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A p ril 5. 2006
H ousing ê
Buy a bucket
Buy a bin
Save a bundle
Stand Up For Your Rights
Renters group a The alliance is on a mission
offers resources to educate and empower low-
by S arah B lount
T he P ortland O bserver
As I sat down last spring to
sign a lease for a home with a
property management company,
1 realized the company had many
rules, regulations and rights.
Shortly after I moved, my
two housemates and I discov­
ered that our backyard was a
disaster zone of buried glass,
rusted machinery parts, utensils
and even some old clothing and
bones. When it became appar­
ent that the foreign material
would continue to rise to the
surface no matter how hard we
tried to remove it, we called the
management company and ex­
plained our situation. An em ­
ployee responded the next day,
but he told us their client, the
house’s owner, was already
aware of the backyard mess
and had no intention of remov­
ing it.
We began to wonder, what
are our rights as renters?
I checked out a library book
on Oregon landlord and tenant
law, which taught me that a
landlord is to maintain premises
in a habitable condition. I knew
that anyone walking barefoot in
my hazardous backyard would
need a tetanus shot, so I checked
out another book on tenant rights
and learned how to write a de­
mand letter for the services we
needed. I got the result I wanted,
straight from the com pany’s
owner. She personally inspected
my yard and we came up with
some solutions.
I learned a little about my
rights as a renter, but it turns out
I could have received even more
education and support at the
Community Alliance ofTenants.
The alliance is on a mission to
educate and empower low-in­
come and minority renters to
demand affordable, stable and
safe rental homes.
As an organization for ten­
ants by tenants, the grassroots
alliance also promotes the cre­
ation of more affordable hous­
ing.
“There’s a lack in both pri­
vate housing and subsidized
markets,” said Elisa Aguilera,
the alliance’s lead organizer.
She said federal cuts have
reduced low-income housing
availability, and private market
rent is going up as property value
skyrockets.
“We see a lot of a families
doubling up,” she said. “Folks
are settl ing for substandard hous­
ing because they can’t afford to
shop around for better options."
The group's website has re­
sources to give renters a stron­
ger voice and empower them to
advocate for themselves. It isn’t
Connect the
Dots to Rent
or Buy
continued
from A5
paredness class that helps people
repair their credit, establish a bud­
get and understand the rental ap­
plication process.
M atheson said with more
people buying homes there are
fewer rental vacancies, and rent
pricesare on the rise. With so
many homebuyers, more rental
properties are available.
“What I understand from land­
lords is that’s starting to turn, and
there will be vacancies," she said.
Page A 7
income and minority renters to
demand affordable, stable and
safe rental homes.
a substitute for the advice of an
attorney, but has general infor­
mation, advice and tips, as well
as links to legal aid and Oregon
laws. Tenants with additional
questions can leave voice mes­
sages with the Renters’ Rights
Hotline at 503-288-0130.
The alliance has two pro­
grams, run mostly by volun­
teers and members: the Hous­
ing Justice Program focuses
on affordable housing issues
and the term ination of 30-day
no cause evictions. The Safe
Housing Project organizes for
imm ediate repairs in apart­
ment complexes and promotes
law s a g a in s t su b s ta n d a rd
housing. Volunteers with the
R enter S tability E ducation
Program run the hotline and
workshops on renters’ rights.
Since forming in 1996, they've
counseled nearly 20,000 ten­
ants through their hotline, and
worked with other groups to
win passage for the city of
Portland’s “no net loss policy”,
w hich provides affordable
housing in gentrified central-
city neighborhoods.
The Community Alliance of
Tenants is currently asking City
Council to commit $30 million
for affordable housing and are
lobbying for the Portland De­
velopment Commissions to com­
mit 30 percent of urban renewal
funds to affordable housing.
If you are interested in joining
or supporting the Community
A lliance o f T enants, visit
www.oregoncat.org and click
the “getting involved" or “join
CAT" links.
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