Over ninety faith leaders from around the state to Oregon Senate: Please pass HB 2004 to protect con

Over ninety faith leaders from around the state to Oregon Senate: Please pass HB 2004 to protect congregations and community

Oregon’s religious leaders call on Sen. Peter Courtney and Sen. Ginny Burdick today

Salem, Ore. – In the final weeks of the Oregon legislative session, a diverse contingent of faith leaders sent an urgent and somber message to Senate leadership calling for passage of SB 2004 to limit no-cause evictions and protect the renters in their congregations.

“In an extraordinary show of support, faith leaders from around the state have come together to call on the Senate to pass HB 2004 right away. The children, families and individuals cannot wait another two years for action,” said Alison McIntosh, Neighborhood Partnerships.

Here is the letter in its entirety:

June 26, 2017

Senate President Courtney

Senator Burdick Senator Ferrioli Oregon State Legislature

900 Court Street NE

Salem, OR 97301

Dear Senate President Courtney, Senator Burdick, and Senator Ferrioli:

We, the undersigned religious leaders, ask you to please pass HB 2004B.

This legislative session, you have a great opportunity to help families remain in their homes and avoid a path to homelessness by passing HB 2004B. We respectfully urge your support of HB 2004B to limit no- cause evictions and to provide stability to the four in ten Oregonians who rent their homes.

We believe that everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Today, current policy permits landlords to evict tenants without providing a cause, sometimes with as little as 30 days’ notice. Across Oregon, families, children, and individuals are experiencing the negative effects of no- cause evictions, which threatens the stability of our communities.

Many of our congregations, churches, parishes, and synagogues operate a food pantry or an emergency rent fund. We know firsthand that as rents continue to rise, families are asked to choose between paying their rent or purchasing essential survival materials, such as food and medicine. Tragically, many of our congregants have to make these choices for themselves and their children often: hunger or eviction; health or warm clothing.

The current housing crisis is disproportionally targeting the stability and safety of the most vulnerable in our society. We ask you to recognize the danger to human dignity that no-cause evictions are perpetuating, particularly on communities of color, seniors, people with disabilities, and parents of young children.

As a state, we know we can do more to provide stability for families by limiting the use of no cause evictions. HB 2004B is one way that Oregon can help people who rent their homes remain stable.

We believe we must grab the opportunity presented by this bill. The health and safety of low-income families – as well as the strength of our social fabric – depend on it.

Thank you for your continued efforts to address the needs of every one of our communities, and we urge you to pass HB 2004B.

Sincerely,

Rev. Andrew Guthrie

Lynchwood Christian Church

Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie

University Chaplain, Pacific University

Rev. Katie Larsell

Oregon Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice

Bishop T Allen Bethel

Maranatha Church

Rev. Craig Moro

Minister, Wy'east Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Rev. Dr. Emily Brault, Chaplain Coffee Creek Correctional Facility

Rev. Tracy Springberry

Rev. Kate Lore

Rev. Connie Yost

Rev Marcia Stanard

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls

Oregon City

Rev. Lynne Smouse López

Ainsworth United Church of Christ

Reverend Judy Welles

Rev. Kit Ketcham

Minister, Pacific Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Astoria

Rev. Sue Ayer Hillsboro

Rev. Wendy Fish Retired Parish Minister and Hospital Chaplain Rev. Mary Sue Evers Pastor, Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Rev. Kate Rohde

Minister Emerita, Unitarian Congregation of West Chester

Milwaukie

Rev. Judy Zimmerman

Minister, Mid-Columbia Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Hood River Bishop CT Wells

Emmanuel Church

Portland

Rev. Melanie A. Oommen United Church of Christ Eugene

The Reverend Dr. Brent Was

Rector, Church of the Resurrection

Eugene

Rabbi Ariel Stone Congregation Shir Tikvah

Rabbi David Isaak Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Neveh Shalom

Rev. Mark Knutson Augustana Lutheran Church

Rev. Valerie Kapman St. Francis of Assisi Portland

Fr. Elwin C. Schwab St. Charles Borromeo Portland

Rev. David Wheeler First Baptist Church Portland

Fr. Dave Zegar St. Andrew's Portland

Pr. Amanda Zentz-Alo Central Lutheran Church Portland

Rev. Chris Shade Associate Pastor First Baptist Church

Rev. Andrea R. Cano

United Church of Christ

Fr. Chuck Lienert St. Andrew Catholic Church Portland

Rev. Melissa O. Reed Salt & Light Lutheran Church and Leaven Community Portland

Sr. Mary Breiling Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Rev. John Schwiebert Metanoia Peace Community United Methodist Church Portland

The Rev. Christine M. Core Bethel Lutheran Church Portland

Rev. Mark S. Brocker St. Andrew Lutheran Church Beaverton

Rev. David Eppelsheimer Community of ChristChurch Hillsboro

Rev. Bill Gates United Methodist Church Columbia District (Portland)

Rev. Aimee Bruno King of Kings Lutheran Church Milwaukie

The Rev. Lorin Darst Macksburg Lutheran Church Canby

Rev. Michael Ellick First Congregational United Church of Christ Portland

Rev. Scott Dunfee St. Stephen Lutheran Gladstone

Rev. Donna Pritchard First United Methodist Portland

Rev. Robyn M. Hartwig St. Andrew Lutheran Church Beaverton

Rev. Sue Matranga-Watson

Rev. Jennifer Garrison Brownell First Congregational United Church of Christ

Oregon Center for Christian Voices

Rev. Joseph Santos Lyons

Matt Cato

Director, Office of Life, Justice & Peace

Archdiocese of Portland

Valerie Chapman

Pastoral Administrator

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Portland

Constance Kosuda

St Elizabeth Ann Seton

Aloha

Rev. Patrick Donoghue

Pastor, St. Anthony Catholic Church

Portland

Eileen Sleva

Chair, Social Justice Committee

Holy Trinity Parish

Beaverton

Fr. Craig Boly, SJ, Pastor

St. Ignatius Catholic Church

Portland

Evelyn A. Brush ofs

Director of Religious Education

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish

Portland

Gail Kingsley

Director of Social Services

St. Mary’s Cathedral

Archdiocese of Portland

Gerlinde Lamer

Director of Adult Faith Formation

St. Anthony Parish

Tigard

Helen Goff

Chair, Life & Justice Ministry

St. Anthony of Padua Forest Grove

Diane Kintz, retired RN

Peace and Justice Chair, Christ the King Parish

Milwaukie

Fr. Manuel Becerra

St. Michael the Archangel Parish

Sandy

Rev. Dr. John Krebsbach

Deacon

St. Anthony of Padua

Forest Grove

Maggie Stopka

Coordinator Liturgy, Pastoral Care, Peace and Justice

St. Matthew Parish

Hillsboro

Mike O'Mahoney

Deacon

St. Mary Magdalene Paris Julie Reilly, President

St. Frederic Conference, Society of St. Vincent De Paul

St. Frederic Catholic Church St. Helens

Maureen Sloan, Treasurer

St. Frederic Conference, Society of St. Vincent De Paul

St. Frederic Catholic Church St. Helens

Patricia Montone

Peace & Justice Committee

St Pius X Church

Penny McArdle

Chairperson, Peace & Justice Ministry

Resurrection Catholic Parish

West Linn

Sharon C. Williams

Chair, Justice and Peace Committee

St. Henry Church, Gresham

Sharon Grigar

Pastoral Associate

Ascension Catholic Church

Therese Ruesink

Secretary and Vice President of the Life, Justice, and Peace Committee St. Rose of Lima Parish

Portland

Thomas Tomaszek

Pastoral Associate, Our Lady of the Lake Parish

Lake Oswego, Oregon

Brittney L. Sparks, President

Administrator of Practices and Policies

The Madonna’s Center for Life

Father Benjamin Tapia

Pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church

Central Point

Joyce Marks

Pastoral Associate of Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church

Central Point

Rev. Karen LaJoy Smith

All Saints Episcopal Church

Hillsboro

Daniel A. Brown, Peace and Justice Commission

St. Philip Neri

Portland

Rabbi Ruhi Sophia Rubenstein

Temple Beth Israel Eugene

Rev. Jesse Christopherson

Milwaukie Lutheran

Milwaukie

Rev. Craig Johnson

Christ Lutheran

Aurora

Rev. Adam Phillips

Christ Church: Portland

& First Christian Church

The Reverend Eugene Ross

The Reverend Dr. Patricia Ross

Rev. Eric Conklin

Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church

Rev. John Pitney

Pastor Donna Herzfeldt-Kamprath

West Linn Lutheran Church

Laura Lee Kent

Medford Congregational United Church of Christ

Rev. Roberta J. Egli

Trinity UMC

Eugene

The Rev. Deacon Thomas R. English Eugene

Jo Ann English

Social Action, Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Women

Member of First United Methodist Church, Eugene

Blake L. English

Member of First United Methodist Church, Eugene, Oregon

Board member of Wesley Center, University of Oregon

The Rev. Dr. Daniel Bryant

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Eugene

Rev. Adam Briddell

First United Methodist Church of Eugene

Eugene

Jan Musgrove Elfers

Executive Director

Ecumenical Ministry of Oregon