Building-Based Organizing

Landlords in Oregon are required to make repairs and maintain our units in good condition (ORS 90.320). Renters within the city of Portland (and many other cities) are also protected a Property Maintenance Code and can report housing code violation to the city. But members from the Community Alliance of Tenants have still identified repair issues as one of the top challenges facing renters in the state of Oregon. Unfortunately, many low-income renters are not getting the essential repairs they need: inadequate heating, leaking plumbing, bugs/rodents, mold, and chipping or peeling lead paint. When landlords don’t make repairs to our rental units, we pay for it with poor conditions, damaged belongings, and illness.

Even though you have the right to demand repairs and safe housing, the Community Alliance of Tenants always encourages tenants to work together with their neighbors in the building. If you are experiencing problems getting repairs in your apartment, it is very likely that your neighbors may be experiencing the same thing. Working with your neighbors is the most effective way to get repairs made and to protect against retaliation- harassment, illegal eviction, or illegal rent increases. Through collective action, tenants gain strength and reduce their chances of being retaliated against by their landlord for demanding improvements that are required under the law.

The Safe Housing Project provides direct assistance to tenants wishing to build tenant power by using grassroots organizing techniques. Tenants that use the Safe Housing Project develop skills in leadership, public speaking, meeting facilitation, and grassroots organizing. Tenants also receive educational brochures and workshops on renters’ rights and in-door health hazards. The Safe Housing Project shows renters in apartment complexes in the Portland area how to organize around essential repair issues by demanding for safe, stable and affordable housing. The Safe Housing Project provides renters experiencing repair problems with renters’ education, expertise around city code, and support to fight for better quality housing.

The goal of the project is to improve housing conditions and build tenant power through education, training and building-based organizing.

* Do door-to-door outreach to get other tenants in your building involved.
* Organize and facilitate tenants’ meeting to discuss repair needs throughout the complex.
* Provide education about renters’ right and tools to identify hazards within the home through workshops.
* Support tenants’ action to get repairs.
* Provide legal referrals and technical support.
* Train and provide advocacy opportunities for tenants to repair and habitability issues to the city and media on a larger scale.

The first step is for neighbors to start talking to each other. Through collective action, tenants gain strength and reduce their chances of being retaliated against by their landlord for demanding improvements that are required under the law. If you live in the Portland area and would like more information about organizing in you building contact the Safe Housing Project by or call 503-460-9702.

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