As we move towards election season it’s important to know where candidates and political parties stand on issues. The Democratic Party has party platforms at the national, state and local levels that cover various issues. One topic addressed at all levels is the need for affordable housing. This includes housing for those who are unhoused.
Democratic platforms at all three levels speak with one voice on housing issues, stating that housing is a basic need/right for everyone. Without housing the rest of life’s necessities, including maintaining one’s health and safety, providing for personal bodily needs and being able to get and hold a job, are difficult if not impossible. The link between housing and a stable life is called Housing First, because having permanent and stable housing is the foundation on which everything else is built.
This need for affordable housing is an issue in our community. This is seen in low rental vacancies, driving up costs for housing; a lack of workplace housing creating difficulties for employers to attract and keep workers. Many people pay over 30% of their income on housing costs making addressing other essential needs problematic. Finally, our housing shortage is evident in a large number of unhoused people consisting of families, children and individuals. This reality of inadequate housing is not unique to our community but exists throughout Oregon.
Because of its importance, the governor declared a housing emergency on her administration’s first day and the State Legislature has made an unprecedented effort, over the past few legislative sessions, to put significant resources into all types of housing.
Programs were developed and regulatory changes made to help create more single-family homeowners, to build more affordable multi-family units and to provide more support for those at risk of losing their housing as well as those who are newly and chronically houseless, including our veterans.
Our community has benefitted and will continue to benefit in the future from many of these legislative efforts. Organizations like the Housing Authority, UCAN, NeighborWorks Umpqua, Adapt, Onward, Umpqua Heart, Housing First Umpqua, Peace at Home and others have already addressed the sheltering needs of many of our neighbors and are working to meet more. The Gary Lief Navigation Center is one specific result of this investment.
Despite extensive efforts, more needs to be done. The city of Roseburg needs to put more effort into establishing an urban campground for people living rough on the streets. Getting this done is critical and needs to occur soon. We encourage the homeless commission and city to lean into this effort. There is also a need for housing for people moving from the streets, by developing tiny homes or cottage villages. This is an unmet dream that Rep. Lief had for our community and needs to be made a reality. The city of Roseburg should look at amending building codes to encourage this type of development. The city of Sutherlin is developing similar housing options. We commend their leadership in this arena. Hopefully Roseburg can learn from them. You can help by calling the city and expressing your support for getting these done.
The recent impetus for finding housing and sheltering solutions for the unhoused is driven by court rulings that assert legal action against the unhoused is unlawful if no alternative housing or shelter exists. This is a concept called “right to rest,” meaning that unhoused people have the legal right to conduct basic life-sustaining activities like sitting, lying, resting or eating in public unless they are offered housing or shelter. This is opposed to the current practice of ongoing displacement of people, which does not solve homelessness but harms efforts to help people off the streets. We agree with these court rulings. Not only are they morally just, but these rulings have caused all sectors of communities (city, county, churches, non-profits, businesses) to work together, sometimes for the first time, to find solutions. This cooperation led to the opening of the Gary Lief Navigation Center, the opening of warming and cooling centers, the establishment of the Roseburg Homeless Commission, new sheltering options in Sutherlin and efforts to establish an approved urban campground.
These court rulings are currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court.
Though they have not yet made a decision, they may limit or overturn these previous restrictions. Despite how they rule, our current cooperative efforts must continue due to Oregon law and because it is the right thing to do. Finding long-term solutions requires everyone to speak up and work together.
If you are concerned about the issue, please contact local city councilors, mayors and county commissioners to let them know that the status quo is not ok and that action needs to be taken ASAP.
Also, know that we Democrats are here working to bring solutions and resources to keep the current momentum going to address our multiple housing needs, and end homelessness humanely.
This article was published in the News-Review on Jun 1 2024.