Eugene, Oregon – A community group is supporting a Black family in their fight for their right to housing and an end to house hoarding that takes properties off the market and away from families that need them. A Defend Housing Rally is planned for Monday, June 12 from 4:00 – 5:15 pm. The rally will begin at 15th and Oak Streets near R&R properties.

Candice King and her children have lived at their home in downtown Eugene for six years. They have a community there, they have history there. The home is where King and her late husband raised their youngest child. After losing their husband and father, the King family now faces eviction amidst their grief.

Candice King has, on several occasions, offered to buy the home from landlord Sharon Prager at market value. Prager and the property management and real estate company R&R properties have failed to properly care for the home and deal with a mold problem. Despites this, Prager has refused to sell the home.

Research into Prager provides that she owns several family homes in the Eugene area, yet lives out of state. 

The goal of the rally is to raise awareness about the harm of house hoarding and to convince R&R Properties to drop Prager as a client. 

Last Month, King decided to take the fight to the court, after initiating a rent strike as Prager has failed to invest in the property. King has been a pillar in the community for years working to provide access to affordable housing as well as supporting grassroots social justice efforts. She wants to make this property her home. She wants to care for it and invest her time and effort into it, something Prager has shown no desire to do.

The community supporting Candice King will be using court packing tactics as a form of peaceful protest. The next court date is Wednesday, June 21 at 8 am. The support group will be meeting at the Free Speech Plaza. 

This effort is supported by Alluvium Eugene, and grassroots group Eugene Housing and Neighborhood Defense