As tenants and prospective homeowners, we know our housing system is not set up for affordability, or even livability in many cases.
We will advocate for tenants rights and for policies that increase our affordable housing supply.
We support the passage of a Tenants’ Bill of Rights, a suite of legal mechanisms that protect renters from landlord exploitation. These laws work to affirm the rights of renters against health hazards, harassment, and displacement.
Partner with local advocacy groups to provide ongoing Tenant’s Rights education, ensuring renters are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves against unfair housing practices.
Create opportunities for shared equity models of home ownership that lower the economic barriers for entry, like co-op housing and land trusts. Investments into alternative housing will create affordable, beautiful spaces that emphasize community connection through stable living.
SquareOne Villages is a Lane County non-profit whose mission is to create self-managed communities of cost-effective homes through innovative ownership structure that promotes sustainable resident-owned housing for a variety of income levels. They work to create democratic communities with homes that are permanently affordable and environmentally sustainable and have achieved this success in a number of places.
The Oregon Cooperative Housing Network and Co-operative Housing International further states the economic, social, and physical benefits to coop housing models are as follows:
Economic Advantages
Affordability: Cooperative housing offers lower down payments, reduced closing costs, and longer mortgage terms, making it more affordable than traditional homeownership.
Stable Costs: Monthly housing charges in cooperatives tend to remain stable since they only increase with rising taxes or operational costs.
Tax Benefits: Cooperative members are typically considered homeowners for tax purposes, allowing them to deduct their share of real estate taxes and mortgage interest.
Equity Building: Members can build equity over time, with market-rate cooperatives reflecting market conditions and limited-equity cooperatives ensuring long-term affordability.
Limited Liability: Members are not personally liable for the cooperative’s mortgage, making homeownership accessible to those who might not qualify for a traditional mortgage.
Collective Consumer Power: Cooperatives allow members to collectively influence local tax rates, utility prices, and service quality, leveraging their collective power to advocate for better conditions.
Social Advantages
Control and Stability: Cooperative housing eliminates the role of an outside landlord, giving members greater control over their living environment and ensuring secure tenure.
Community Participation: Members actively participate in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of community and shared ownership.
Cultural Diversity: Cooperative communities often bring together people from diverse backgrounds, fostering inclusivity and cultural exchange.
Extended Services: Cooperatives can organize additional services, such as preschools, food-buying clubs, or senior support, that enhance the quality of life for members.
Physical Benefits
Shared Maintenance: Cooperative members share maintenance responsibilities, with the cooperative association handling major repairs, insurance, and common area upkeep.
Enhanced Security: Cooperative ownership often leads to reduced vandalism, improved security arrangements, and a decrease in neighborhood crime, as members are more invested in protecting their property.