Street roots., August 03, 2012, Page 10, Image 10

street roots
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Aug. 3, 2012
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City, county and metro officials plot housing summit fo r fall
BY ALEX ZIELINSKI
region participates fully.”
S T A F F W R IT E R
Since 2008, when Fish took office, the
f there is one substantial step forward to
city has spent $215 million local dollars
come out of Cameron Whitten’s hunger
addressing affordable housing and
strike for housing equity, it is the
homelessness, Fish said. “That’s a
announcement of a regional conference on phenomenal commitment, and it dwarfs
housing and homelessness.
what we get from the federal government,
Fifty-five days after the start of his hunger and we have to be intentional about it.”
strike, activist and former mayoral candidate
The city and county have long worked in
Whitten - now nearly 35 pounds lighter -
tandem on providing housing and support
surrendered on Thursday, July 26 to Mayor
services, and including Metro will
Sam Adam’s announcement of a fall regional
incorporate zoning and urban growth
housing summit.
policies to the discussion. Sam Chase,
Held by the Ecumenical Ministries of
recently elected Metro councilor, said he’s
Oregon, the summit will bring the city,
excited to be involved in a more overarching
county and Metro governments together to
project that involves Metro’s input.
address how the tri-county area can work
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity
together on housing and homeless issues.
to address these issues regionally,” Chase,
A letter fused together by Mayor Adams,
whose campaign platform was based on
Whitten and city staff released highlights
housing equity, said. “I think that alignment
the summit’s main goals: “We believe
among political leaders who really want to
solving our local housing challenges is best
get something done is key. It’s not about my
accomplished with a stronger regional
ideas, it’s about working together as a
partnership involving advocates, agencies,
team.”
non-profit and faith communities, and people
For City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, the
experiencing homelessness. After the
collaboration between governments will
November elections is an opportune time to
hopefully help disperse funding. “The
take a new look at regional homeless and
county and the city have been shouldering
affordable housing issues, as we welcome
funding for housing projects over the years,”
newly elected leaders to the table.”
Fritz said. “Now having Metro involved, we
Nick Fish, Portland’s city commissioner
need to have a conversation about equitable
in charge of housing, says the forum will
funding and take advantage of any services
bring together the major players to examine
they can provide.”
issues of funding and regional equity
With such an overarching mission —
throughout Multnomah, Clackamas and
tackling regional housing issues — it’s hard
Washington counties.
to say what solid solutions will come out of
“We’re a little less than half the
the summit. While Fritz sees women’s
population of the tri-county region, and yet
issues a top priority, Chase has his eye on
we’re 70 percent of the housing dollars,”
permit consolidation and system
Fish said. “We’re proud of our leadership
development changes. Multnomah County
role. On the other hand, homelessness is
Commissioner Deborah Kafoury just wants
not unique to Portland, and it’s going to be
cheap housing. “No matter what comes out
important over time that everybody in the
of the summit, this is going to be a big step
I
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Fritz said in her statement that they would
forward.”
be discussed in the future.
A mutual pursuit is developing cemented
“In addition to the summit, the city is
ideas to push along to the state, if not
engaged in ongoing conversations about the
federal, legislature. But the day-long summit
futures of Right 2 Dream Too and Dignity
itself will determine the specific nature of
Village. When the
these measures.
time is right, we
“The summit
believe a future City
doesn’t have an
Council will support
agenda, at least that I
a public vote on a
know of,” Fritz said.
new dedicated
“The point is to
^The point is to brainstorm^
funding source for
brainstorm, ask
ask questions. What are the
affordable housing.”
questions. What are
potential strategies we can
And for Whitten,
the potential
the summit is
use to make changes?
strategies we can use
definitely a step in
to make changes?
Should we h a w a boosing
the right direction.
Should we have a
levee? How can we make this But was this kind of
housing levee? How
a regional priority? These
all-inclusive housing
can we make this a
discussion inevitable
regional priority?
are the things we need to
regardless of
These are the things
ask»
Whitten’s strike?
we need to ask.”
— C ITY C O M M IS S IO N E R A M » A FR ITZ
Kafoury says that
Whitten, 21, held a
while the region was
press conference
“heading that way,”
outside of City Hall
Whitten’s efforts
on July 26 to address
highlighted housing
the conclusion of his
55-day hunger strike in which he lost nearly
and homelessness issues. Fritz echoed
35 pounds. The summit was among the key
Kafoury’s views.
victories he claimed emerged from his
“The issues were out there, but
protest against housing injustice.
Cameron’s demonstration made it more
urgent,” Fritz said. “However, we have other
Whitten started his hunger strike and
24-hour demonstration outside City Hall
ways than hunger striking to ask for things
with three demands: that the Bureau of
like this. Potentially killing yourself for
Development Services waive fines levied on
Portland politics is not the way to go.”
the owners of the property where Right 2
Either way, Chase said that Portland’s
Dream Too is established, for the
overdue for this type of discussion. “Don’t
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department to
get me wrong, we’ve done a lot of good
issue a one-year moratorium on foreclosure
things to work towards housing equity,”
evictions for homeowners, and for City
Chase said. “But we still have a lot of work
Council to add a housing levy measure to
left to do.”
the November 2012 General Election ballot.
While none of those issues were resolved,