakers voted to extend the grace period for past due rent during the moratorium, allowing tenants to have until Feb. 28, 2022 to pay back rent.

“Housing is a basic human need, which is why I have worked with the Legislature and our congressional delegation to devote state and federal resources to ensure that all Oregonians have a warm, dry safe place to live throughout the pandemic,” Brown said.

As the eviction moratorium is set to expire, other COVID-19 safety measures and mandates are being lifted.

Last month, Brown set statewide and county vaccination targets with the hope of reopening the state’s economy by the end of June.

In order for the state to lift mask, physical distancing and capacity restrictions, 70% of Oregon adults receiving at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine before reopening the economy. As of Friday, 67% of people who are 18 or older in the state had been vaccinated. Brown said 93,000 more adults must receive at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to reach her target.

Brown and Oregon Health Authority officials also shared welcome news of recent declines in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, and again urged Oregonians to get the vaccine so the state can reach the 70% of adults goal and lift most business restrictions.

She also said veterans or those who received vaccines out of state can sign up to be eligible for the $1 million "Take Your Shot Oregon" website at http://takeyourshot.oregon.gov.

The vaccination target for individual counties is 65% of adults in the area. Once a county reaches the goal, they move into the “lower risk” category which allows a county to significantly reduce its COVID-19 restrictions — 50% capacity for indoor dining, theaters, gyms and other indoor entertainment spaces. Currently, 21 of Oregon’s 36 counties are listed in the “lower risk” level.

For more than a year, Oregon has faced some of the nation’s strictest safety measures — county risk levels, mask requirements inside and outside, limited gatherings and restaurants closed for indoor dining.

But over the past month, coronavirus case numbers and hospitalizations in the state have been improving as people continue to get vaccinated. Health officials said on Friday that during the past week, 1,725 new COVID-19 cases had been reported, the lowest weekly total since September.

“In summary, the landscape of the virus has shifted dramatically, creating what we described last week as two pandemics,” Dean Sidelinger, the state’s epidemiologist, said. “As our breakthrough data shows – the virus is overwhelmingly impacting those who are not fully vaccinated – while those vaccinated are safe from the virus.”

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News release from Gov. Kate Brown's office:

Governor Kate Brown Provides COVID-19 Updates on County Movements, Housing, Incentives

Clackamas County to move to Lower Risk

Foreclosure moratorium extended, rental and landlord assistance available for July rent

Take Your Shot, Oregon website launches, veterans and others who received shots from federal or out-of-state sites can now make sure they are entered to win 

 (Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that Clackamas County will be moving to the Lower Risk level, effective as soon as they achieve a 65% first dose vaccination rate for adults. The county has also submitted an equity plan to the state. When county movements for this week were announced on June 8, the county was just short of reaching that 65% goal. The county made a concerted push to reach 65% since then.

“I want to highlight Clackamas County and their work,” said Governor Brown. “To reach this goal, Clackamas County’s public health nurses administered over 1,000 vaccines to homebound residents, and they’ve worked with all 10 school districts in the county to bring the vaccine directly to those schools for students and families. Incredible work.”

Governor Brown made the announcement today in a press conference with state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger and Dave Baden, lead executive for the vaccination program at the Oregon Health Authority.

Foreclosure moratorium extended, rental and landlord assistance available

The Governor also announced today that she has extended Oregon’s mortgage foreclosure moratorium until September 30, 2021. House Bill 2009, recently passed by the Legislature, authorizes Governor Brown to extend the mortgage foreclosure moratorium period for homeowners, for two successive three-month periods beyond June 30.

In Senate Bill 282, the Legislature did not give similar authority to Governor Brown to extend the eviction moratorium for tenants beyond June 30. The Governor’s Office is working with the Legislature to pass a bill to give tenants who have applied for rent assistance safe harbor from eviction.

Governor Brown noted that historic amounts of rental assistance are now available in Oregon to pay current and past due rent, and urged Oregonians to apply as soon as possible:

“Housing is a basic human need, which is why I have worked with the Legislature and our congressional delegation to devote state and federal resources to ensure that Oregonians have a warm, dry, safe place to live during this pandemic.

“To the thousands of Oregonians who lost jobs and fell behind on their rent during the pandemic: Apply today for rental assistance to pay your July rent.

“Fortunately, over $200 million in federal rental assistance is available now. Apply today at OregonRentalAssistance.org."

Take Your Shot, Oregon website launches, veterans and others who received shots from federal or out-of-state sites can now make sure they are entered to win

Governor Brown also announced the launch of takeyourshot.oregon.gov today. The website contains information about the Take Your Shot, Oregon campaign and answers frequently asked questions. The website also allows veterans, all others who have received a federally-administered vaccine dose, Oregonians vaccinated out-of-state, and those who were vaccinated during a clinical trial to make sure they are entered to win. Oregonians can make sure they are entered to win by filling out a simple online form, available here.

Additional Materials

• A copy of the Governor's prepared remarks from today's press conference is available here.
• More information on vaccines is available at covidvaccine.oregon.gov.

Video Links

• A recording of today's live-streamed press conference is available on YouTube. Please note the video starts at the 19:32 mark.
• A recording of a Spanish language translation is available on OHA's Facebook page.