Advocacy

Since Northwest Pilot Project was founded almost 50 years ago, Portland and the surrounding area has grown and prospered. Oregon is now one of the top five states for incoming residents. There are at least 30 cranes dotting the skyline in Multnomah County. But that prosperity has created, ironically, a misfortune for the elderly poor, who have been squeezed out of their apartments as property values rise. Displacement is especially difficult for older adults, and particularly for those with disabilities.

In Oregon, a minimum wage worker ($10.75/hr) has to work 65 hours each week just to afford a 1 bedroom apartment at the fair market rate (FMR). That rate is now $904.00 per month. The average NWPP client can afford, on average, to pay only $392.00 per month. According to The National Low Income Housing Coalition Out of Reach 2018 report Oregon ranks 17th on the list of most expensive states in which to rent an apartment.

NWPP Advocacy Priorities for FY 24-25

As NWPP’s advocacy work has expanded, we have prioritized four key areas of work. This work, which builds on decades of advocacy work led by former NWPP Executive Director Susan Emmons and our late colleague Bobby Weinstock, is centered on the housing needs of our clients.

Housing Affordability

NWPP will focus on the multiple issues that tie to housing affordability, from advocating for more long-term rental vouchers to working to increase utility reimbursement rates for our clients in subsidized housing. We’ll also be advocating for increased housing production, and the intentional intersection between aging, disabilities, and the age friendly concept.

Housing Access

While there is a new prioritization for shelters, NWPP will work to ensure that any new shelters are accessible for older adults. We’ll continue working to reduce the barriers currently built into the rental housing screening process, such as credit and eviction history, to ensure that all our clients have a chance to get approved for housing. We will also work with our housing partners to speed up the lease up process once a client is approved for housing.

Health and Housing Integration

Access to health care services remains a priority for our clients. NWPP will continue to break down access barriers, and make it easier for both clients and NWPP case managers to get access to medical providers, and additional funding for health related social needs services.

In-Home Services

Thanks to the progress we’ve made in getting in-home services like housekeeping for our clients, NWPP will be addressing the larger issue of the shortage of home care workers, and the challenges in getting Medicaid service approvals for home care.

NWPP helps low-income seniors in Multnomah County navigate the course to permanent housing they can afford. Your support helps us provide housing search assistance, case management, short-term assistance, and moving costs. Click here to donate.

NWPP Housing Forum
Our Invisible Neighbors: Understanding and Addressing Elder Homelessness

On Oct 8, 2024, NWPP and PSU Institute on Aging hosted a first-ever Housing Forum – Our Invisible Neighbors: Understanding and Addressing Elder Homelessness. It was a great success and a great opporuntiy for the community to learn more about the intersection of aging and housing stablity. A big thank you to our keynote speaker, Marisa Espinoza (Policy Analyst – UCSF Benioff Homeless and Housing Initiative), and our Panelists: Dr. Paula Carder (PSU’s Institute on Aging ), Dr. Marisa Zapata (Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative) , Dr. Walt Dawson, (Oregon’s Center of Excellence in Behavioral Health & Aging housed at OHSU/PSU), Yoni Kahn – Advocacy Director at NWPP, and Marisa Espinoza (UCSF).

What You Can Do To Help

Each of us can make a difference when we raise our voice. You can advocate for low-income seniors to have decent housing they can afford.

Get Informed

Learn about the current housing crisis by checking out the following resources:

Get Involved

Attend local government meetings – city council, county commissions – to learn what elected leaders in your community are doing about housing and homelessness.
Contact your elected officials and let them know what you think. To find your U.S. and State Legislators go to www.house.gov
Contact us if you have questions.