The latest Street Roots reports that “when legislators convene in Salem for the Legislature’s month-long session, scheduled to begin Feb. 3, they are likely to focus on economic development, job growth, continuing to fund and reform education, and pass legislation that didn’t quite make it during the 2013 session.” (See, “Poverty issues to mostly take a back seat in Salem”).
Street Roots is excited to know that many people experiencing homelessness and poverty will now have the opportunity to access health care. It’s our belief that if health care reform maintains its course, homelessness could be curbed dramatically in the years to come. Time will tell.
It’s also true that prioritizing economic development and job growth is a step in the right direction. Access to living-wage jobs would have a dramatic effect on individuals and families experiencing poverty, including homelessness. It’s yet to be seen if a focus on job growth and a projected economic recovery actually offers relief for low-income people, or if it’s smoke and mirrors.
The reality is we need more living wage jobs to bring people out of poverty. Without strategically engaging blue-collar workers and people experiencing poverty — we will fall short in Oregon if the only job growth we see is service industry jobs and jobs that people without an education can’t obtain.
On the housing front, advocates are hoping for small gains.
Elected officials have the opportunity to offer a measly $2 million increase for the second half of the biennium into the Emergency Housing Account and the State Homeless Assistance Program to prevent and end homelessness ($4 million over the biennium). We know that isn’t enough to solve the local problems plaguing many communities.
We’re cautiously optimistic that elected officials can put politics aside and give working individuals and families a small bump in the up-and-coming budget. It’s the least the legislature can do. Oregonians around the state continue to struggle to maintain a safe place to call home.
Street Roots knows housing is fundamental to accomplishing so many of the goals the state has set – health care reform, education, job growth, etc. Without housing for Oregonians with low incomes, none of that can happen successfully.
Legislators have a real opportunity to deliver on the emergency housing account — signaling to Oregonians that Salem does care for its most vulnerable citizens and are willing to go to bat for those less fortunate.
