Response to news articles regarding evictions at NAYA’s affordable housing
Recent news regarding eviction notices at NAYA’s affordable housing properties has raised questions from community members. We share the following facts in hopes of clarifying the situation.
The difference between non-payment notices and actual evictions is important. Several residents in NAYA housing have recently received non-payment notices, but most of these notices are resolved without renters having to leave. In 2024 there were four actual evictions out of 165 units in our Cully properties. While any eviction is too many, our goal is to ensure all tenants remain stably housed. Residents sometimes decide to move out instead of being evicted, a better outcome for their ability to rent moving forward.
Affordable housing evictions are rising nationwide due to the pandemic and inflation. We are deeply concerned that changes in federal policy, benefits programs, and local resource constraints in 2025 could further burden low-income tenants and cause even more evictions. We are committed to advocating for our community at the local, state, and federal levels, to ensure our community has access to every resource that helps secure their housing.
NAYA became a housing provider because our community asked us to step into this role. Native people face significant housing disparities, and our housing initiatives are designed to address these challenges. NAYA housing features units with below-market rents, some with a legal preference for tribal citizens, and some that rent for as little as 30% of a resident’s household income.
Our core housing partners in our Cully properties include Community Development Partners, the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA), and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Together, we secure funding and convene lenders, government agencies, private funders, architects, construction crews, and property management companies, and we recruit and support our community in accessing our housing.
NAYA cannot make unilateral decisions about these housing projects. Each partner has a specific role to play. Banks fund construction, property managers communicate with tenants, collect rent, and handle maintenance requests, and NAYA employs a professional team who provides emergency rent assistance and advocates on behalf of renters to the property manager. This critical work helps prevent evictions. In 2024, residents at Mamook Tokatee received more than $125,000 in emergency rent assistance, resulting in zero evictions at that property.
Non-payment notices are a tool property management companies often use to engage with tenants who have fallen behind on rent. While these notices can be alarming, they typically lead to a plan that allows renters to stay housed. In some cases, they open the door to emergency rent assistance.
No one is wrongfully evicted from NAYA’s properties and engaging with NAYA staff and property managers ensures fair outcomes. NAYA’s dedicated team works tirelessly to support renters who actively engage with us. However, we cannot assist renters who fall behind on rent and refuse to communicate with staff or property management, or who cause damage to the buildings or harm their neighbors. We take responsibility for ensuring this housing remains viable for the community and future generations, which means meeting financial obligations and expecting tenants and property managers to fulfill their responsibilities too.
Tenants are encouraged to share any concerns they have about how our buildings operate. Community input and critical feedback are always welcome, as they help us stay responsive and informed. NAYA upholds Leadership and Pride as two of our organizational core values, and we are proud to be an innovative housing provider working tirelessly to offer a continuum of culturally specific housing services to Native people. We acknowledge that we will make mistakes, and we will learn from them, grow, and improve our work. Our community expects nothing less.
We hope this statement clarifies NAYA’s role in housing our region’s growing and resilient Native community. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at feedback@nayapdx.org.