Affordable Housing

Oregon Opportunity Network An association of Portland’s non-profit community development corporations.
Housing Connections. Affordable, accessible housing in the Portland metro area. They also have a great resource list including the Portland Community Land Trust and Ready to Rent classes for people with rental barriers.
National Low Income Housing Coalition. National advocates for affordable housing.
211info.  211 is a warehouse of social services information line for the Portland metro area. You can also dial 211 or 222-5555 for help locating any community service in the Portland metro area.

Tenant-Landlord law links

Oregon Law Help  Questions and answers about tenant-landlord law in easy to understand language. 

Oregon Statues for Tenant-Landlord Law.  This is a direct link to ORS 90.  Be careful when reading the statutes—they are easy to misinterpret. Call our hotline or check out our web resources for help.

Government Links
City of Portland Neighborhood Inspections Program. Call this department if your landlord is not making requested repairs and you live in Portland. You can also view the city housing code here.

Portland Maps. Research any property in Portland to find out if it has housing code violations by clicking Permits/Cases after you’ve typed in the address.

Habitability
Environmental Protection Agency. Has information on the health effects of mold.
LeadLine for Multnomah County


Legal Links

Fair Housing Council. They deal with housing discrimination.
Legal Aid for Low-Income Oregonians
Oregon State Bar. They can refer you to a Landlord/Tenant Law specialist in your area. The Modest Means program will refer low-income folks to low-cost lawyers.

Disability Rights Oregon. Help for people with legal issues related to their disability.


Organizing

The Midwest Academy. National training in community organizing.
Western States Center is building a progressive movement for justice in the west.


Other

Independent Living Resources. Support for people with disabilities in the Portland metro area.
Oregon Food Bank Advocacy and food for low-income Oregonians.

211info is a warehouse of social services information line for the Portland metro area. dial 211 or 222-5555 for help locating any community service in the Portland metro area.

Resolutions Northwest is a free service that uses trained staff and volunteers to help people on different sides of disputes sit down together and reach an agreement.

Other Tenants’ Organizations around the Country*

Tenants Union of Washington State

Coalition for Economic Survival (Los Angeles)
Tenant.net (New York) Also contains a thorough listing of tenant unions throughout the U.S.
*These are just a few. Search the internet to see if your state or city has a tenants’ union.