The House Committee on Housing is grappling with housing for Oregon’s farmworkers — an estimated 178,758 workers and their family members, according to Oregon State University.
House Bill 2096, which had a hearing before the housing committee Feb. 25, seeks to promote farmworker housing by offering nonprofit organizations and other developers tax credits.
“It’s hard to think of a population that has been more affected by our compounded crises than our agricultural worker community,” Margaret Salazar, the director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, told committee members during the hearing.
“It goes without question that agricultural workers are among the most essential workers in our state,” Salazar said. “And when COVID hit, farmworkers couldn’t work from home or meet virtually like we are today. Our agricultural workers are on the frontline during the pandemic, working hard to provide food for all of our families.”
Maria Guerra, the executive director of the Farmworker Housing Development Corporation in Woodburn, said she is concerned the bill could be misused.
“I am open to working with Oregon Housing and Community Services staff members to deeply look into this bill and make sure that the allocation of tax credits goes directly to the families in need and not to those who might not have the same need as our Oregon farmworkers,” Guerra said.
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Renters testify against no-cause evictions
Housing committee members last week heard testimony on House Bill 2372, banning no-cause evictions in Oregon.
“No one deserves to have a landlord simply say, ‘Get out’ with no explanation,” renter James Harrison testified.
“Simply having to move, in this day and this market, is alone enough to bring on a heart attack,” Harrison said. “Add to that a no-warning eviction, and you can put people into a financial, mental, emotional tailspin.”
The issue is simple, he added. “Without cause is without justice.”
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