Housing as a human right? In Southern Oregon, thousands of individuals and families struggle to afford adequate housing in the face of structural losses from fires, profit-driven property management, a lack of public housing, and the interruptions in economic activity due to COVID-19. While many may agree that everyone should have a place to live, the actions being taken at a local or state level simply do not do enough to address the growing problem.

Working for peace means more than working to end war and halt the production of weapons of mass destruction. To promote a peaceful society means addressing the underlying issues that fuel social conflicts in the first place, in substantive ways. That’s why Peace House dedicates much of their work to ending hunger in our region through Uncle Food’s Diner. As a community, we must work to undo the injustices that maintain the status quo for American society, and fast. This includes undoing racist policies and power structures, engaging with elected officials to enact programs to address the needs of marginalized communities, and advocating for systematic changes in how our tax dollars are spent.

Rising rents and soaring market values for real estate in the Rogue Valley presents a very real problem for many. In real terms, for anyone unfortunate enough to have lost their home in the Almeda fire, or if unforeseen events caused one to look for a new rental, the options are bleak. Most people looking for rentals find themselves cruising the listings on Medford’s Craigslist, where rentals are limited, include scams, and prices soar hundreds of dollars above what people can afford, based on low wages.

Oregon ranks number 11 in the US for rental rates in comparison to wages, according to a recent report titled, “Out of Reach 2021.”

In real terms, this means that to afford Fair Market Rent (FMR) in our state, one must make more than $25 per hour, work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, to pay that rent at 30 percent of their combined wages. In Jackson County, the numbers provide more insight, with two people needing to work full time at $19.90 per hour to afford a two bedroom apartment for the FMR of $1039 per month. While the FMR may be a guidepost for housing assistance programs, it hardly reflects the actual market prices of rentals in our region. A quick search of the rentals on Craiglist in Medford shows zero 2 bedroom units available at that price. The lowest priced two bedroom apartment available at writing is $1500 per month, requires a $50 application fee and $2000 deposit. How are people able to find and maintain even a very basic apartment in these circumstances?

Short term relief, in the form of hotel vouchers and potential rental assistance, is available for some who have endured financial hardship because of COVID or the Almeda fire. Project Turnkey, which distributed federal monies to private nonprofits to convert hotels into emergency shelters now provides temporary housing to approximately 30 residents in Ashland through Options for Helping Residents of Ashland (OHRA) at the former Super 8. In addition, OR Representative Pam Marsh and others have been promoting rental assistance for those facing evictions, if they qualify.

This month, as FEMA promises to deliver more than 340 new trailers to locations in and around Phoenix and Talent, some may have a way out of the hotel rooms they have been living in for nearly a year. The City of Talent, along with private partners in the community, are working on building a container-based community option in a parking lot, if it can pass regulatory hurdles. Rogue Retreat, who already runs a camp in Medford, a tiny house community and rehab programs for those willing to commit to them, is building another tiny house community outside of Phoenix. This week, Senator Ron Wyden announced a new $1 billion bill, called the DASH Act, that promises to “End Homelessness and Ensure Affordable for All.”