Investments in employment-related daycare, homelessness prevention, and restorative justice in the 2024 legislative session will result in a stronger, healthier community and economy. We applaud the legislature for taking action. These wins mean that more Oregonians will have a better shot at success in very tangible and immediate ways. These investments are a major victory for our people and our state.
At the same time, the legislature underfunded critical programs for immigrant Oregonians. Our communities are stronger and more vibrant thanks to the contributions of immigrants, yet our policies and investments exclude Oregonians based on their immigration status. Without action, this will continue to drive inequality and persistent financial insecurity in immigrant communities. Fairshot remains committed to advancing economic, racial, and gender justice for ALL Oregonians and we will not leave anyone behind.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE WINS:
Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) - $171.2M
Caregiving is the work that makes all other work possible. Oregon families and employers rely on the availability and accessibility of high-quality child care in every corner of the state. More than 16,000 Oregon families rely on ERDC in order to work, go to school, and pay their bills. These investments in child care will keep parents working and ensure kids get the early education they deserve. We will continue to fight for full funding for ERDC to protect the stability of the families in the program, and end the waitlist that is holding back 1,900+ families from participating.
Rental Assistance and Homelessness Prevention - $41M
Rent assistance is the single most effective tool at preventing eviction and homelessness– making sure that landlords get paid and tenants stay housed. Rent and other homelessness prevention programs by community-based and culturally-specific organizations are critical to reaching the Oregonians in every county in the state who are most vulnerable. $7M for the Urban League’s homelessness prevention program and $34M in rental assistance including a 30% set aside for culturally responsive organizations means more Oregonians including people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color will have stable housing.
Healthy Homes - $15M
When everyone in our community has a healthy home with affordable utility bills, it enhances housing security for our most vulnerable Oregonians. 54% of Oregonians live in housing built before 1978 that is energy-inefficient and in need of repairs and weatherproofing. SB 1530 included $15M for Healthy Homes. As a result, Oregonians on the frontlines of climate disaster, including people of color, low-income families, people with disabilities, and those in rural areas will be safer from extreme weather events, wildfires, and earthquakes. SB 1530 provides funding for heat pumps, heating, and cooling shelters so that low-income Oregonians can save on utility bills and become more resilient against the climate crisis.
Restorative Justice - $4M
Restorative justice is a survivor-centered approach to accountability that focuses on promoting healing for those who have been harmed and on fostering true internal accountability for those who have caused harm. This community-based approach to harm serves as an alternative to prosecution. Restorative justice thereby creates a mechanism for relieving the pressure on Oregon’s overburdened court and public defense systems and reducing the state’s reliance on incarceration, while also making communities safer. Restorative justice programs first received funding less than two years ago. In that short amount of time, six new programs were born and two pre-existing programs were able to significantly expand their services. Early results are incredibly promising. $4M in ongoing funding means this important work will continue continue in order to realize restorative justice’s full potential to deliver a just and safe place for all.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Oregon Worker Relief
We urgently need to invest in immigrant justice to ensure due process to protect the rights of those most vulnerable and to ensure farmworkers are safe and financially stable when they lose work or wages due to extreme heat and wildfire smoke. We must prioritize funding for legal aid, housing and worker resources that empower and protect immigrants. Oregon Worker Relief has been a lifeline for immigrant Oregonians through programs including the Climate Change Fund, the Home Fund, and Universal Representation. The community-led approach has helped over 93,000 immigrant Oregonians through emergency relief for farmworkers who face dangerous working conditions from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, rent assistance to keep families housed, and no-cost immigration legal services.
School-Based Health Centers
Many young people in Oregon still lack adequate access to the health care they need — and mental health care in particular — due to stigma, a lack of health insurance, an insurance policy with limited coverage, a lack of understanding about how to access care, poor access to transportation (especially in rural areas), and a lack of medical providers providing care under the Oregon Health Plan. SBHCs address each of these barriers by providing all school-aged youth with the care they need, whether they have private insurance, public assistance, or no insurance.
Student Emergency Needs
College and university students in Oregon are reporting increased rates of food insecurity, housing instability, and challenges affording and accessing textbooks, transportation, childcare, and other basic needs. In 2021, the Oregon State Legislature took a critical step in addressing student basic needs insecurities by passing HB 2835, the Benefits Navigator Bill. This legislation was designed to close opportunity gaps and facilitate economic mobility by increasing access to federal, state, and local benefits for low income students at community colleges and public universities.Funding has not kept up with student demand. Funding basic needs and affordable textbooks is an essential component of a comprehensive statewide affordability strategy for college students.