Community Alliance of Tenants Action Fund recommends Oregon Voters Choose Kate Brown for Oregon Governor

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In every house district across the state, over one-third of renters are spending more than 30% of their income on rent. In some districts, the majority of renters are paying over half of their income on rent. This is dangerous because the higher our rent is, the less money we have to afford basic necessities. Many renters across the state are forced to make unthinkable decisions between paying rent or putting food on the table, taking care of their health, putting gas in the car, or having childcare.  Student homelessness is on the rise. Some districts cite displacement from no cause evictions and rent-increases as primary drivers. As a matter of fact, a recent study found that Oregon ranked number one for student homelessness. Healthcare providers describe difficulty in controlling chronic conditions due to housing stressors. Employers explain exacerbated turnover and attendance issues from workers that have to travel hours just to provide for their families. Workers are overburdened as families must work two to three jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. Every sector of our economy is affected by a lack of tenant protections.

 

Oregon’s next governor must demonstrate a strong commitment to bringing real solutions to the table. We cannot meaningfully solve Oregon’s housing crisis without grappling with means to stabilize excessive rent increases, loopholes that allow housing discrimination, and overburdened social safety net services from new homelessness. Governor Kate Brown demonstrates that commitment. In our interview and in her housing plan, Kate committed to working to end the practice of no-cause evictions and no-cause lease terminations.These have often been used to discriminate and retaliate against renters seeking safer living conditions. Kate demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing extreme, unaffordable rent-increases that have uprooted communities and shoved many families onto the streets. Kate’s plan is comprehensive in addressing the link between a lack of tenant protections and housing instability and houselessness. Kate clearly understands that just as much as we need more housing supply, we need renter protections to keep people in their homes. We are hopeful that Kate Brown will prioritize addressing Oregon’s housing crisis in a way that produces equitable outcomes for all Oregonians.

 

For these reasons, Community Alliance of Tenants Action Fund recommends that Oregon renters vote Kate Brown for Governor in the upcoming General Election on November 6th. In comparison to her opponent, Kate brings real, substantive solutions to the table. Kate has demonstrated a keen attentiveness to Oregon’s rental market and we are hopeful she will do what is right for Oregon renters.