The signers of this petition call on the either Governor Kate Brown or the Oregon Legislature to call a special session of the legislature. As legislators are likely aware, there is a housing crisis occurring in the Portland, Oregon Metro Area affecting multiple cities and counties as record high rents combined with high vacancy are allowing greedy and exploitative landlords to charge exorbitant rent and in some cases, do mass evictions so that they can renovate a property only to put it back on the market at often 100-200% increases.

This housing crisis is so significant that the Portland City Council declared a state of emergency and during their session, described how limited their ability is to take the needed action to help residents facing this crisis. They describe how the Oregon Legislature has failed to remove the preemption on rent control and inclusionary zoning. While the Portland City Council did enact some protections, the protections only do so much and the City of Portland and all metro area cities need to be able to create local Rent Control and Inclusionary Zoning laws and also need more funding for affordable and workforce priced housing and more shelter beds.

Now we hear of Eugene calling on the Governor Kate Brown to declare an emergency on homelessness. The fact is, Oregonians in cities across the state are facing homelessness due to a lack of affordable housing. Cities alone are not equipped to address this emergency. It would be careless and reckless for the Oregon Legislature and Governor to not act now.

We demand that the Oregon Legislature convene a special session to address this housing crisis and bring the bold change Oregonians need to be protected and not be displaced. Residents cannot wait until the short session and see more of their neighbors displaced and made homeless in the middle of the winter.



Some of the bold changes wee we propose are: