We need your voice to advocate for more safe, stable, and affordable homes.
It’s budget time in the Oregon Legislature, and we are calling all housing advocates! We need your help to advocate for more resources to help people with low incomes to get or maintain access to homeownership!
This week we are asking for your help to call your Legislators about helping people with low incomes to access or maintain an affordable homeownership opportunity.
Can you spare five minutes to write an email or call your Legislator? We’ll make it easy:
First, find your Representative and Senator. There are two Legislators who represent you in Salem, and we want you to contact both of them! Enter your address to find out who they are, and how to reach them.
Second, start your email. Open your letter by sharing your name, and generally where you live (or the area your organization serves). Let them know you’re writing to ask for their support to help make sure every Oregonian has a safe place to call home.
Share either a story about housing needs in your community, or one (only one!) statistic or data point about the housing needs in your community.
Now, ask your Legislators to invest in housing opportunity! This session, the Housing Alliance has a number of budget proposals that we’re advocating for, and right now we want your help to secure resources to help people access and maintain affordable homeownership opportunities.
Last, it’s time for the ask:
- Ask for their support to help people access and maintain affordable homeownership opportunity. We’re not just asking for their vote – we’re asking for these resources to be on their list of things that absolutely must be invested in. Here is a partial list of proposals that will support building and maintaining safe, stable and affordable homes that we’re asking for this session – Pick one to ask for their support on:
- Access to foreclosure counseling! For people facing foreclosure, we need to ensure a trained counselor is there to help them navigate the process, and hopefully come to an agreement with their lender to stay in their home. We’re asking for $1.24 million in SB 820.
- Individual Development Accounts, or IDAs! IDAs are a critical matched savings program which can help people purchase a first home! We’re asking to double the tax credit that funds the program, and make some critical changes in SB 790.
- Critical home repairs! Homeowners with low incomes may need help making critical home repairs that help them stay in their homes, such as putting in a ramp, or repairing a leaky roof. HB 2802 would give people access to this critical service.
- Manufactured home replacements: Thousands of Oregonians live in aging, unhealthy manufactured homes. HB 2896 would help dispose of those old homes, and replace them with more energy efficient, healthier homes.
Remind your Legislator what it means to have a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home, and thank your Legislator for their attention and for their service.
That’s it! Thank you for your advocacy!
