"Where Will My Family Go?" The Financial, Housing, and Health Challenges of Families Facing Eviction

To better understand how eviction affects families with children, the Evicted in Oregon team conducted focus groups with 74 tenants from Baker, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington counties in Oregon. During focus group discussions, we asked participants whether they had children in the household at the time of eviction and how it impacted them. Parents’ reported that their children’s well-being was their main concern during the eviction process. They also described how eviction led to disruptions in their children’s education, health and medical treatments, and living arrangements.

Based on our findings, we provide a set of policy and program recommendations that could prevent eviction and support families facing eviction, including long-term rental assistance, expanding access to and awareness of existing resources, and tenant advocacy. Secure and stable housing environment is essential for healthy children's development; therefore, state and local agencies should continue to invest in programs that help people remain in their homes.