Community Outreach Leads To Legislative Special Session. Tens Of Thousands Oregonians Protected From Eviction

Our communities have faced unprecedented challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The impacts have only worsened existing health and economic disparities among people of color, immigrants and refugees, single parents and caregivers, and our trans and gender non-conforming neighbors.

Recently, tens of thousands of renters have been facing eviction as they wait for their rental assistance applications to be processed.

That’s why the Oregon Food Bank community has been contacting Governor Brown and State Legislators asking them to call an emergency Special Session of the Oregon Legislature to keep our communities housed and prevent evictions.

Our community is powerful and resilient when we join together. Thanks to community advocates like you, the Special Session happened this week!

Because of the community’s commitment to social justice, the Legislature voted to:

• Protect Oregon renters from eviction until their rental assistance applications are processed

• Fund the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program by $100 million so that Oregonians can still get help paying rent as the pandemic and its economic fallout continue, and

• Invest in longer-term local housing and eviction prevention solutions

“We did this together. The last year and a half have made it clear that when we come together to end the root causes of hunger, we can win - and we did.”

- Leann Knapp, Statewide Community Organizer, Oregon Food Bank

As we celebrate these critical wins, we know that there is more work to do, and we won’t stop working until all Oregonians can #EmergeStronger. In February, the Legislature gathers again and will have the opportunity to make the types of systemic changes our communities need to end hunger.

Will you take a minute now to pledge to be an action taker in support of immigrant rights too?