After amending the City's stay-at-home order - currently in place through 27 April - to ban short-term rentals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portland City Council is considering two proposed incentive schemes for owners of short-term rental properties who are willing to lease long-term.

One proposal would refund the property owner's short-term rental registration fee if the unit is leased to a tenant for at least one year.

The other would do that plus pay the owner $1000 if the renter is is using General Assistance or a Section 8 housing voucher.

There are about 800 registered short-term-rental units in Portland, and a serious shortage of affordable housing.