A Dead Phone Can Change Your Entire Day

Most of us don’t think twice about plugging in our phones before bed. But if you don’t have a stable place to live, keeping a phone charged can become a daily challenge.

When people talk about homelessness, conversations often focus on housing, food, or healthcare. Those things absolutely matter but one issue that gets overlooked is access to something as simple as a charged phone. Today, phones are how we apply for jobs, hear back from employers, check email, access resources, navigate transportation, and stay connected to family and friends. When your phone dies, all of that can disappear in an instant.

While working on our capstone project, I started thinking about how many opportunities can be missed because of a dead battery. A job interview call goes unanswered. An appointment reminder never gets seen. A housing contact can’t get through. These may seem like small inconveniences to most people, but they can have a real impact on someone’s ability to move forward.

What struck me most is how easy this problem is to overlook. Most of us carry portable chargers, have outlets in our homes, or can charge our phones in our cars. For someone experiencing homelessness, finding a safe and reliable place to charge a phone isn’t always guaranteed. Libraries, shelters, and community spaces help, but access can be limited depending on the time of day or available resources.

It’s easy to assume that a phone is a luxury, but for many people it’s one of the most important tools they have. Staying connected can mean staying employed, accessing services, or simply maintaining relationships with people who care about you.

The next time you plug in your phone without thinking about it, consider what it would be like if you couldn’t. Small barriers can create much bigger challenges than we realize. If we’re serious about helping people access opportunities and resources, we should pay attention to the everyday obstacles that stand in the way.

Want to learn more about homelessness and technology access? Click here:
https://www.nationalhomeless.org

Losing Your Smile

It’s easy to take teeth for granted. Every day we chomp through 3 or more meals, consisting of food stuff of various consistency, without ever thinking about if we’re able to. Even those of us who don’t go to the dentist regularly probably wouldn’t hesitate to bite into an apple, a tough piece of jerky, or drink a sugary, carbonated beverage, secure in the knowledge that any problems can be fixed with a quick (albeit potentially costly) trip to the dentist. But what if you didn’t have that fallback? What if the teeth you have now are all you’re going to be able to use for the foreseeable future. And what if something as simple as brushing your teeth was beyond your reach to regularly perform? You might begin to think more carefully about the food you consumed, the things you choose to chew on… and of course you can only do so much.

A significantly high percentage of the unhoused suffer chronic dental problems, exacerbated by a lack of easily available dental care. In a survey, it was found that more than 75% of the surveyed unhoused individuals were suffering from some kind of dental issue, and more than 25% had attempted at some point to remove their own teeth rather than seek medical treatment. That sounds dramatic, but anyone who has experienced chronic tooth pain will tell you it’s not. Anyone waiting on a root canal or filling will tell you of the hell that is waiting for your appointment, but for many unhoused there is no waiting: it is simply a pain they will have to carry with them. When you visualize chronic tooth pain stretching from days to weeks to months, suddenly taking dental matters into your own hands doesn’t seem so sensational of a concept. 

On the sadder side of things, nearly 90% of the survey’s participants admitted to feeling self-conscious about their teeth. Imagine having your smile stolen from you, feeling like you have to keep yourself tight lipped at all times, lest someone see what has happened to the inside of your mouth. It sounds hallmark, but there really is something to be said about a dentist’s ability to return someone’s smile to them. 

When we talk about what medical services should be provided to the unhoused, dental care is often one of the less discussed fields. We use our teeth for so many little things throughout the day, restoring their dependability is as important as any other service the unhoused should have access to. So next time you bite into a piece of food without thinking, take a second to think about those that don’t have that luxury

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More information on this subject can be found at the National Library of Medicine

Medical Teams International is working to Bring Medical Care to the Disadvantaged

NHC offers Affordable Dental Care for those in need

Rapid Rise in Homeless Latinos

According to UnidosUS, there has been a rapid rise in homeless Latinos, with a reported 114% increase between 2023 and 2025.

But what does this mean?
Well, for many Latinos, there has been avoidance of traditional shelters due to fear, stigma, and a preference for staying with extended family.
So, what is Portland doing to support the Latino community?
One really great program that has been taking steps to support the community is the Latino Network, a Latine-led education organization. Their focus is “grounded in culturally specific practices and services that lift up youth and families to reach their full potential.”
Latino Network was founded in 1996 by community leaders who saw the gap in adequate resources that meet the needs of the growing Latino community.
That being said, they also have a mobile housing team (MHT), which is a housing placement program for families who have youth under the age of 18. The program is funded through the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS).
For that program, eligible clients must be unhoused, reside in Multnomah County, and have a referral through a JOHS Coordinated Access System following an assessment through 211.
This is an important program, especially because of the effects it has on the whole family unit, including youth.
Like many, Latinos are also being affected by the cost of living, lack of affordable family-sized units, and fear of undocumented status, putting them at great risk when using services. 

But with the rapid increase in homeless Latinos continuing, it is important to recognize what we as a community of this city can do to help support.

For Latino Network resources or learning about their organization: https://www.latnet.org/

Along with that organization, there is also El Programa Hispano Catolico https://elprograma.org/. They support the Latine communities by providing services that span economic sustainability, community wellness, educational equity, and domestic violence intervention through their UNICA program.

A statewide advocacy organization based in Portland that shapes health policy, drives preventative outreach, and fights for optimal health and systemic wellness outcomes for Latinos. https://orlhc.org/

Operates extensively across the Southwest and beyond to address all housing needs, ranging from emergency housing for those experiencing homelessness to long-term homeownership support. https://cplc.org/

https://www.latnet.org/

The Weight of Survival: Why Safe Storage is the Missing Key to Stability

 

Homelessness takes a huge toll beyond just the physical weight. Think about those overstuffed backpacks and giant plastic bins you see in Portland. To lots of folks on the streets, these containers aren't just random junk piles, but their entire lives. It is their last link to safety. Inside they store medicines, warm clothes, cherished photos, and IDs. 

People often see these possessions as bothersome eyesores. For the homeless though, lugging around this stuff is more than annoying, it's mentally grueling. They move from place to place with all their worldly belongings clutched tightly. Which leaves them stressed out already, and dragging heavy bags certainly doesn't help. Plus, there's the fear of leaving things unattended, since that could mean having vital items taken away by sweeps or stolen. So, they need to stay hyper-vigilant, leading to relentless worry and strain.

To the homeless, lugging around every single thing they own is part of the constant struggle. What looks like a mess to someone with a home is often all someone else has to hold onto.

People will often tell the homeless to "just get a job" or "keep their appointments," but they overlook a key issue: managing all of their belongings on you all day is exhausting. Trying to get a professional interview or get onto public transportation when weighed down by heavy baggage causes problems. Carriers face immediate rejection or discrimination.

A lack of secure storage negatively impacts efforts to take advantage of assistance programs. Not having a safe spot to stash your gear essentially blocks access to aid needed to escape homelessness. Yet, Portland only offers limited options to solve this dilemma. Take the Northwest Glisan Street daytime storage; it’s understaffed and over-regulated. Most can't use the service since they don’t meet restrictions on container sizes. Self-formed groups such as the Ground Score Association step in. These peer-led programs supply storage, battery charging stations, offering brief reprieve. 

However, reliance on these community-run initiatives causes constant fights for funding and room. The end result? Countless Portlanders must keep belongings on sidewalks, hindering any chance to stabilize and advance toward stable jobs or housing.

Portland needs to make secure storage a main part of addressing homelessness. The city should start by funding local storage centers, lengthening hours at current spots, and teaming up closely with organizations led by people who’ve been homeless or know the issues well. Safeguarding personal stuff protects a person's dignity, identity, and chances of regaining stability. If Portland really values community and innovation, offering lockers for belongings should be as vital as helping someone rent an apartment. It's a big first step in helping people feel proud and start fresh.

If you are interested in learning more about how peer-led storage initiatives operate or want to support their work, check out the Ground Score Association website HERE.

A Roof Over Your Head or Your Best Friend

 A Roof Over Your Head or Your Best Friend?

Imagine losing everything tomorrow—your job, your savings, and the roof over your head. In the middle of that chaos, there is only one thing you can still count on: the dog or cat sitting beside you, offering comfort when the rest of the world seems to have turned away.

Now imagine arriving at a homeless shelter on a freezing Portland night and being told you have a choice: a warm bed for yourself or a safe place for your pet—but not both.

For many people experiencing homelessness, this is not a hypothetical situation. It is a painful reality. Many traditional shelters still do not allow animals, forcing people to choose between safety and the companion that has helped them survive some of the hardest moments of their lives. As a result, some individuals sleep outside in dangerous conditions rather than abandon their pets.

Some may question why a person struggling financially would keep a pet in the first place. However, companion animals are far more than a luxury. For many unhoused individuals, they are a source of emotional support, protection, routine, and unconditional companionship. When someone has lost nearly everything, that bond can become one of the few remaining sources of stability and hope.

A truly compassionate community should not require people to separate from their family members in order to receive help. If Portland wants its shelter system to effectively support people transitioning out of homelessness, it must recognize the important role pets play in their owners' lives and expand access to pet-friendly shelter options.

Why should we care? Because a city that values compassion should never force its most vulnerable residents to choose between saving their lives and keeping the companion who helped them survive.

Read more:https://www.oregonhumane.org/

What Climate Change Looks Like Without a Front Door

 What Climate Change Looks Like Without a Front Door

When a severe heat dome settles over Portland or a winter freeze covers the city in ice, most of us check the weather forecast, adjust the thermostat, and stay indoors. We might complain about the heat or the cold, but our safety is rarely in doubt.

But what if you didn't have a thermostat? What if you didn't even have a door?

For thousands of people experiencing homelessness in Portland, climate change is not a distant issue about rising sea levels or melting glaciers. It is a daily struggle for survival. As extreme weather events become more frequent across the Pacific Northwest, the absence of basic necessities like shade, clean drinking water, and climate-controlled shelter can quickly become life-threatening.

Imagine spending a 103-degree afternoon outside with no place to cool down and no access to cold water. Imagine trying to sleep through a freezing winter night while your blankets are soaked from rain and temperatures continue to drop. These are not rare situations—they are realities faced by many of Portland's unhoused residents every year.

Homelessness has long been viewed as an economic issue, but it is increasingly becoming an environmental justice issue as well. The people most exposed to extreme weather are often those with the fewest resources to protect themselves. As a community, we cannot assume someone else will solve the problem. We share a responsibility to ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors are not left to face dangerous weather conditions alone.

We may not be able to solve climate change overnight, but we can take steps to protect people in our own city today. Why should we care? Because the strength of a community is measured not by how it treats its most comfortable residents, but by how it protects those with the least protection when conditions become the most severe.

Read more:https://www.portland.gov/bps/climate-action/climate-emergency/about-climate-emergency-declaration

Can Money Solve Homelessness?

Let’s pretend, for a moment, that you just found out that you were fired from your job because they found a way to replace you with AI; or that you were diagnosed with an illness that requires very expensive medications or a very expensive surgery; or that your landlord has decided to sell the home you’ve been living in for 10 years to new real estate agency who intend on increasing the cost of rent by $500 a month if you’re interested in staying.

The sad truth is that these are very real circumstances that are becoming more & more common, & so I’m going to ask you a very simple question: What do you think would help you most in this situation: $1,000 a month with no strings attached or an expense free shelter where you’ll share your personal space with 20, 30, or 40 other people in similar or worse circumstances? 

I’m assuming, you’d take the $1,000 a month without question. So, if the solution seems so obvious to you, why haven’t we been approaching this strategy to solve homelessness? 

Let’s run some simple numbers: According to OregonLive, $742 million are spent on addressing homelessness in Portland alone (Thomas, 2025). If all of that money were redirected towards simply providing people experiencing homelessness $1,000 a month for a year, you’d be able to provide direct support to 61,333 individuals. Of those 61,333 individuals, 91% of them are likely to find housing within that year (Mongeau, 2025). That’s 56,268 people out of homelessness. 

When compared to the current method of “solving homelessness,” one has to question: What are we doing? 

I’d argue that because we’ve spent so long viewing homelessness as some moral failing, we’ve lost sight of the underlying empathy needed to resolve this social ailment. 

I invite you to present this way of thinking to everyone you know, because some day, it may be you who needs this change. 

Mongeau, Lillian. “Here’s How Much Was Spent on Homeless Services in the Portland Area Last Year.” Oregonlive, 9 July 2025, www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/07/heres-how-much-was-spent-on-homeless-services-in-the-portland-area-last-year.html. 

Thomas, J. (2025, November 19). Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness. Street Roots. https://www.streetroots.org/news-stories/2025/11/19/oregon-experiments-direct-cash-payments-assist-homeless-youths/