Eviction of Disabled Veteran Halted After Intervention From Neighbors and a City Councilor

Dan McLean, a 68-year-old disabled veteran, will not face eviction from his Portland apartment after intervention from neighbors and City Councilor Mitch Green. McLean received an eviction notice due to unpaid rent, which he was unaware he owed because his HUD VASH assistance had been reduced without notification. His neighbors, part of a tenant union, contacted the property management and Green's office for help, emphasizing that McLean had been functionally blind for years and unable to read important correspondence. In response, Green's office sent a letter urging the housing authority to halt the eviction, citing negligence and procedural errors in McLean's case. The councilor argued that evicting a disabled veteran over $1,500 would result in greater costs for the city in the long run.

McLean's situation is further complicated by a recent temporary move to a different apartment due to flooding, which left him without a mailbox key. The advocacy by his neighbors has brought attention to the need for better communication and support for vulnerable tenants. This incident highlights systemic challenges faced by disabled individuals in securing stable housing.