Contributed by Sandra Comstock, Executive Director of Hygiene4All

The following is a summary of a renter’s rights town hall on Saturday, February 22.

77% of Metro’s extremely low income neighbors and 44% of our low-income residents currently pay 50% or more of their income for housing, leaving a stunning 30% of households in the region without enough to pay for food, transport, childcare, etc. At last count, 37% of homeless county residents interviewed said they were HOMELESS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES in HUD’s point in time count.

Thank You DSA Housing Group for canvassing hundreds and hundreds of renters over the last year and bringing out more than 100 folks to the renter’s town hall on a Saturday (including a baby and a toddler !!!).

Also thank you to Portland City Councilors Angelita Morillo and Tiffany Koyama Lane, Emory Mort (Koyama Lane’s Chief of Staff), Andre Miller (Morillo’s Chief of Staff) and City Councilors Sameer Kanal, Mitch Green and Jamie Dunphy—for showing up for your constituents!

• Councilor Angelita Morillo presented an amendment to the city housing code to ban AI or algorithmic price-fixing software in Portland. Sign up to testify and write letters to city council on Tuesday February 25, 12 noon at Portland City Hall. Sign up for virtual or in person testimony. Review the proposed city housing code amendment regarding these algorithmic rent-setting devices here.
• Councilor Mitch Green—supports spending housing bureau funds on increasing social and permanently affordable housing here in Portland.
• Councilor Sameer Kanal was in the house—supporting legislation on banning algorithmic price fixing and increasing and filling permanent supportive housing. He supports lifting up a vacant apartment fine/tax.
• Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane: “There’s a lot of momentum. We have to center the voices of renters/ those experiencing housing insecurity / homelessness! Come out and be present at city council. We need you to back up the work we’re doing at city council.“
• Councilor Jamie Dunphy: “We will do what we can to make this giant machine work toward justice, but it’s going to take all of us. The budget situation is difficult—so this will take us all together to build the community we want to see.”

Visit Welcome Home Coalition to learn more and get involved.