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we work with CASA
works with local rural communities and housing providers to improve
housing resources for farmworkers and their families.
There is estimated to be more than 150,000 migrant, seasonal and year-round farm workers and family members who live and work in Oregon each year. An estimated five percent of these workers and family members are settling each year into local communities. While farm workers reside throughout the state, most live primarily in 19 of the 36 counties in Oregon, covering the following five main regions of the state:
South Central - Jackson and Klamath Counties
Southeast - Malheur County
Willamette Valley - Washington, Linn, Benton, Multnomah, Clackamas, Yamhill, Polk, Marion and Lane Counties
Central Oregon - Hood River, Wasco, Jefferson and Wheeler Counties
Northeast - Morrow, Umatilla and Union Counties
After California, Oregon has the most diverse crops in the nation. Labor-intensive crops including Christmas trees, nursery crops, pears, apples and berries all require large numbers of farm workers. Many farm workers also work in reforestation and aquaculture which are also labor intensive.
For many years, farm workers have faced a chronic shortage of decent, affordable housing throughout Oregon. According to a study conducted by CASA and published by the Oregon Housing Agency in January, 1991, registered farm labor camps in the state could house only 15,000 farm workers, predominantly migrant, single males. Since this study was completed, a number of camps have closed and it is now estimated that registered labor camps can house only 10,200 farm workers.
Housing for farm workers is scarce. Farm workers and their families who must locate housing in agricultural communities are faced with obstacles such as rents higher than they can afford or lack of vacancies. Families often resort to overcrowded and unsafe units. Approximately ten percent are without any housing, living outdoors, in vehicles or in abandoned buildings.
Why does this situation exist? Among the causes are:
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Farmworker family households (average size 5 persons) earn low wages, ranging from $8,000 - $14,000 per year. This amounts to an income level well below the poverty level. Market rents are well above what the average farmworker family can afford. Even if they can afford the rent, farm workers cannot afford the deposits, fees and first and last month rent that many landlords require. The economic boom experienced in Oregon during the late
90's has failed to include farm workers.
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Finding landlords who will rent to farm workers and their families on a temporary basis is often difficult, if not impossible. Moreover, many families are unfamiliar with the housing opportunities that are available in a specific area.
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While it is convenient to the growers to have farmworker housing located on sight, they face numerous levels of building codes and health and safety regulations that complicate their efforts to provide housing. Many growers have closed their camps rather than risk fines.
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Farm workers are increasingly bringing their families to Oregon and settling in local often rural communities that have a shortage of available housing.
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Developing new affordable housing for farm workers and their families is difficult, requiring the use of numerous subsidies to keep rents affordable. This makes financing complex and requires the involvement of government programs and private lenders. Individuals or communities may oppose housing for farm workers, causing delays in the development process. Development requires extensive expertise knowledge, patience and persistence to make housing a reality.
CASA of Oregon was formed to address these problems and to attack the drastic need for decent and safe housing for farm workers and their families. It is the only statewide organization with the expertise and track- record in developing and directing the resources to construct and rehabilitate housing specifically for farm workers.
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