In response, Community Vision launched the Housing Access Program nearly two years ago. As the program director, I am proud of how we braid direct service to help people find housing with advocacy to address systemic barriers to access. In the past two years, we’ve supported 67 people with disabilities to search for, apply to, and move into apartments that meet their needs. We’ve also taught classes about renters’ rights, helped participants address debts to past landlords, and other important social services. Yet, social services like ours can’t solve Oregon’s housing crisis for people with disabilities. For that, we need advocacy. To that end, Community Vision is currently leading a year-long organizer training. The training equips advocates with organizing skills that allow advocates to effectively engage individuals and groups with shared concerns. We are also helping to advance advancing three bills in the upcoming legislative session. These bills would track accessibility features in housing developments, expand funding for accessible housing, and create new accessibility requirements for publicly funded housing developments. In the coming months and years, the Housing Access program will be engaged in the crucial day-to-day work of supporting people with disabilities to get into housing, as well as pushing systems to make the changes necessary to expand opponents for our community. I’m thrilled to be doing this work and can’t wait to see the results. We hope you'll join us in our efforts. Allen Hines - Housing Director | 
