Housing Justice

The Housing Justice Pillar of Unite Oregon has emerged as a leading force for housing equity and tenant empowerment across the state. Guided by a framework of direct community engagement, "train the trainer" tenant education, and systemic advocacy, our work has empowered marginalized communities, built collaborative partnerships, and driven tangible policy wins - most notably the passage of the Tenant Protections Act, which bans no-cause evictions and requires just cause for termination of tenancy. At the core of our efforts is a deep commitment to building power, knowledge, and resilience within Oregon's immigrant, refugee, working-class, and communities of color. Through innovative programs like our Tenant Rights Education Initiative, we are equipping student advocates and community members with the skills and resources to navigate the complex housing landscape and assert their rights. By leveraging our on-the-ground expertise and amplifying the voices of those we serve, the Housing Justice Pillar is poised to expand its reach and drive even greater change for Oregon's most vulnerable residents in the years ahead.

How we work:

  • Popular Education Curriculum Development: Creating multilingual popular education workshops that build upon renters’ experience and innate knowledge of affordable housing challenges;

  • Leadership Development: Infusing our current structured leadership development programs with curricula designed to identify and develop multi-ethnic affordable housing leaders;

  • Community-Based Research: Producing community-based research documenting the problem and outlining community-validated solutions;

  • Issue Campaigns & Large-Scale Mobilization: Organizing tenants around affordable housing issue campaigns, developing strategy, identifying targets, and approaches to engage and mobilize those most impacted by policies to advocate for change.

Current Projects

  • Collaborative Community Partnerships:

    1. The ADPDX Coalition is a leading force in housing justice, with a membership structure that centers Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color most impacted by gentrification and displacement. We leverage this coalition to set policy agendas, determine political strategy, and build power.

    2. The Fair Housing Enforcement Collaborative (FHEC) is another key partnership, connecting people facing housing discrimination to the right agencies and services in real-time. We are working to expand the scope and funding of this collaborative.

  • Student Collaborations:

    1. Through our JUSTPDX Internship program, we engage Portland State University students across disciplines to develop practical, community-facing tools and resources. One project involves creating a comprehensive housing assistance service guide to improve awareness and accessibility.

  • Housing Resource Referral Program:

    1. Our online intake form connects renters and homeowners to the appropriate community-based organizations and services to address their housing needs. We are working to scale this program statewide over time.

  • Civic Education Workshops:

    1. Our Tenant Tuesday series provides engaging, accessible platforms for renters to learn about their rights, connect with resources, and build community. These workshops also serve as a pipeline to our broader eviction prevention services.

  • Community Engagement & Base Building:

    1. Unite Oregon's Housing Justice Pillar focuses on building power, knowledge, and equity within communities most impacted by gentrification and displacement. This includes leading the ADPDX Coalition's policy advocacy, facilitating the FHEC, and operating the Housing Resource Referral Program.

Join our team!

Housing Resource Referral Program

The Housing Justice Resource Referral Program, operated by Unite Oregon, connects community members to a comprehensive network of local housing assistance resources and support services. We are a member of the Fair Housing Enforcement Collaborative (FHEC) which includes nonprofit and legal service providers that receive funding to aid community members facing housing discrimination in the Portland Metro Area. Our goal is to reduce the research burden on community members in accessing resources that are intended to serve them. We are committed to advancing housing justice and preventing displacement throughout Oregon, however we are a small team with limited resources and want to be transparent so you can make an informed decision before taking the time to complete this form. 

Our team of housing advocates operates virtually and provides personalized resource referrals and insights to help participants access rental aid, assert tenant rights, explore affordable housing options, and secure stable, affordable homes. Note that we do not provide any direct services, however we do our best to connect you with services that do.  

Services we can provide:

  • Individual housing referrals and needs assessments 

  • Referrals to rental assistance, eviction prevention, and homelessness services

  • Guidance on tenant rights and affordable housing opportunities

  • Support for first-time home buyers and home ownership preservation

Housing Resource Referral Progarm

Upcoming Events:

Next Tenant Tuesday:
April 1, 2025 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm on Zoom

Register Here

Tenant Tuesdays Renters Rights Training

The Housing Justice work of the ADPDX Coalition and Unite Oregon are deeply interconnected and complementary efforts aimed at empowering tenants, preventing displacement, and driving systemic change for housing equity across the state.

  1. At the core, the ADPDX Coalition provides the collaborative framework and collective power that guides our housing justice initiatives. As a coalition led by Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color most impacted by gentrification and displacement, the ADPDX sets the policy agenda, determines the political strategy, and directs the relationships with technical advisors.

  2. Unite Oregon's Housing Justice Pillar then leverages this coalition structure to amplify the voices and experiences of frontline communities. We lead the ADPDX's policy advocacy efforts, facilitate key partnerships like the Fair Housing Enforcement Collaborative, and operate the Housing Resource Referral Program to directly connect community members to services.

  3. In turn, our on-the-ground tenant empowerment work, such as the Tenant Tuesday education series and eviction prevention services, informs the ADPDX's systemic advocacy. By aligning our individual and structural approaches, we are able to drive more impactful and holistic change.

  4. This symbiotic relationship allows us to take a multi-pronged approach to advancing housing justice. The ADPDX Coalition provides the collaborative backbone, while Unite Oregon's Housing Justice Pillar brings the community engagement, direct service provision, and systems-level advocacy. Together, we are building power, knowledge, and equity to ensure all Oregonians have access to safe, affordable, and stable housing.

  5. For more information about the Coalition’s work, up to date information on local anti-displacement movements and more, please visit adpdx.org


Tenant Tuesdays: Empowering Renters Through Community-Driven Education

  1. The Tenant Tuesday program is a key component of Unite’s Tenant Education initiatives. This monthly series provides an engaging and accessible platform for renters to learn about their rights, connect with resources, and build community. On the first Tuesday of every month except for July and January, we host our Tenant Tuesday Renters Rights 101 Virtual training to build tenant confidence and gain critical insights to current housing obstacles facing renters.

  2. The Tenant Tuesday model is designed to meet tenants where they are - both figuratively and literally. Each month, we partner with community organizations, faith groups, and local businesses to host the educational sessions in locations that are convenient and familiar to the target audience, such as community centers, places of worship, laundromats, and coffee shops.

  3. The interactive workshops cover a wide range of topics, from understanding lease agreements and navigating the eviction process to identifying and addressing housing discrimination. Our curriculum is tailored to the unique needs and concerns of the participants, whether they are urban or rural residents, immigrants, seniors, or low-income families.

  4. By delivering this content in an approachable, community-driven setting, we are able to break down barriers and empower tenants to self-advocate. The Tenant Tuesday sessions foster peer-to-peer learning, where participants share their own experiences and strategies for maintaining stable housing. This community-building element is crucial, as it helps renters recognize that they are not alone in facing housing challenges.

  5. Importantly, the Tenant Tuesday program also serves as a crucial pipeline, connecting participants to the ADPDX Coalition's broader Eviction Prevention services. By empowering renters with knowledge and resources, we aim to prevent displacement and ensure all Oregonians have access to safe, affordable, and stable housing.

Register now!

Portland Tenant Protections

Other resources and eviction support services are available at the local level. To access these supports, contact 211 Info via phone at 2-1-1 or online at www.211info.org. If a tenant’s OERAP application is denied, their landlord may be eligible to apply for payment of unpaid rent during their tenant’s safe harbor period through the Landlord Guarantee Program. More information can be found at: www.oregonlgp.org

 If someone receives an eviction notice, you should immediately contact 2-1-1 at www.211info.org for information about rent assistance, legal assistance, or other resources available in your area.

If someone receives a court eviction summons or if they are scheduled for an appearance in court, they should contact the Eviction Defense Project as soon as possible for legal support. Tenants should always plan to show up at any court appearance. Failure to appear at a court date can result in a default judgment against them.

All translated handouts and information can be found here. 

 Community Development and Prosperity 

Unite Oregon has launched an ambitious economic justice program to build and retain wealth for systemically and institutionally excluded communities - immigrants, refugees, Black and Indigenous communities, and People of Color broadly. The Community Development and Economic Prosperity Program seeks to develop and pilot an economic ecosystem that generates wealth, creates assets, helps community entrepreneurs develop businesses, and reinvest resources to ensure sustainability and stability for our communities. As part of this initiative, Unite Oregon is working to collaboratively develop a community-based, community-centered strategy for equitable development in East Portland, Southwest Corridor, and the TV Highway Corridor.