Leadership Training
Voices for Housing Justice
Voices for Housing Justice aims to build a network of empowered housing advocates with lived experience with homelessness or housing insecurity.
Why Leadership Trainings?
Welcome Home’s Voices for Housing Justice leadership trainings are guided by our vision of a future of housing options that meet the real needs of people in our region and policies that work to eliminate inequities in race and class in housing outcomes. To do this work, we know that it is essential to uplift the voices of those most affected by harmful housing policies. We also recognize that policy advocacy is time-intensive and often inaccessible for many people. Currently, we offer a four-session advocacy training program for cohorts of individuals with lived experience. The program offers basic education about housing policy in our region, the importance of storytelling for advocacy, and practice crafting personal stories. The goal of the program is to empower people who want to see more accessible and affordable housing in our region. The training aspires to enable people to tell their housing stories from a place of confidence.
How do we remove barriers to participating in the training & the coalition?
In order to acknowledge the time and expertise that advocates bring to these trainings, we pay each participant and provide food. We also provide childcare and transportation assistance, if needed. There is no cost to organizations for hosting our advocacy trainings.
Who is involved?
Our Voices for Housing Justice Manager partners with housing and direct service organizations along with communities of advocates to host our trainings. Trainings are organized into cohorts that reflect shared life experiences. You do not need to be a member of our coalition to host a training as we are always excited to meet with new partners also passionate about housing justice!
How do I get involved?
Email us! There is no cohort too small and all experiences are valid. We must use our collective power to ensure the public and policymakers invest in policies that fund and enable access to housing options that meet the real needs of people in our region!
“Welcome Home created a safe environment that allowed us to be vulnerable and share our experiences openly. The positive reinforcement has reignited my passion for what I love and for advocating for what I believe in. Welcome Home shared a wealth of knowledge in a way that was both accessible and impactful.” – VHJ Participant
Mission and Vision
Mission
Welcome Home is a multicultural and intersectional alliance in the Portland Metropolitan Region that uses its collective resources to build a movement for housing justice. We believe that everyone deserves to have an affordable and safe home in a neighborhood of their choice. We use community education, research, training, and advocacy to advance housing policies that enable all our neighbors to thrive.
Vision
We envision a future of housing options that meet the real needs of people in our region. We strive to eliminate inequities in housing outcomes based on race and class.
History
Rents were increasing up to 30%, vacancy rates were at 2%, homeless shelters were becoming more packed, and communities of color were becoming increasingly displaced.
JOIN, Street Roots, ROSE Community Development Corporation, Housing Oregon, Community Alliance of Tenants, and the Native American Youth and Family Center decided to form a coalition to bring together the many voices concerned with the lack of funding at a time when cuts to safety net services were devastating.
The director hired, built out basic infrastructure on a shoestring budget; researched national approaches and best practices to generate revenue at the local level.
Developed leadership training and speaker’s bureau to support community members to play a key role as advocates - testify, share their story, and campaign.
Increased Portland’s TIF affordable housing set aside from 30% to 45% generating $67 million more over 10 years.
Passed $1.2 million annually in lodging taxes dedicated to Portland’ Housing Investment Fund.
Advocated for increase in City of Portland’s affordable housing budget to $64 million over the next decade.
Passed a construction excise tax in the City of Portland that will generate bringing in $8 million annually.
Conducted a public research poll that showed 62% interest in a property tax and bond to fund affordable housing.
Mobilized over 5,000 volunteers in a campaign that secured $258 million in new funds for the city of Portland.
Inform the development of a bond framework for the City of Portland Housing Bureau.
Increased Portland’s TIF affordable housing set aside from 30% to 45% generating $67 million more over 10 years.
Passed $1.2 million annually in lodging taxes dedicated to Portland’ Housing Investment Fund.
Advocated for increase in City of Portland’s affordable housing budget to $64 million over the next decade.
Passed a construction excise tax in the City of Portland that will generate bringing in $8 million annually.
Begin advocacy for Metrowide regional housing for $652 million.
Served as a key stakeholder on Yes for Affordable Housing campaign.
Our community is stronger when we work together. Join us in ensuring all our neighbors have an affordable place to call home.
Contact Us
Send Us a Message
Have a question or comment? Please fill out this contact form or send us an email at Info@WelcomeHomeCoalition.org and we will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
Contact Info
info@welcomehomecoalition.org
(971) 291-3750
PO Box 11467
Portland, OR 97211
Help us continue to build a movement to ensure everyone has a safe, stable and accessible home.
Help us continue to build a
movement to ensure everyone has
a safe, stable and accessible home.
Help us continue to build a
movement to ensure everyone has
a safe, stable and accessible home.
Our Work
Our Strategies
Advocacy
As a coalition of service providers, affordable housing developers, and neighbors with a shared vision of a region where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home, we work together to advocate for policies that address the root causes of our housing crisis.
Community Education
We are invested in increasing housing equity across Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington County. As a part of this work, we host community education events to uplift policies that center those most impacted by the housing crisis.
Research
Our coalition has championed two affordable housing bonds in the last decade. Looking forward, we are committed to using research to adapt to the changing needs of our community.
Our Coalition's Impact
Our coalition has championed two housing bonds in the last decade. As of 2023, these public investments have produced more affordable units than initially promised to voters. Together, these funds will result in the following outcomes:
6,500
New Affordable Homes
$928
Million Invested
19,000
Individuals Served
2,400
Deeply Affordable Units
