Protecting Your Rights as a Tenant

Taught by Community Alliance of Tenants Staff

Thursdays, July 7 - 28 || 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: Taborspace, 5441 SE Belmont St. (July 21 at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main St.)
Four weeks, $85. Space is limited to 15 general spots and 10 full-scholarship spots*.

*All full scholarships are spoken for at this time, unless prearranged by your employer. Contact coordinator@pugspdx.com with any questions.

Rapid rent increases and gentrification have displaced many long-term Portland residents. Most Portlanders who rent don't know their rights under the law. In this class, you'll gain a better understanding of issues such as no-cause evictions, deposits, repairs, rent increases, and rental applications. You will learn the basic tools and best practices to protect the rights you have. You will learn how to teach those things to other people. We will also share strategies for collective action to change the laws that prevent tenants from finding and maintaining safe, stable, and affordable rental housing in Portland.

A grant from SE Uplift allows us to offer 10 full scholarships to people of color and people from vulnerable groups willing to teach this material back to their communities. The SE Uplift grant also allows us to provide food and childcare as well. Send pugscoordinator <at> gmail an email to learn more.

Week One: Introduction to the Community Alliance of Tenants & the basics of Oregon Landlord-Tenant Law.

Week Two: In-depth exploration of common renter issues, including deposits, repairs, retaliation & evictions.

Week Three: The history and potential of the 1968 Fair Housing Act: Disparate Impact & Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

Week Four: Tenant organizing for social change, local housing justice campaigns & coalitions, and Just Cause Evictions.

The Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) is Oregon's statewide, grassroots, tenant controlled, tenants' rights organization. CAT's mission is to educate & empower tenants to demand and obtain safe, stable & affordable rental housing in Oregon. Through tenant education, organizing & advocacy, CAT addresses the impact of Oregon's decreasing supply of safe, affordable housing and absence of meaningful protections for tenants from unjust evictions and unsafe housing conditions.