Street Roots • February 13-19, 2015
Commentary
Page 12
Facing a new opportunity for affordable housing
M att Kinshella is the
communications
director for
Neighborhood
Partnerships, which
convenes the Oregon -
Housing Alliance
BY M ATT KINSHELLA
C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T
p
I
\h o se who envision an Oregon where
every person has opportunity that
JL comes with a safe, decent, affordable
home are fortunate to live in 2015. The
moment is pregnant with opportunity. Every
day, more and more conversations are
popping up about homelessness and
affordable homes. There’s an energy you
can feel waiting to be directed.
It is true that the steps we have taken to
get out of the recession have benefited
some — but not all.
Tens of thousands of Oregonians
experienced homelessness last year
20,000 of whom were kids; 3,797 were K-12
students in Multnomah County, 1,207 in
Clackamas County and 2,001 in Washington
County.
We have relied too heavily on the market
and not put in place strong policies and
resources that would prevent many
thousands of Oregonians from spending
sleepless nights wondering how they will
afford rent.
But emerging from the shadows of
suffering is the sentiment that we’re in this
together.
Communities clamoring for housing have
sparked, among other things, a request from
Gov. Kitzhaber for $100 million in bonds to
be deployed in 2017 and subsequent years
to provide housing opportunities for families
and children with very low incomes.
This is much needed, and we have no:
doubt that it will make a huge difference in
many of our communities. But two years is a
long time to wait for shelter.
Many compassionate and pragmatic
people are asking: What can we do ab o u t«
homelessness now?
An answer: Increase funding for the
Emergency Housing Account (EHA) and
State Homeless Assistance Program
(SHAP). EHA provides short-term
assistance to prevent and end .
homelessness, and SHAP is used to provide
emergency shelter. These funds are flexible
tools that give Oregonians the freedom they
need.
. Oregon families are tough, resilient and
driven. When-provided an opportunity, we
are able to get back on our feet.
A few hundred dollars for rent can help
someone leave an abusive partner. Quickly
alleviating some of the economic burden of
starting over allows a parent to help
children cope with the trauma and process
the change, or begin a healing process
themselves.
A safe, affordable home sets a child up for
wellness that lasts through adulthood. In, a
stable home, babies are born healthier, the
risk for asthma lessens, children are a
healthier weight, injuries are fewer, mental
health is more stable, and kids can be active
with less threat of injury or physical
impairments.
Children in stable homes learn and
achieve more in school. Home helps level
the playing field. Stable homes are better
fot increased attention and reduce stress
that gets in the way of learning, leaving
families with more resources to put into
childhood enrichment.
In 2015 the Legislature can ensure $20
million goes to EHA and SHAP so that
mothers and fathers, kids and teachers,
servers and customers can remain in stable
homes that are foundational to our state’s
sucéfssT'
EHA and SHAP dollars are distributed to
every Oregon county to help fill the gaps
that community agencies, and volunteers
cannot meet. They provide emergency rent
assistance, help with rental deposits or
application fees, and emergency shelter.
Our decisions can allow people to
contribute to the prosperity of our state. By
removing obstacles to success, we can clear
paths that allow access to resources and
Spring
by William Adams
Spring to me is about new beginnings,
About after the winter slumber.
Everything is waking up,
People are out and about, happy, and so am I, like thetn
Enjoying this nice warm sunny day, -
Taking advantage of it while I’ve got it.
For me it is a new beginning.
New spot I hope to claim
I had no idea ifwas like this.
People here are so friendly,
Even the baristas know me by name.
Yes this is what I like.
Enjoying the sun, the sales,
The friendly new customers who just wanna shake hands
I can’t complain about ahyfting right away, and, if it rains,
That’s what the poncho is for.
opportunities so we all can participate
meaningfully in our economy.
But as Robert Kennedy said: “It is. not
enough to understand, or to see clearly. The
future will be shaped in the arena of human
activity, by those willing to commit their
minds and their bodies to the task.”
Last year at this time, more than 60
advocates braved harsh conditions to attend
the Oregon Housing Alliance Housing
Opportunity Day. Reports of heavy snowfall
and piled-up freeways didn’t deter advocates
from standing up for Oregonians who
needed emergency rent assistance.
And their work paid off. An estimated
additional 1,300 families or households
received the money needed to prevent or
end homelessness.
! With demand still extremely high we have
a chance to stop playing catch-up and start
making a dent in the state’s homelessness
rates.
On March 11, hundreds will gather in the
Oregon Capitol for Housing Opportunity
Day. They’ll speak with one message:
Everyone deserves a safe, decent, affordable
place to call home. They’ll stand next to a
mountain of 20,000 pairs of socks
acknowledging the number of students who
experienced homelessness last year.
When all Oregonians are free to tap into
their deep well of ingenuity, we all are
better off. Homes provide everyone,
especially children, with an opportunity to
succeed. To prevent and end homelessness
for Oregonians, we need additional
resources. The Legislature has an
opportunity to make an immediate
improvement in housing opportunity in
every part of Oregon by adding funding for
EHA and SHAP this yean
The Housing Alliance is hosting a H ousing
Opportunity Day on March 11 at the state
capitol in Salem. Join us, and be part o f the
20,000 pairs o f socks drive. Learn more at
OregonHousingAUiance.org or on Facebook.
TlieTaf t H om e
Where senior and disabled adults
receive the care and respect they deserve.
Call us for more information
(503)223-2144
1337 SW. Washington, Portland, OR 97205
www.tafthome.org