• Oregon is #1 in the country for unhoused families with children

• Neighbors in Clackamas County living out of their cars and church basements are told when they call the County for assistance that they are “technically housed and do not qualify for assistance.”

•Counselors at local schools accompanying unhoused students will text at the beginning of the day, hoping for an open room and couch and then drive around with the student, hoping someone will respond.

• Last year, we saw a 75% budget cut to assistance and eviction prevention — all the while the Oregon legislator voted to spend 365 million to renovate the Moda Center.

So what can we do about the housing crisis in our own backyard? 

CHANT stands for Collaborative Housing Access and Navigation Cohort. We are gathering a hands-on cohort of neighbors in Clackamas County who want to link political education with immediate, relational mutual aid to address our housing crisis directly.
In this cohort, we will learn and practice three powerful ways to support our neighbors:
  • Hosting: Learn how to open up our own personal home spaces, practice homesharing, and build relational hospitality.
  • Navigating: Walk alongside neighbors as relationally invested allies, helping find and adapt resources.
  • Organizing: Take action so personal stories can fuel collective power and we can build systemic change together.
You do not have to choose just one path—you can learn about and participate in all three of these roles as we build a stronger community safety net together.
Here are the details:
  • When: Mondays, September 21st – November 16th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
  • Where: Spirit of Life Lutheran Church (290 W Gloucester St, Gladstone, OR 97027)
  • Food: Meaningful, delicious snacks will be provided
The Ask & Commitment: We know everyone has a busy life, so we are keeping this as accessible as possible:
  1. Info Session: Our first gathering on Monday, September 21st is a low-pressure info session. You can come, enjoy the food, hear the vision, and see if it feels like a good fit for you.
  2. Initial 4-Week Commitment: If you decide to move forward after the info session, we ask that you commit to attending at least the first 4 Mondays. At that point, we’ll pause, re-evaluate together, and see how you want to engage for the remaining sessions.

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