Our democracy – our system of representative government – is like a muscle. We can use it and make it strong, or we can let it atrophy through inattentiveness and inaction.

Alison McIntosh is the deputy director of policy and communications at Neighborhood Partnerships, which convenes the Oregon Housing Alliance. Photo courtesy of Neighborhood Partnerships

Here in Oregon, we have been using our democracy muscles! Late this fall, Street Roots, the Housing Alliance and over 160 other organizations endorsed the Yes for Health Care campaign. For the Housing Alliance, we know that people shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent and going to the doctor. We flexed our democratic muscles by door knocking, phone calling and voting. We mailed in our ballots, and together with hundreds of thousands of other Oregonians, we protected people’s access to health care.

Here in Oregon, we pride ourselves on being involved in our systems of government. The more we use our democracy, the stronger it gets. The more we, as voters and residents of this state, share our perspectives and priorities with our elected officials, the easier it gets. I believe the more we activate these important muscles and engage with our government, the more it will reflect our values, hopes and dreams.

On Feb. 5, the Oregon Legislature will convene for a short, 35-day legislative session. The Legislature will take up questions about increasing sustainable funding for affordable housing, additional resources for emergency shelter and other critically important topics, such as climate change.

This legislative session is the perfect time to help strengthen our democratic muscles – to call or email our elected officials in Salem, help them understand what’s happening in our communities and ask for their support for issues we care about.

This session, the Oregon Housing Alliance will be in Salem, advocating to make sure more Oregonians have a safe, stable and affordable place to call home. Our members have put together an agenda that we think will make a huge difference, not just in the coming year, but for the future, too.

Since 2009, Oregon has had a modest document recording fee for affordable housing. When someone buys, refinances or changes the title on their home, they pay a small fee to make sure everyone else has the opportunity that a stable home creates. That fee goes to prevent and end homelessness, to build and preserve affordable housing and to help people access affordable homeownership. Since 2009, we’ve helped thousands of Oregonians secure a new place to call home, or helped them stay in an existing home.

In 2018, the Housing Alliance will be asking the Legislature to increase this fee. When we pay the document recording fee for affordable housing, we can help Oregonians with low incomes achieve the dream of a stable apartment or even down payment assistance to buy their first home. By increasing the document recording fee for housing, we can create more positive change in our communities for people experiencing housing instability.

Gaining ground for housing opportunity is never easy. Last session, many of you came down to Salem with us to ask the Legislature to protect tenants by getting rid of no-cause evictions through House Bill 2004. We weren’t successful – there were far too many powerful interests lined up to protect the status quo.

There are powerful people participating and influencing all levels of government who want to keep things the way they are – who want to keep the power for landlords and not tenants, or power for the rich and not the many. While they have money and influence on their side, we have people on our side, and we need to build our strength, our voice and our muscles to get ready to seize housing opportunity for more Oregonians. To make lasting change, we’re going to have to build a movement. Let’s start now.

How will you engage your democracy muscles during February? And after that? Voting is not enough. To make our democracy stronger and to build a movement for housing, we all need to take more steps forward. Make a plan for action:

1. Pledge to call or email your state representative and senator at least once during the legislative session. It’s easy to find out who they are. Simply visit the Legislature's "Who represents me in Oregon?" Web page and type in your address.

2. Once you know who they are, ask them to support increased resources for affordable homes by increasing the document recording fee. Ask them to vote yes on House Bill 4007.

3. Consider attending your legislators’ town halls. Ask them to address something you care about. Are you concerned about making sure there is more affordable rental housing? What about making sure we have enough emergency winter shelters? Share your priorities and your values with your legislator!

4. Get more involved. In May and November, Oregon will have elections for all levels of elected office and important ballot measures. Learn about what’s happening, and consider getting involved by volunteering for something you care about.

Everyone can find a way to participate, and everyone’s voice matters. As we continue to exercise our democracy muscles, our community will grow stronger and will begin to be the community we’ve always wanted – one where all people have access to a stable home.

Alison McIntosh is the deputy director of policy and communications at Neighborhood Partnerships, which convenes the Oregon Housing Alliance.

Street Roots is an award-winning, nonprofit, weekly newspaper focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. Our newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Learn more about Street Roots