Neighborhood Organizing

Lents Strong Housing Team: Legislative and Policy Group (Ameera Saahir, Marih Alyn-Claire & Luke Bonham-Rose staff) co-led a Legislative-Prep Workshop 1/26/19  with Community Alliance of Tenants staff, Coya Crespin, assisting SE Portland Renters to prepare their  testimonies  for the 2019 legislative session. 

Gresham Housing  for the People Coalition of tenants meet the 2nd Tuesday of each  Month.  Tenants are working to gain tenant protections on par with Portland renters. Several renters now occupy seats on the Gresham Housing Task Force.  They are pushing the City Council and Mayor Bemis to enact protective measures against high rent increases, retaliation by landlords and gentrification causing renters to lose their homes. 

The power is in YOU.  Change begins when you take the first step.  Invite two of your neighbors for coffee.  Share information about rents, repairs, fees, threats of retaliation.  Develop channels of communication, building trust and a sense of community  together.  Focus on mutual needs and ways to support one another.   Set  mutual goals and brainstorm ways to overcome barriers.  Seek support from other tenant groups, organizations  and building unions.   Don't be afraid to reach out for assistance .

Coya Crespin shares her  emotional  story during the Legislative Prep Workshop: her  hard won experience  of triumph organizing  tenants in her building, protecting her family and fellow renters from losing their homes in 2017 following a no cause eviction at Titon Manor.

 I had no idea in 1995 when I could no longer work due to the impact of brain injury, that I would become a tenant advocate and leader.  Our building received notice that we had 60 days to move, or come up with $1500 for rent.  The building was being sold and turned into condos.  We all won time to move and received all the support we needed, ONLY because two of us organized and demanded our rights.  Marih Alyn-Claire 

Wimby Tenant have formed a Tenant Union after suffering habitability conditions of : mold, construction, water shut-off.  Check out their  FB page