Portland's Harbor of Hope. The first prototype to put an end to homelessness.

Nearly $1.5 million have been donated by Columbia Sportswear CEO, Tim Boyle towards building a new homeless shelter in Northwest Portland, OR. After nearly four years of planning, law suites and city approvals, Portland's Harbor of Hope has resumed construction and is set to be completed in 2019. Formally knows as the Navigation Center and Temporary Shelter, it's set to occupy nearly 120 people for temporary stability. The shelter will have beds, common meal area, restrooms, showers and laundry facilities. families, and pets will be welcome as they try and get back on their feet.

There have been a lot of back and forth in regards to the shelter being built. Some believe it's a waste of real estate and money, or that it's going to attract more homeless while others believe the contrary. The shelter is located under the Broadway Bridge between NW Naito Parkway and Union Station. Close by are other resources to help those in need, such as, The Union Gospel and The Blanchet House. The idea behind the shelter, is to bring in people who want to be off of the street. This isn't a typical, walk-in type of shelter. This will be a 24/7, full-service shelter with security surveillance. Those who wish to reside here temporarily must do so by making a reservation in advance.

For more information about the Harbor of Hope, check out the link below.

https://oregonharborofhope.org/contact/

This Organization is Helping Portland's Homeless Crisis $1 at a Time

Street Roots, a Portland based publication company is helping to solve Portland's homeless problem, and their business model is genius.

They don't reach into their own pockets, but rather, they rely on the Portland population to help them fulfill their mission: to create income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty by producing a newspaper and other media that are catalysts for individual and social change.

The way Street Roots works is simple. They release newspapers weekly. Those who find themselves in poverty can buy the paper for 25 cents, and then turn around and sell them for $1 each. Their program gives the homeless involved with the program a sense of self worth and a "routine", says Willie Bradford, a seller who usually makes his money outside of the Multnomah County Library.

The model has also been proven in more cities than just Portland. Nashville's The Contributor and New York's Street Sense are just a couple of other successful publications across the country looking to help the homeless population. Nationally, there are more than 100 different street papers in 35 different countries, which employ around 21,000 vendors and reach over 21 million readers. Still think that newspaper is dead?

The catalyst for all of this to happen of course is you! Street Roots even goes as far as giving their vendors online profiles in order to break some tension that may be caused from the idea of engaging with a homeless person. Street Roots wants to normalize the process as much as possible to increase the amount of papers their vendors can sell every week.

While this isn't the clear cut solution to the homeless problem, this is definitely a very good start. Helping Street Roots is as simple as purchasing a Street Roots paper from a local Portland vendor for just $1, or by visiting their website to make a donation. To learn more about different wants to get involved, you can find more information on their website.

Pets of the homeless

In recent years, homelessness in Portland has reached crisis level, and along with that the number of homeless pet owners looking for help has also risen dramatically. Recent surveys show that on any given night, there are approximately four thousand people living on the streets of Portland. Among this population, about five to ten percent own an animal companion, however this number can vary depending on the community. Although Oregon has a higher number of cats per capita than dogs, this is not true for people on the street, whose majority keep a dog by their side.

Benefits of pets for the homeless

Why then, do so many people who are homeless own pets?  Companion animals provide many benefits that are unique to the homeless population which far outweigh the costs. People who are homeless face stigma, discrimination, and social rejection. Their relationship with other people are often associated with distrust, aggression and even abuse. With interpersonal relationship so negatively characterized, a pet can offer solace when no other human can, because they mitigate the sense of isolation stemming from the lack of meaningful relationships with others. According to one study, a pet provide ‘an opportunity to care for “someone” without the complexities of human relationship dynamics’ In fact, pet owners who are homeless report lower level of depression and loneliness than those without. Pets can also offer feelings of responsibility which, for people with a history of substance abuse, can discourage them from partaking in risky behaviors, empower them to end their addiction and in some cases, avoid suicide

Despite its benefits, pet ownership is still a huge commitment, one that could become overbearing if one’s living condition changed unexpectedly.  Facing homelessness, many people have no choice but to give up their pets, unaware of the resources that can help alleviate the burden of pet ownership. As few as there may be, there are organizations in Portland that will provide food, shelters, pet supplies and veterinary care at low cost or even free.

Resources for homeless pet owners

For pet owners struggling to make ends meet, below are links to resources around Portland that can help alleviate the burden of pet ownership, resources that range from food to veterinary care. These agencies are mostly non-profit that also appreciate donations.

PAW team: https://www.pawteam.org/
Oregon Human Society: https://www.oregonhumane.org/
The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank: https://www.thepongofund.org/

Porlands Transitions Project.

In multnomah County as of 2017 there were over 4,000 adults that experience homelessness and a vast majority were unsheltered. A Program called Transitions Projects help provide people with the resources they need to get out of being homeless.

OREGON IS IN THE TOP 5 STATES WITH HIGHEST PER CAPITA RATES OF HOMELESSNESS.

10%

increase in overall homelessness from 2015-2017 in Multnomah County

14%

increase in the number of homeless women from 2015-2017

35%

decrease in the number of unsheltered African Americans from 2015-2017

24%

increase in chronic homelessness from 2015-2017

The transitions project:

• Assist thousands that experience homelessness
• Help with basic needs
• Help provide a safe place to stay at night
• Assist in getting into affordable housing

Things that you can do to help:

Volunteer- Look into your local area and see what shelters, food banks and other resources that help with homelessness that need an extra set of hands.

Donate- Donate food, clothing or anything you can spare even your time is helpful.

Educate- Learn what leading causes people to become homeless and what you can do to help.

Advocate- Talk about it spread word of the issues and how people can help.

Link to source:
https://www.tprojects.org/

Street Root vendor wanted a fresh start...so he became homeless

“I just realized I had to move, had to get away from everything.” Mentioned in the article "Street Roots vendor profile: A clean Break in Portland" by Pat Zimmer. Vince Masiello out of Portland, Oregon and originally from Manhattan, had it all. Money, a college education, a roof over his head, the Prius, and had build himself a successful career in the tech industry. He left it all behind for a life free of materialism. After dropping out of his master's program, and battling severe depression, Vince ended up in Portland. Shortly, his life seemed to spiral downhill due to unforeseen events as well as his own choices and ultimately, he ended up homeless. That's when he turned to Street Roots.

Vince's story opens up the door to another conversation - who are the homeless people? who are the people we walk by everyday that keep trying to sell us newspapers? Homeless people, especially in the Portland area, don't have the best reputation. People assume that they're all on drugs and have no desire to help themselves, when in reality, that's not always the case. When we read Vince's story, we learn that everyone is on a different path and everyone has goals that they want to accomplish. Some people need the help to get there. That's where Street Roots becomes a great resource for those that need to get back on their feet or find the path they want to take. It provides people with the resources to make a living, while they're trying to search for a job. it provides people with the opportunity to network and obtain those healthy social interactions that humans need. While it may not be a dream job, it allows people, like Vince to find is calling, and to help him grow as a productive member in society. 

As a community, it's important that we educate ourselves and do what we can to help others. it can be something as simple as saying good morning to someone or purchasing a news paper from the guy on the corner. It's also important to be aware of the resources that are available to those who are less fortunate whether you actively volunteer, or just to be able to point someone in the right direction. What makes Vince's story so special and unique is that he brought himself to this place. He enjoys what he's doing and he's been able to live on both sides of the fence. By encouraging and educating, we can make the changes that are greatly needed. 


Link to original article
https://news.streetroots.org/2019/04/19/street-roots-vendor-profile-clean-break-portland

Why Are People Homeless and How Can We Help?

     Ever been driving through downtown Portland, noticing the high number of individuals and families living on the streets? Do you ever wonder how they ended up there or what life choices lead them to losing their homes?

     There are so many innocent people in this world who have suffered life-altering events causing them to lose the comfort and warm of their homes. Some of those events include: 

• Lay-offs
• Illness 
• Poverty 
• Natural Disasters

     According to the NLIHC, there is a shortage of about 7.2 million affordable rental homes in America. Also, any person with a minimum wage paying job could never afford a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. Some further challenges that may kindle to the homelessness population includes:

• Mental Health
• Physical Disabilities
• PTSD
• Domestic Violence 

     Those examples all can play major roles in causing a person to become homeless. The million dollar question is, what can we do to help?

     There are a number of ways we can make a difference in a person's or people's lives, and I am going to give you a few different ways.

     First, we can do our jobs to spread awareness and educate our peers and community on this ongoing problem. Do your research, learn of shelters, and pass along the knowledge you obtain in order to make a difference.

     Second, volunteer your time and/or your resources. There are so many shelters, organizations, and  charities looking for volunteers to help with raising money, food, and clothing. Giving your time is a great way to make a difference in your community.

     Third, work for and support change. We need a minimum wage that will cover the cost of living, affordable housing, and support services for those with mental health or physical disabilities. It's time we took a stand and help to overrule laws and policies.

For more information and helpful links on solutions for homelessness check out:

https://invisiblepeople.tv/four-ways-to-help-homeless-people/

https://invisiblepeople.tv/causes-of-homelessness/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrNSKgJaN4gIVHrnACh0HAAIMEAAYAiAAEgIa2fD_BwE

https://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/why.html