On Wedneday, the Portland City Council extended its declared "housing emergency" and renter protection rule.

That rule, championed by Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, requires landlords to pay relocation cost to renters they evict without cause or who have to move as the result of a rent increase of 10 percent or more.

More than 30 renters, housing advocates and landlords testified how a lack of affordable rentals and the rules meant to abate the affordable housing crisis have affected them. Here's what a few had to say:

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Former state representative Shemia Fagan reminded the council that homelessness touches many in the community, including her mother.

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Video courtesy of Open Signal

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Cora Mason's landlord told her in September that her rent would increase by 9 percent in November. She would also have to pay an extra $20 for garbage services each month along with her water and sewer bills.

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Jonnie Shaver asked the council to remove the exemption for landlords who only rent one property. He received a no-cause eviction but will not receive relocation assistance because the 90-year-old woman who owns his home owns no other properties. The son who manages the property owns about half a dozen rental properties around town, he said.

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Video courtesy of Open Signal

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Meg Dorton is a landlord. She has a property in Northwest Portland and one in Montavilla. Both of her tenants moved after their previous landlords evicted them without cause, she said. Their kindergartners had to move schools.

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Holly Hansen is disabled. She said she spends $260 each month on medical expenses. She told the council she represents "the next wave of 5,000 newly homeless people."

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Video courtesy of Open Signal

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Katrina Holland, executive director of the Community Alliance of Tenants also urged the council to lift the exemption for “mom and pop” landlords who rent only one unit.

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Video courtesy of Open Signal

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Oregon Association of Realtors lobbyist Shaun Jillions asked council to consider unintended consequences that the renter protection policy has on rental supply. He said landlords are selling their rentals due to burdensome regulations.

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Video courtesy of Open Signal

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Margot Black, founder and director of Portland Tenants United, urged the council to consider the impact no-cause evictions and large rent increases have on tenants, regardless of the size of their landlord.

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Video courtesy of Open Signal

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Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler touted the increased homeless shelter beds the city and county have provided and other joint efforts to curb Portland's affordable housing and homelessness crisis. Still, he said, too many are living on the street or in fear of losing their homes. Too many, he said, face difficult decisions like whether to take burdensome rent increases or move away from their jobs, communities and school districts. Renewing the declared 'housing emergency' allows the city flexibility for where to place shelters, fast-tracks affordable housing projects to get building permits and keeps the city and county's focus on the issue.

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Video courtesy of Open Signal

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Eudaly, a former housing advocate, said her office has received “non-stop” calls since the renter protection policy passed. She said she’s confident the policy she proposed has made a difference for “hundreds, and possibly thousands” of renters.

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Video courtesy of Open Signal