Street Roots • June 23-29, 2017
Page 3
O p in io n
With Salem ignoring us on housing,
there is much work to do on local level
Then, they propose cutting millions of
n the same day Multnomah County
dollars for rent assistance. The political
announced a 10-percent increase in
people experiencing homelessness,
optics of legislators in Salem right now is
Oregon announced cuts to emergency rent
so far off center that it’s hard to have a real
assistance.
conversation.
If that didn’t add enough insult to injury,
All of this, of course, comes without
the state also proposed a 6-percent cut to
even factoring in devastating proposed
other general-fund expenditures from the
federal cuts to housing programs across
current service levels that include funding
the board.
for a low-income
If local and state officials think street
rental fund, elderly
homelessness and gentrification are bad
rental
assistance
and
a i n c w
r s
today or that the private sector and public
other support
are fatigued now, all communities are in for
lì
services.
a rude awakening when all of these cuts
That’s a loss of tens
begin to take place.
By Israel Bayer
of millions of dollars
The reality is we are still experiencing
to our most
and will continue to experience a housing
vulnerable Oregon
crisis. That’s not being an alarmist; that’s
residents.
being real.
The lack of urgency by our state is both
It’s only my humble opinion, but I think
uninspiring and unbelievable. To be honest,
any elected official in Oregon who doesn’t
it’s a slap in the face.
continue to show urgency and treat the
Unfortunately, it’s not a surprise.
housing crisis like an actual emergency and
For whatever reason, Oregon Democrats
fight like hell for more ongoing revenue for
and Republicans have never really
housing is on borrowed
prioritized housing in a
time. They should be.
way that’s resulted in
Not one elected
any substance. It’s one
official should remain
of the many reasons
Not one elected o ffic ia l
in office in the metro
Oregonians are facing a slt©wl< »©mailt la ©file©
area without actively
housing crisis from
la lit® m etro area w itliO Bt
engaging in solutions to
Bend to Lincoln City,
a
c
tiv
e
ly
e
a
f
a
f
Is
tf
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the housing crisis,
from Ashland to
s@latl®as to Use housing
period. Talk is cheap.
Portland.
crisis? period- Tails is
Actions are real.
It’s more than
frustrating. In this
We still don’t have an
cheap*» Metlsms are real-
session alone,
answer for tenant
legislators have gutted
rights long term or a
proposals to reform
plan for ongoing
landlord/tenant laws
revenue for homeless
and kept intact a billion-
services or a real plan
dollar kickback to Oregon homeowners
to stop gentrification. All the equity plans
through the Mortgage Interest Deduction
in the world aren’t going to stop people of
program. Make no mistake - Oregon is in
color from being pushed out of the city and
fact subsidizing housing. Unfortunately, it’s
region unless you actually invest in equity
for the rich, who can afford second and
and housing.
third homes around the state.
The signal coming out of Salem and
What’s even more infuriating for housing
Washington, D .C ., is clear. You’re on your
advocates is watching how Portland
own, Portland, Ashland, Bend, Astoria, etc.
Tenants United has been vilified on one
That means locally, we’ve got work to do -
hand, and mainstream advocates have been
a lot of it. We must rise above the rhetoric
ignored on the other.
and the lack of support and work for what’s
How does a group of people showing up
best for our city and region. If you aren’t
to a senator’s church to protest his stance
thinking big, get out of the way.
on housing result in other legislators
The housing crisis will not be solved by
throwing a public tantrum and saying thats
the reason they won’t support real tenant
taking shortcuts or managing
homelessness or the politics of any given
reforms.
The message sent to advocates and
situation. If Portland voters' passing of a
concerned residents from Salem is: Come
housing bond and election of Chloe Eudaly
hard at us, be discredited. Come soft at us
in November wasn’t a signal to the
and play our political games, get ignored.
establishment that unless you offer up real
Ultimately, you don’t really fit into our
solutions, the people are going to speak,
larger plans.
then I don’t know what is.
How can the people not feel ignored
Get mad, get organized, let your voice be
when Oregon’s funding and track record on
heard. Write your elected officials today,
housing is already woefully underfunded?
and take action. It’s hands up for housing!
O
»»
B
Israel Bayer is the
executive director o f
Street Roots. You can
reach him at
israel@streetroots. org
or follow him on
Twitter @israelbayer.
Street Roots
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