SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon Governor Kate Brown has just issued Executive Order 20-11. The Executive Order places a "temporary moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment in light of the public health emergency caused by the spread of coronavirus in Oregon". The order is effective for 90 days.

In a statement issued Sunday afternoon, Governor Brown said "through no fault of their own, many Oregonians have lost jobs, closed businesses and found themselves without a source of income to pay rent and other housing costs". Governor Brown went on to say "the last thing we need to do during this crisis is turn out more Oregonians struggling to make ends meet from their homes and onto the streets".

Under the Governor's emergency powers, the order places a temporary hold throughout Oregon on law enforcement actions relating to residential evictions for not paying rent.

The Governor recognizes that landlords and property owners also face their own costs if tenants cannot pay rent. Therefore the Governor and the Coronavirus Economic Advisory Council say they are working to find potential solutions and are "exploring various state and federal policy options that might be available to provide assistance to borrowers".

Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Department of Consumer and Business services are also pursuing relief options.

Governor Brown is also asking people to stay at home. Governor Brown tweeted on Sunday morning calling it a "matter of life or death".