Action Alert: City Council’s Proposed Budget
Not only does JOIN address individuals’ immediate housing needs, but we also play a powerful advocacy role at the systems and policy level. We are passionate about making an impact today, while also thinking strategically about tomorrow. This is why JOIN is the fiscal sponsor of the Welcome Home Coalition, an organization that shares our dedication for building back the affordable housing infrastructure in Portland. Recently, they’ve released an Action Alert, created to encourage Portland City Council to maintain funding for housing and homeless services in their proposed budget. Here are the highlights:
Portland’s proposed budget for 2018-2019 contains funding requests to maintain services at the Portland Housing Bureau, and the Joint Office of Homelessness, including the following add-ons:
● Support for mandatory rental unit registration system
● An allocation of $500,000 for culturally and linguistically specific landlord-tenant and fair housing legal services.
● $735,000 to advance emerging or expanded policies and initiatives from the Joint Office on Homelessness.
We feel that it is imperative to take action and encourage Portland and Multnomah County Elected Officials to maintain the existing funding, and support the listed add-ons. Call or write to your Elected Officials today!
City Of Portland:
Mayor Ted Wheeler
Phone: 503-823-4120
Email: mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Chloe Eudaly
Phone: 503-823-4682
Email: chloe@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Nick Fish
Phone: 503-823-3589
Email: nick@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Amanda Fritz
Phone: 503-823-3008
Email: Amanda@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Dan Saltzman
Phone: 503-823-4151
Email: dan@portlandoregon.gov
Multnomah County Commissioners
Chair Deborah Kafoury
Phone: 503-988-3308
Email: mult.chair@multco.us
Commissioner Sharon Meieran
Phone: 503.988.5220
Email: district1@multco.us
Commissioner Loretta Smith
Phone: 503-988-5219
Email: district2@multco.us
Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson
Phone: 503-988-5217
Email: district3@multco.us
Commissioner Lori Stegmann
Phone: 503-988-5213
Email: district4@multco.us
If you’d like to provide an in-person testimony at Budget Committee Hearings, check out these listings:
Multnomah County
Wednesday, May 2, 2018, 6:00pm – 8:00 pm
IRCO: 10301 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97220
Multnomah County
Wednesday, May 9, 2018, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Boardroom – Multnomah Building
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Multnomah County
Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 6:00pm – 8:00 pm
East County Building, Sharron Kelley Rooms
600 NE 8th St, Gresham, OR 97030
May 10, 2018, 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Council Chambers, Portland City Hall
1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204
May 16, 2018, 2:00pm
Council Chambers, Portland City Hall
1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204
The Welcome Home Coalition has provided helpful talking points for calls, letters/emails, or in-person testimonials:
Thank you to Multnomah County for approving significant increases in resources in the last few years to the Joint Office of Homeless Services, the Housing Bureau, and the Office of Rental Services, the Housing Bureau, and the Office of Rental Services. In the midst of our housing crisis, it is vital we address homelessness, housing affordability, and displacement, and maintaining resources that are critical to addressing the problem in the next fiscal year and beyond.
The city must continue to allocate more general fund resources for affordable homeownership and rental housing and continue to explore additional sources of dedicated revenue for
affordable housing. (Your organization here) does not support cuts to the Housing Bureau budget during a housing crisis, particularly those that would cut services for the Joint Office of Homeless Services. At JOIN, we believe that supporting the efforts of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to transition into permanent housing is of the utmost
importance. Please consider reaching out to your Elected Officials in support of the existing funding and add-ons today!