Rep. Chaichi and Unite Oregon: A better Oregon is possible – we just need to fight for it
Rep. Chaichi and Unite Oregon: A better Oregon is possible – we just need to fight for it
By Representative Farrah Chaichi (Oregon House District 35) and Unite Oregon
Attacks on our human rights are on the rise. Many of us have unexpectedly lost our jobs. Housing prices are skyrocketing. Our social safety nets — like food assistance, health insurance and social security — are put at risk by the current federal administration.
When any of us struggle, we all feel it. And Oregonians are struggling. Almost half of our families aren’t making enough to pay the bills. This is not an individual failing — for years, policies have concentrated wealth into the hands of very few, shrinking the middle class. The result is more and more of us who are just barely getting by. This has forced us to ask ourselves impossible questions: Do I pay rent this month? Put gas in the car? Put food on the table?
Immigrant Oregonians — who contribute tens of billions to our state’s economy — are excluded from federal food assistance, making these daily questions even more grueling.
We need bold, comprehensive legislation now. We need to pass Food for All Oregonians (SB 611). This historic policy builds on existing programs by expanding food assistance to families who have been excluded. It will provide grocery money similar to federal SNAP food assistance, finally offering support to Oregonians who’ve been left out due to racist and xenophobic policies.
So why does legislation like Food for All Oregonians matter? A recent study shows Oregon ranks first in the nation for families with children living without shelter. Research shows that the first and best solution is housing first, and this includes keeping people who are at risk of losing their homes housed. Legislation that meets people’s basic needs — like food — relieves the impossible financial burdens those of us in poverty face. Food for All Oregonians will do much more than just feed people. It will keep our communities housed, safe, and fed. It will create safety nets that allow us to not only survive, but to thrive.
And at Unite Oregon, we have seen our communities — people of color, immigrants and refugees, rural communities, and people experiencing poverty — be displaced and priced out of our homes. We see our loved ones struggle to meet their basic needs because of discriminatory policies, like being ineligible for SNAP simply because of our immigration status. We want a more just world. We want to see our loved ones housed, fed, and healthy. Food for All Oregonians is a step toward that future.
A better Oregon is possible — for our children, our neighbors, and ourselves.
Oregon can be a national leader. With the power of our community — from legislators to community organizations to individuals like you — we can stand up for what’s right. A future where everyone has access to basic needs like healthcare, housing, and food — regardless of immigration status — is possible. We just need to fight for it.
I have dedicated my adult life to fighting for human rights and dignity. That’s why we say yes to Food for All Oregonians. Our children — including immigrant kids — deserve access to dignified, nourishing food.
Please take a moment today to tell lawmakers: Food for All Oregonians must be part of the state budget.
