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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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