Advocacy
Advocacy at Northwest Pilot Project
Since Northwest Pilot Project was founded 40 years ago, Portland has prospered. But that prosperity has created, ironically, a misfortune for the elderly poor, who have been squeezed out of downtown as property values rise. One of our saddest tasks has been relocating seniors as building after building closes downtown in order to make way for "progress" We are persistent in reminding Portland that the elderly cannot be simply uprooted after decades. They cannot be separated from doctor, church, senior services, library and stores, because the trauma, disappointment and loneliness make it nearly impossible to ever reconstruct a whole life. So we advocate on behalf of the poor and elderly, lobbying to keep a place for them in the center of the city.
NWPP advocates increasing the supply, affordability and accessibility of housing. We advocate with government entities including the City of Portland, Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, and the federal govenment. We also direct our advocacy at housing authorities, for-profit and non-profit building owners/property managers, and the media.
Advocacy to Increase Housing Supply
- Publish an inventory every few years of all affordable housing in downtown Portland to draw attention to the loss of affordable units over time.
- Urge preservation of all existing affordable buildings.
- Urge development of new affordable buildings.
Advocacy to Increase Housing Affordability
- Urge 100% utilization of all existing Section 8 and public housing rental subsidies.
- Urge increasing the federal HUD budget to increase the amount of rental subsidies available.
- Urge building owners/property managers to keep rents as low as financially possible.
Advocacy to Increase Housing Accessibility
- Urge building owners/property managers to utilize flexible applicant admission criteria.
- Facilitate quarterly meeting of property managers and social service providers to create new partnerships and remove barriers to low income people obtaining apartments.
- Urge increase in financial assistance to low income applicants with application fees, security deposits, first month's rent and other move-in costs.