REP Program Emerges As a Force for Affordable Housing Policy Change
S
ince its launch in the fall of 2018, Hope Solutions’ Resident Empowerment Program (REP) has sharpened its focus. REP is a resident-led advocacy program that empowers affordable housing residents to advocate for the creation and retention of affordable housing and supportive services. REP Leaders are trained in public speaking and advocacy strategies, enabling them to speak truth to power. Original REP members William Goodwin, Lori Goss, and Irma Bodden’s resilience and strength propelled the REP program to public prominence in its now two years of existence. The REP program was started to elevate residents’ voices within Hope Solutions. However, after expressing an interest in policy advocacy, the three original REP members hosted a panel at the annual Contra Costa Housing Summit in June of 2019. Since then, the purpose of REP has expanded. “We’ve evolved,” says Irma. “We realized if one of our stories can help somebody get themselves into affordable housing, we have to tell it.” William agrees, “After that Housing Summit, we were no longer REP members. We were REP leaders. We knew our capabilities. We came into our own then.”
awareness to how they, and so many like them, were failed by the lack of affordable housing.
The REP program’s growth is most recognizable in the addition of a new REP leader to the team, Nina Jorgensen, who joined in March 2020. Nina moved into Garden Park Apartments in Pleasant Hill in January 2020. Nina experienced the same system failures as so many Hope Solutions residents: “It all feels so hopeless when you’re searching for housing. Thank God for Hope Solutions because looking for housing and services felt like a lost cause.” New to both Hope Solutions and her Irma Bodden own housing, Nina quickly began advocating for those who still did not have a home. When we feel secure, it is easy to forget about those still in need. As Nina explains, “That’s why I’m a part of this. I want to help others to stop putting that blame on themselves. You don’t have to blame yourself [for being unhoused]; everything is actively working against you.” Her William Goodwin desire to advocate for those who may be blaming themselves for their lack of housing fit seamlessly into the program.
With all the growth surrounding the program, it was imperative that the team continue their Since then, the REP program has gained work despite the chaos caused by COVID-19. The recognition for its important policy work. REP pandemic opened a new way of working for the leaders have presented to the Contra Costa County REPs. It forced people to look at the world through Lori Goss Board of Supervisors in support of Homeless the eyes of a REP leader. “When COVID-19 came, Awareness Month, met Senator Steve Glazer and everything we were talking about was exposed; Assemblymen Jim Frazier to express support for the homelessness situation, people not being the historic 2019 Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), able to find housing, how difficult it was to afford and most recently advocated on the assembly floor housing,” says William. While the REP program for AB 3300 in hopes of passing much-needed had been built on face-to-face interactions and housing funding in California. public-facing speeches, the REP leaders felt it was their duty to use the shelter-in-place order “I’ve gotten involved in civic engagements, stuff and new awareness of the critical link between I would’ve completely overlooked [without the Nina Jorgensen housing and health to reinvent the way REP work REP program],” says Lori Goss. Lori became a REP is done. In an act of care for both themselves and their because it was a way to supplement her SSI income for her communities, REPs began advocating virtually. Using online and her kids, “but as I started working, I was realizing and meeting forums such as Zoom, “We saw that we could be recognizing that people were actually listening to what I in many places at once to gather more information and had to say. People were walking away with a different kind sharpen our tools,” says William. “We have our hands in so of thought.” many different pies now that we would not have been able Irma says she came to the same realization. “The to before. It makes us more knowledgeable and stronger as REP program opened my eyes to how much my voice a team. And we all feel empowered because each [REP] is is needed,” she explains. However, REP leaders don’t doing something different.” want personal recognition. Instead, they want to bring “REP PROGRAM” CONTINUES NEXT PAGE >