Dale Hardt (running for Commissioner position 3)
Do you support policies that have been passed to ensure every neighborhood in the City of Portland welcomes more neighbors, by allowing middle housing (smaller, denser, lower-cost housing options like smallplexes, cottage clusters, and small-to-moderate-sized apartment complexes), via both the nonprofit and private markets? (e.g., Residential Infill Project and Design Overlay Zone Amendments)?
I have no knowledge of value to share on this topic.
I think that building low income housing is essential for the long term survival and growth of Portand. However, I don't think the entire focus should be on standardized housing. RV and trailer living is becoming a chosen lifestyle for low income individuals wanting a home of their own. This should be explored as well as SRO's single occupancy residences for individuals unable to maintain regular housing such as the drug addicted and mentally ill. We can't focus entirely on standard housing or we will leave the most desperate behind.
Should close-in, low-density neighborhoods be rezoned to allow mixed-income apartment buildings, in order to increase access to amenity-rich neighborhoods, reduce our auto dependence, and relieve displacement pressure on neighborhoods currently home to higher proportions of communities of color and working class Portlanders?
This is an issue beyond my experience. This question is outside my comprehension.
What should Portland do to encourage the development of middle housing (smaller, denser, lower-cost housing options like smallplexes, cottage clusters, and small-to-moderate sized apartment complexes), via both the nonprofit and private markets?
(checklist selections) None.
I am not able to answer this intelligently with my level of experience. I would just stay out of the way and let the experts figure it out.
Should landowners be able to create historic districts that block lower-cost and below-market homes from high-opportunity neighborhoods without the permission of city council?
No, the city council is the voice of the people it should take part in any major decision that affects the city.
Should Portland dedicate less, as much, or more money to regulated affordable housing? (If you answered "more money," what funding mechanism(s) would you pursue to build this additional housing?)
More money.
Beg I guess or collect cans. I think everything else has been delegated for other uses and the people are struggling as well. If we were to strip money from other projects I would have to vote that it goes first to restore our Police force to a position enabling it to protect Portland. Then to this issue if anything is left.
RV's and trailers are becoming an acceptable form of low income housing. We should start there by creating lots where they can park on a permanent basis. That is the only option the city has at this time. Low cost project with fast and immediate results.
The City of Portland has a deficit of 19,804 homes affordable to people earning less than 80% Median Family Income (MFI). According to ECONorthwest: “the market has produced little rental or homeownership housing affordable to those below 80% of MFI, and almost no housing below 50% of MFI over the past 20 years. This supports the need for public subsidy to meet the needs of lower-income households.” How would you eliminate the deficit of homes affordable to people earning less than 80 percent of MFI and over what period of time?
My mind shut down just trying to read the question.
Should affordable housing be equitably distributed across all communities in the City of Portland? In other words, should the City ensure the addition of affordable housing to neighborhoods with a lower than average share of subsidized affordable housing?
Yes. I think we have to get it first.
What actions would you support to address the homelessness crisis in the City of Portland?
(checklist selections) Invest in permanent supportive housing; Invest in behavioral health and other supportive services; Invest in capacity of outreach workers to connect with more people experiencing homelessness; Provide supportive services to and support the self governance of self-organized homeless encampments; Remove barriers to extremely-low-cost market-rate options like backyard homes on wheels, rooming houses and vacant-bedroom rentals; Encourage the expansion of sanctioned outdoor shelters; Build new congregant shelters that sleep no more than 100 people; Ban camping in certain places; Require people experiencing homelessness to move periodically (e.g., sweeps).
Other: The city would provide space for every camper on regulated city property under the supervision of the city council.
We start at the bottom and work our way up. Right now all the efforts are on longer range solutions. The crisis is today. The council needs to unite and meet the problem where it exists.
What policies would you support to advance racial equity in housing access and promote housing stability for all residents and especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color who face disproportionate barriers to housing access?
(checklist selections) Expand investment in emergency rent assistance to prevent evictions for nonpayment of rent. Support fair housing enforcement. Down payment assistance for Black, indigenous, and people of color. Capacity support for culturally specific organizations interested in developing affordable housing. Invest in permanent supportive housing for people exiting institutional settings (e.g., criminal justice, state hospital, in patient treatment). Expand investment in affordable housing.
I am interested in the eviction bans, however would need more information about the scope and nature of the policy before checking the box. Same with the other boxes I did not check. In principle they are in alignment with my values, however I want to be mindful about what "support" means and how much capacity I and my office have to lead on new issues at this time. In general, I would be open to considering being the third vote for example.
What currently proposed tenant protection policies do you support that would protect tenants from unjust eviction or landlord harassment?
(checklist selections) None.
I think laws already exist.
Optional question: Whose voices should be centered in developing housing and land use policy across the greater Metro area?
(checklist selections) Did not answer.
Optional question: What else should Portland's anti-racist, pro-housing, pro-tenant community know about you & your candidacy?
I am not trying to win because I guessed on some of my answers. I just want to get the people off the streets and into the care of our city government. TODAY. I can't stand the thought of another delay, another detour, another conversation.
Hardt received an D overall from our scoring committee. See all scores for this primary election and read about our process here.