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Why I'm Headed to Salem on May 10
I remember the first time I met Mike. He was living in the breezeway behind my church in North Portland, and all he had to his name was a too-small bike, a few blankets, and whatever food he'd scrounged from nearby restaurants. I got to know Mike well over the next five years, visiting him in the hospital when he was hit by a car, sharing food and bus tickets and bike locks and stories about our lives.
He'd been homeless for years, and I knew - I KNEW - a measure of our church's integrity in mission would be finding him a safe, long-lasting, supportive place to live.
And then, one of our Coalition congregations, St. Johns Church, built 19 units of tiny homes next door and suddenly Mike's future was different. He moved in, got a case manager, and finally got identifying documentation. I watched him transform slowly, first simply looking more rested, then taking on an informal leadership role in the village. He smiled. The evidence that 'Housing First' actually works was clear.
In the last five years with the Coalition, I've kept Mike in my heart. He's one of the reasons I will never give up on congregations stewarding our land toward housing. Our mercy ministries matter, they do. But we mustn't just meet daily needs like meals and clothing. Without us at the fore, folks like Mike don't find housing, so we have the responsibility to build it.
That's why I want to invite you to Advocacy Day on May 10 in Salem, sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. On that day, hundreds of us will gather to tell our elected officials in person that faith communities like ours need help - and MONEY - to build housing for folks like Mike, for our neighbors being displaced by gentrification, for our families and friends who can't afford to stay in the homes they already have.
Together, we'll specifically ask our leaders to pass House Bill 3482, which will offer over $20 million dollars in government grants and loans to congregations who could finally build housing if we had the funds to pay for pre-development costs and community engagement related to building affordable housing on our land.
St. Johns Church needed this money to help organize their neighbors, who initially strongly opposed the village they built. Many more of us haven't gotten even that far because we need this funding. As of today, I know of 48 congregations across Oregon who would use this money if this bill passes.
Details are below, and more to come in the next two weeks. I hope to see you and all of your people there!
For Mike and for all of our neighbors,
Jules
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Advocacy Day 'Know Before You Go'
ISSUES You'll have the opportunity to advocate for bills related to Housing & Homelessness, Climate, Gun Violence Prevention,Healthcare, and Immigration & Refugees. The Coalition's own bill, HB 3482 will be highlighted.
REGISTER Please register by May 5. Registration covers the cost of lunch. (Regular registration is $20, students $10.) Choose the 'scholarship' option if this registration cost is at all a burden. Your presence is most important!
SCHEDULE A detailed agenda will follow in the next week.
- Morning Session (St. Mark's Lutheran, Salem): 9am to 12pm. We'll attend issue briefs and workshops on advocating for compassionate legislation with elected officials.
- Lunch: approximately 12pm to 1pm, after which we'll walk to the Statehouse together.
- Afternoon Session (Statehouse): Meetings with state legislators. Afternoon meetings with State Legislators will be scheduled for you to join, times will vary. Talking points and legislative appointments will be provided.
RIDE SHARING The Land & Housing Coalition is offering ride-sharing. For rides near you, come to the parking lot of the nearest location below. Departure time is 8:00am.
- Gethsemane Lutheran (11560 SE Market St, Portland, OR 97216) - questions can be directed to Alyssa Walker-Keller
- Aloha United Methodist (2270 SW 198th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97006) - questions can be directed to Jake Bailey
- Westminster Presbyterian (1624 NE Hancock St, Portland, OR 97212) - questions can be directed to Sarah Loose
QUESTIONS For general information, contact emo@emoregon.org or (503) 221-1054
Register here!
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