Advocacy Newsletter - July 2026

Interim Capitol Advocacy Day

On June 16th Multifamily NW members joined the Government & Public Affairs Team in Salem for an Interim Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Throughout the day, members met directly with legislative leadership, the chairs and vice chairs of the housing committees, and other lawmakers to discuss the housing challenges facing Oregon and the policies needed to keep Oregonians housed. 

The day concluded with Multifamily NW participating in a panel before the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness focused on Oregon's rent assistance system and the ongoing challenges surrounding the administration of rental assistance funds. Multifamily NW was represented by Andor Law's Marcel Gesmundo, who shared firsthand perspectives on how delays and administrative barriers impact both housing providers and residents.

As a direct result of the panel discussion, four key lawmakers agreed to establish a workgroup dedicated to improving the rent assistance process. The goal of the workgroup is to identify practical solutions that streamline assistance delivery so residents can receive the support they need before an eviction becomes necessary, creating a more effective and equitable system for everyone involved.

MFNW Partners with PSU on Property Mgmt Safety & Security

Recently, industry partners have told us that conditions on the property management front lines are changing, particularly around workforce safety. Because little formal research exists on this topic, we are partnering with the PSU Center for Real Estate to conduct a bilingual survey to document current conditions.

We encourage our property management members to take the survey by clicking the blue button below. Please share this link others in the industry - the more voices we can add the better.

The survey is in English and Spanish and will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Survey Link: https://t.e2ma.net/click/ll19fm/9z8r2bj/x6tjjnb

The survey will close on July 26, 2026.

Housing Affordability Program (HAP) for Legislative Wins

The NAA Housing Accountability Program provides affiliate members with grant-funded public relations support for state and local policy fights that could negatively affect the industry. Traditionally, the program has served as a defensive tool to help stop harmful policy proposals. After discussions with the NAA program lead, the MFNW Government Affairs Team is submitting a grant application for $100,000 in public relations support to help advance our key legislative initiatives for the 2027 session. If approved, PR support would begin in September 2026 and continue through the end of the legislative session in June 2027.

Meet the Candidates Reception - Tuesday, September 22nd

Multifamily NW is hosting a Meet the Candidates Reception on September 22nd from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at Slabtown Square, and we would love to have you join us.

This reception is an opportunity to connect directly with key legislators and candidates in a relaxed, conversational setting while continuing to strengthen relationships that support the future of our industry. Join fellow Multifamily NW members, industry leaders, and elected officials as we highlight the priorities impacting rental housing and reinforce the voice of our industry ahead of the upcoming election season.

RSVP HERE: https://www.multifamilynw.org/events/meet-the-candidates-reception-