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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2013)
* > ♦ Affordable housing reform needed to help Section 8 work Two months isn’t a lot of time to fin d an apartment when landlords can discriminate against voucher holders Justin B uri is the deputy director and statewide policy lead for the Community Alliance of Tenants. CAT is Oregon’s only statewide, grassroots, tenant-controlled, tenant rights organization. CAT educates, organizes and develops the leadership of low-income tenants to directly challenge unjust housing policies and practices. For information about your rights as a renter, please call C A T’s Renters’ Rights Hotline at 503-288-0130. BY JUSTIN BURI C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T HB 2639: Improving Access to e know that when Oregon residents Housing for Tenants with Section 8 have access to safe, stable and affordable housing, we are not only Vouchers able to better provide for the health and • Removes barriers for tenants with wellbeing of our families, but the entire Section 8 vouchers to rent housing in community benefits as well. When hard their preferred communities working Oregonians have the opportunity to • Works with HUD to increase flexibility live in healthy, stable and integrated and streamlines processes, to better communities, we can access job • serve landlords and tenants opportunities, keep our kids in well • Creates a statewide fund to provide performing schools and work to break the flexible rent assistance - to provide cycle of poverty that affects us all. We all more stability and affordability for have the knowledge, resources and tenants who face eviction, have lost creativity to build more inclusive, healthy, prosperous communities. Now is the time to their job, have a family or medical show we have the will as well. emergency, need help with a deposit, or At the Community Alliance of Tenants, simply don’t earn enough to afford rent. we know first-hand that there is great need for more affordable housing and resources, and where people can find housing is just as Tenants with a Section 8 voucher often important as how much they pay. We are have trouble finding a landlord who will tenants who may have low incomes or a accept it. We are given 60 days to find a disability, or other barriers that limitour landlord who is wiling to accept the voucher, access to the kinds of neighborhoods and otherwise we lose it. Sounds like plenty of . communities that Oregon is famous for. We time, but many tenants who have waited too want safe, quiet streets for our children three, five or more years to finally receive a to learn how to ride a bike or be able to voucher have lost it. We have the deposit, walk to the local school and get a decent first months rent, solid credit, good rental education. history and even a reference from a We know that if there is a grocery store previous landlord. nearby with fresh produce or a park with We search in the neighborhoods where good shade and a playground, we can lead we know the bus lines and neighbors, where healthier, more productive lives. We might we can live close to work, friends and family, need a little help to get there, like education and where we go to church. We are not about our rights as renters, stronger looking for luxury, just four simple walls and protections so that we can keep our housing a window to let the sunshine in. We look on once we find it or a little help with a Craigslist, in newspapers and walk the deposit, or to help us make rent each streets looking for a place to rent. month. We aren’t asking for a handout, just Everywhere we turn, we see a similar sight a little stability so we can turn around and “No Section 8,” which means to us, “You are give back to the community. W not welcome here.” We don’t know why they would reject us before seeing our application, not knowing who we are. We are everyone: workers, families, parents, veterans, people with disabilities and people from all different backgrounds and stories to tell. Why can’t we be given the same chance as every other applicant? Why can’t we just be given a chance? This is what the Section 8 voucher is for — to give everyone a chance and opportunity. Section 8 vouchers are intended to give responsible low-income tenants a choice of where they can live. When we have real choice, we have better opportunities to improve our lot and contribute to our communities in a positive way, economically, educationally, culturally and spiritually. Right now, Oregon’s Speaker of the House, Tina Kotek, has introduced legislation that gives us more choice. HB 2639 will make it easier for tenants to use their Section 8 vouchers by giving everyone the same fair shot. Landlords can accept or reject the tenant using the same criteria as every other applicant. Oregon is full of wonderful places to call home. We can all work together to ensure everyone has access and opportunity to safe, stable and affordable housing in the communities that fit their needs. Come join our Housing Justice Rally for housing access, fairness and opportunity in Oregon, Thursday, March 14 at 11 a.m., on the Capitol steps in Salem. Any Oregon resident who cares about housing opportunities in Oregon is invited to join us. We can provide child care and transportation from Portland. Visit www.oregoncat.org or call us for more information at 503-460-9702. Life (?) By S o d a P o p Life is the question why. Life is who, where, and how. Life is knowing that though it’s getting better, It ain’t ever gonna be perfect. Life is fear. Life is facing your fears, and acting in courage. Life is hope. Life is finding something to believe in. Life is growing up, finding that you don’t want to, And then realizing that you did anyway. Life is wishing that you could go back. Life is finding out there is no going back. Life is faith, and finding people you can put faith in. Life is chasing dreams. Life is addiction. Life is learning the freedom from your addictions. Life is change when you wonder if you can handle it. Life is finding out who you are...who you want to be. Life is love, hate, peace, war. Life? That’s your own perception. T H E M A G IC IS IN T H E H O L E ! 2 2 SW 3 R D & BU R N SID E 1501 NE DAVIS S U P P O R T IN G S T R E E T R O O T S S IN C E 2 0 0 3 Exist By P au la R a m ire z The looks, the stares, the evil glares Do you understand? No one really cares. The alcohol, the drugs Authority only shrugs. To find a safe place to be, A sanctuary meant for me. Take a close look and you will see, Ignoring us is not the key. (Especially if you or your business are a frequent traveller!) Check out the Hote!s4Chanqe link on the Street Roots home page: www.streetroots.org
