Karellen Stephens (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)?

Yes, and the policies should be strengthened. I think all existing empty homes and structures should be appropriately cared for and maintained so they can be repurposed and reused if needed. I also support building more affordable options if the existing structures are not enough. I support working with and listening to community members as these programs are implemented so everyone feels listened to and included and the process is productive for all involved.

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?

Only in a limited capacity, in certain locations (near parks or transit, etc.

I think we have a lot of work to do in terms of making our neighborhoods and communities safer. Affordable housing is definitely needed but it has to be built, maintained, and rolled out into existing communities in a responsible and organized manner.

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) Invest in the development of regulated affordable homes like these, even if it requires more public subsidy per unit than larger multifamily developments; Acquire land for development of affordable middle housing; Incentivize the development of middle housing (e.g., property tax exemptions); Legalize affordable and culturally-responsive sixplex townhomes in lower-density zones; Expedite land division for affordable sixplexes to increase homeownership opportunities; Allow fourplexes to be slightly larger than triplexes, to incentivize more projects that meet accessibility standards.

I think all affordable housing options and ideas should be explored in tandem with identifying and updating existing structures and available properties that have been left in disrepair. Affordable housing should be built and maintained on an as needed basis and not built and left empty or half done. These projects should be done alongside with my proposed self worth building initiative which will help keep people focused on the goal of taking care of what matters. Each housing project should be done with purpose and with specific individuals in mind.

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?

Yes, I think landowners should seek advice and input from the council and the surrounding neighborhood but they should not be forced to seek permission.

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?)

As much money.

I am deeply concerned about funds being misappropriated and misused in the city of Portland. We need a full audit regarding Justice for Qadira and other citywide issues that are not being appropriately addressed. Once we get a good understanding on how and where the money is being spent then I believe we can gain a greater understanding of how to support these existing programs.

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?

I think one way to address this issue is beginning to work with and incentivize landlords to allow long time renters to purchase the homes and apartments they are already living in. There are people who are facing eviction due this pandemic who have already spent years paying for their homes and who are embedded in their communities and are deserving of this option. This would potentially eliminate the deficit of homes affordable to people earning less than 80 percent of MFI immediately. This will distribute affordable housing equitably throughout our communities with little disruption. People in Portland will instantly feel more connected to their communities because they will own a piece of them.

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 believe my answer (above) covers this answer. There has to be some reasonable time limit on collecting rent on a property before ownership transfers. I'm sure we could come to some kind of reasonable agreement on this.

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; Give people cash or vouchers; Encourage the expansion of sanctioned outdoor shelters

I would like to see compassionate clean up crews deployed across the city in the model that I see being used by neighbors helping neighbors. The crews should be staffed with well paid caregivers who are interested in helping people lead happy and healthy lives. Homeless people should be offered regular opportunities to shower and dispose of trash. Workers can help encourage and direct citizens to helpful services. All outdoor expansions of sanctioned outdoor shelters should have some kind of exit plan. We don't want these places becoming businesses. We want to solve the problem.

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) Reduce other rental barriers (e.g., eviction history, credit history, etc). Support fair housing enforcement. Expand investment in affordable housing.

I would like to laser focus on these three things to get more people into empty houses and apartments and give them a chance at a stake in the outcome.

What currently proposed tenant protection policies do you support that would protect tenants from unjust eviction or landlord harassment?

(checklist selections) Proposed Tenant Protection Ordinance, which would define specific behaviors as landlord harassment, impose monetary penalties onto landlords as consequences for harassment, and strengthen the Rental Services office to support vulnerable tenants who are experiencing harassment; Proposed Eviction Representation for All ballot measure, which would provide free legal representation to all tenants in eviction court in Multnomah County.

Legal aid for tenets who wish to represent themselves.

Optional question: Whose voices should be centered in developing housing and land use policy across the greater Metro area?

(checklist selections) People experiencing homelessness. Tenants. Homeowners.

Optional question: What else should Portland's anti-racist, pro-housing, pro-tenant community know about you & your candidacy?

I am Chief Activist at Justice for Qadira and I speak live weekly at Multnomah Village and Pioneer Place and I am very passionate about cleaning up this city. I also wrote a book called Justice for Qadira which can be found on Amazon that details the racism and corruption our family experienced over the last 15 years in this city. If people want to know more I encourage them to check it out.

K. Stephens received a C overall from our scoring committee. See all scores for this primary election and read about our process here.