Tiny Homes Making a Big Difference

 

        Having the Portland weather in mind,  winters can be really cruel to the homeless population due to the constant rain, low temperatures, and even snow. As a result, Pallet came up with the fantastic idea of building pods around the city to help those who are in need of shelter. I first came across these little pods about a week ago. I was driving in Portland and as I look to my side I see a bunch of these little homes. Just the design of these tiny homes is enough to make one wonder what its all about, but once you realize that the purpose of these homes is to provide the less fortunate with shelter is even more amazing. During this COVID season, I think that these homes have become more important now more than ever. They found a way to provide housing in a way where social distancing is respected (something that is a lot harder for shelters to do).  The shelters are operated by the city and county's Joint Office of Homeless Service and have a square footage of 64- 100 square feet and are equipped with beds! In addition, all the pods have heating, electricity, and they even help provide meals. I think that learning about housing projects like this is very important because we can then refer people to the right resources if they are in need. In addition, companies like Pallet should be praised more for finding ways like this to help out our community. Below will be a link to a video and the company so you guys can also get informed on the project!

https://www.palletshelter.com/virtual-tour-video

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/tiny-home-pods-help-portlanders-facing-homelessness/283-c01dea86-cb4d-4dd7-ac34-dc60a486bb60

Latinx & Homelessness

    

        Although there has been a spike of 240% in the amount of Hispanic students enrolling in higher education institutions between 1996 and 2012 (Krogstad & Fry, 2014), only 15% of Hispanics actually attain a bachelor’s degree or higher (Krogstad, 2015). Compared to other minorities, Latinos are lagging behind. Even though this could lead to serious repercussions, it is still an unacknowledged issue that, if not confronted soon, could lead more Latino males down a path of economic instability and even homelessness. Currently, the Latinx community makes up roughly around 46% of the population but makes up for 35% of the homeless population. Even before Latino students reach college, it can be seen that a large percentage struggle from an early age. During 2004, Hispanics had a high school dropout rate of 28.4% which surpassed Whites, Blacks, and Asians (Saenz & Ponjuan, 2009, p.56). Hispanics falling behind can be traced even further back than high school which is why there at such a danger to become homeless once they are older. As the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education states, Hispanic students in 2006 had the lowest percentage of children between three to four years old enrolled in schools (Saenz. & Ponjuan, 2009, p. 59). This achievement gap can create a long lasting, devastating impact on our society if nothing is done to create change to help further Hispanic male educational development. By encouraging a more diverse staff, emphasizing how white privilege can be used to advocate for change within Hispanic communities, and creating a well-informed citizenry within classrooms, educators can help create a better educated Hispanic work force. Having more Hispanic students invest in themselves by attending higher education institutions not only will help them financially, by providing better job opportunities, but will help reduce the number of incarcerated and homeless Latinos.

https://socialinnovation.usc.edu/homeless_research/stemming-the-rise-of-latino-homelessness-lessons-from-los-angeles-county/

COVID vaccines and the homeless

Via the FDA

When the homeless will get access to the COVID vaccine is a very pressing issue, given how vulnerable the homeless population is to this virus. A large proportion of homeless people have chronic illnesses, which might make them a great deal more likely to die from COVID. This combined with the rising rate of homelessness makes the question all the more pressing. While information is still light on the ground here are a few answers I've found. Washington State is likely to serve its homeless population in phase 2 (of 4), but there's no estimate on when phase 2 will begin. Similarly, Nebraska intends to give its homeless population the vaccine in phase 1C which is after frontline healthcare in 1A and first responders in 1B. This looks as though it's roughly in line time-wise with Washington. In Massachusetts the order appears to be a little different, with homeless people and those incarcerated getting the vaccine before some of the other sensitive groups other states have prioritized. Still, none of these resources give much of a time estimate, just that the homeless population will be served before the general public. 

The state names at the beginning of each sentence are hyperlinked to further reading on each of these states. 

LGBTQ+ Homelessness

 

Image via Iowa College of Education https://education.uiowa.edu/academic-programs/couple-and-family-therapy/lgbtq-counseling-clinic

In the United States there is a perception that homeless people somehow did something wrong and so somehow deserve to be homeless. However, while there may be people who ended up homeless because they made poor decisions, the majority of homeless people have other things going on in their lives that made it impossible to stay housed. The LGBTQ+ population of homeless youth are a poignant example of this. 40% of all homeless youth are LGBTQ+ and most of those are homeless purely because of their identities. Many LGBTQ+ youth are either thrown out of their homes by parents who can't accept their identities or run away from abuse stemming from their parents' inability to accept their identities. For these youth, the only thing they have "done wrong" is be themselves. These youth don't deserve to be homeless and many of their straight/cis peers are no more blameworthy.

If you are or know someone who is facing homelessness here are a few links to resources: 

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/

https://www.hhs.gov/programs/social-services/homelessness/resources/index.html#ResourcesforPersonsExperiencingHomelessness

COVID-19 and Risks for People Experiencing Homelessness

 Since COVID-19 started to make its way throughout the United States earlier this year, it’s been creating significant changes in everyone’s day to day lives. Many people’s jobs have been greatly impacted or completely lost due to COVID-19. This shift in our society has made a greater number of people at risk for impoverishment or homelessness. 

In Oregon, there was a rent-freeze called the Oregon Eviction Moratorium that would allow people to wait to pay their rent, without fear of being evicted. This was able to give people some time who were experiencing lowered or lost wages to be able to keep their place of living without fear of eviction. This bill went into effect in late June of this year and will end on December 31st of this year. After December 31st, people will have six months to pay off their debts to their landlords before being faced with potential eviction. 

While the Oregon Eviction Moratorium was a step in the right direction for giving people a chance to keep their space of living, when the moratorium ends, there will be a vast increase in the number of people who could potentially become homeless due to the debt they’re in and their own financial circumstances. There is a chance that the already high number of homeless people will begin to increase in the coming months due to people’s financial situations in this pandemic. 

In the pandemic that we’re currently in, it is difficult for people experiencing homelessness to be able to properly socially distance themselves and to get adequate treatment if they were to get the Corona Virus. Especially with how shelters for those experiencing homeless have traditionally been running, it seems difficult to provide socially distant living spaces for these people. So the homeless population seems to be at a high risk of contracting the virus. This along with treatment being so costly, especially if you don’t have insurance or money to spare, it may be very difficult for people who are at risk of being homeless to get the health care they would need. 

There are organizations such as A Home For Everyone that are looking for ways to help people experiencing homelessness in these times. They, along with other organizations are looking to help give solutions to the problems people are facing due to the pandemic going on. On their website, you can find information about how they are trying to help distribute water, meals, face coverings, and socially distancing shelters. 

Photo Taken from http://ahomeforeveryone.net/covid-homelessness

References and more information can be found below

COVID-19 homelessness response. (n.d.). Retrieved 2020, from http://ahomeforeveryone.net/covid-homelessness

Homelessness in America: Overview of Data and Causes. Retrieved 2020, from https://nlchp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Homeless_Stats_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Oregon Eviction Moratorium FAQ. (n.d.). Retrieved 2020, from https://www.portland.gov/phb/rental-services/helpdesk/oregon-eviction-moratorium-faq

Mental Illness and Homelessness

It seems that every major American metropolitan area faces homelessness at a consistently increasing rate. Homelessness is often one of the major talking points that local politicians will address when running their campaigns. Homelessness is frequently brought up when discussing how a city can improve its infrastructure and the well-being of its citizens. One of the biggest hurdles that people face when discussing solutions to homelessness is the problem of mental health issues and drug use disorders among people living without homes. In an article written by The National Coalition for the Homeless, it is stated that roughly 25% of those that are homeless live with severe and debilitating mental illness. 

There is often discourse over the solutions to homelessness. It seems that since mental illness is so correlated with homelessness this should be addressed when discussing solutions to the factors that lead to homelessness. Often times homeless people are just displaced further and are asked to leave the areas that they occupy. I understand where people are coming from if they are living near or are having to work near a makeshift shelter that people who are homeless have created, but these types of actions seem to only be a short-term solution that only benefits those who are not homeless. 

It seems that the best course of action when it comes to helping people who are homeless is to help contribute to making sure they are given mental health resources. People with mental illnesses are more likely to become homeless, and being homeless can further exacerbate mental illnesses making it a lot harder for people to recover from being homeless. Without a support system of any kind, people who become homeless will have a very difficult time finding ways to support themselves. Oregon specifically was ranked the worst state in the United States when it comes to mental health and adequate resources for those who are dealing with mental illnesses according to an article by KGW. 

References and more information regarding mental health and homelessness and how you can help can be found below.

Mehlhaf, A. (2017, June 15). Oregon ranks worst in US for mental health, study says. Retrieved, 2020, from https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/oregon-ranks-worst-in-us-for-mental-health-study-says/283-449141620

Mental Illness and Homelessness. (2009). Retrieved 2020, from https://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/Mental_Illness.pdf

Homelessness in America: Overview of Data and Causes. Retrieved 2020, from https://nlchp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Homeless_Stats_Fact_Sheet.pdf

The Never-Ending Loop: Homelessness, Psychiatric Disorder, and Mortality. Retrieved  2020, from https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/never-ending-loop-homelessness-psychiatric-disorder-and-mortality

cost of living leading to homelessness

Cost of living  leading to homelessness  

 living in today’s economical dominated world is not an easy task to go through in the 20th century. day to day living is just getting more and more expensive as the years go by.   with housing markets skyrocketing and rental agreements demanding more money and adding on different fees like security deposits and cleaning fees, property tax etc. not even including other bills that pile up that are dwindling down one’s earnings. 

 

the list goes on and on the debt that many Americans rack up just trying to get by and live moderately comfortable lives. from auto debt, to homeowner’s debt, health care debt, incidental debt. it all adds ups and can cause extreme economical defenses to stay afloat. according to   the website Gobankingrates.com" jumped in and did the math for us in their piece, “How Much Money You Need to Live Comfortably in the 50 Biggest Cities”. They calculated an annual income of $74,371 was about right for the average person to live comfortably in Los Angeles."  with an average salary at almost $75,000 a year the average income in the in California is roughly 10,000 less than the average income. stated by www.smartassets.com "The average salary in California is $63,783. That is the median salary, which is a more accurate picture of average salaries in California than the mean salary. The mean salary is $91,149. Your salary in California largely will depend on where you live and what your job is"

 with such high-income requirement rated just to get by living a moderately comfortable the homelessness population has no other option but to increase apt of people do not have the drive to continue to fight for the bare minimum for years on end with more debt piling up over time especially with COVID-19 there has been a dramatic surplus of homelessness

 

Mental health during COVID19

Mental health is something the should never be taken lightly. Since the start of the pandemic, many people lost income and some even lost their health insurance which included resources for mental health and mental health services coverage. We are living in a harsh time, some might even call it a year of destruction. Many events have emerged since the start of the year 2020, and some of these events can take a great toll on a person’s mental health. It can even be harder for other if they don’t have healthcare coverage to help them get mental health services. Now the state of Oregon offers free virtual mental health support for anyone in need. All that you would need to do to just get to the right website and start talking to health care professionals. With COVID19 cases raising again more and more people are becoming in need of different services and support whether it is financial help, physical help, as well as mental help. Resources are becoming more and more available thanks to those who are devoted to helping the rest, and our part, if we can’t help, is to raise awareness and spread the word.   

Rental assistance to people affected by COVID-1

With the spread of the COVID19 virus, many people have been laid off from work, lost income, and most are currently behind on rent, utilities, and other bills. Many nonprofit organizations have been working to find proper fundings to help people who qualify for aid. The biggest problem with these types of programs has been the funding. Since nonprofit organizations are required to write grants and the process of getting funds takes time has put a strain on funding accessibility. Volunteering to set up virtual fundraising can be the best way into helping these non-profit organizations get faster funding to be able to help those who are in dire need. With that being said, letting people know that there is an organization that is working to help others in need is a crucial part of getting the word out to everyone. One of the most successful ways has been to have people with social media platforms get a post or two out to let people share it on their platforms. The more people that share the posts the more people that can see it and get the help they need or even direct others they know might need it more. We all have a role in helping one another during times of uncertainty, and volunteering in a safe way is the best action that can be taken towards a better solution to many problems.     

COVID19 Testing Sites

 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, people have been rushing to the nearest testing site to get a test and quarantine. In the past month, there has been a surge of COVID-19 cases, this means that more people are rushing to the testing sites to get tested which in turn can put a load in testing labs to get results out fast enough to the public. With the recent surge testing, drive-thrus have reported a wait time in line to be up to 3 to 4 hours. This means that you can sit in your care for up to 3 hours waiting to get a screening done. This issue has prompted the Tri-County area to think about ways to get more testing sites available to the public because the need for screening test is higher than ever before. In order for the Tri-County to do so, there is a need for a space with big parking spaces to hold a large number of vehicles as well as making sure traffic is not being held up leading up to the testing facilities. One thing that we can do to help make sure the expansion of the testing facilities is to help distribute flags, and directory to aid people in getting to the right site. Also, the state has been thinking to make the cost of testing free of cost for those who don’t currently have health insurance and can’t afford the price of the screening test.      

Why high rent cost is a problem in Portland.

 

If there is one thing that every honest living person deserves in their life, it is a place to live. To me, one of the biggest issues in the entire city of Portland is the excruciatingly high cost of renting an apartment. While there are some who can afford the cost of living in the city, most do not have that luxury, especially if they want to live close to their place of work.

Over the past decade, the cost of living in an apartment has fluctuated from being decently affordable to the average worker to the point where half of their entire monthly paycheck goes towards rent if said worker is on minimum wage in an urban growth boundary, according to Oregon.gov, which is $13.25 an hour as of December 2020.

Today, according to Rent Jungle, the average rent for an apartment within Portland is a staggering $1531, again, only half of a monthly paycheck. In comparison, the rent between January and December of 2011 ranged from $941 to $1092. While the minimum wage has slightly risen during the past ten years, the rent price has risen by around $500. For a lot of people who want to live in Portland, especially if they work within or nearby city limits, $1500+ seems to be too much of a steep price for just a room in an apartment complex. As a result, people are often forced to live with family or friends for extended periods of time in order to keep a roof over their heads.

As concerned citizens, this is a problem that should be brought to the attention of many a landlord, as this not only contributes to people not being able to afford necessities or means of transportation, but also to the issue of homelessness within the city. We understand that utilities must be paid for, but does it really cost over a grand to cover it all from each tenant?

Sources for more information:

Average rent in Portland: https://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-portland-or-rent-trends/
Minimum wage in Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/workers/Pages/minimum-wage.aspx

Post by Tom Newton
Senior, PSU

HOLIDAY SEASON WITH COVID 19

Three W’s of COVID-19

Wear a face covering

Wash your hands

Watch your distance

Holiday Season Approaching

COVID-19 cases are on track to hit 2,000 by the holiday’s. Those are the numbers if everyone does what they are supposed to do and stay social distanced and wear face coverings. The other set of numbers point to a very harsh number, which is 2,700 by the holidays. Oregon is now averaging 1,300 cases per day. We will see in the upcoming weeks how much protocol people are following from the shut downs that occurred on November 18th. If the numbers are still inclining and get to that point come Christmas time then having a full out shut down like in March might have to be in conversation.

 

https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/12/oregon-could-hit-2000-to-2700-daily-covid-19-cases-by-christmas-eve-new-modeling-shows.html

 

 

 Holiday Ideas and Tips:

1) Celebrate Outside- even though it’s not ideal to visit and have fun outdoors in the winter it is alot safer than doing it inside. Try and do it in moderation with no more than ten people.

 

2) Drive if Possible- even though it may be a long distance traveling on ground is still the smart safety thing to do. Traveling through airports and surrounding yourself with other travelers is not the safest. 

 

3) Get covid test before visiting/traveling- not only does this protect yourself, but you don’t want to harm any friends and family by bringing the virus towards them. Even with a negative test be cautious with all safety protocols. 

 

4) Virtual Gatherings- be creative and figure out different activities you can do. You can play games, just have conversations, tell stories, etc. 

 

5) Gift Cards- this year is the year that gift cards should be used more than anything for gift ideas. Some examples can include: weekend getaways, amusement park gift cards, sporting tickets, restaurant gift cards. 

 

6) Creative Ideas with immediate family- this year is a great opportunity for immediate families to spend more time with each other and chance to get creative. Instead of always rushing trying to get from house to house and place to place for holiday’s just slow down and spend it all at home. Play a game that you haven’t played in awhile, have meaningful conversations, watch movies, etc.

 

7) Send a surprise meal to someone- without them expecting it send some food through a food delivery service to someone you are close with.

ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT.......

Considerations for small gatherings of Family and Friends

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html

Christmas Activities for kids

https://www.minted.com/lp/christmas-activities

43 Activities to do during the holidays

https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-10-30/fun-holiday-activities-enjoy-covid-19

Communication Importance

In these trying times, something that is often overlooked when it comes to surviving through this pandemic and quarantine is how incredibly vital communication options are. Not only for people on a daily basis, but in order to keep the basic calm and norm for most people.

Its what keeps people sane, its what keeps the world functioning, and its what allows people to help develop vaccines that can eradicate things like COVID. With this in mind, keeping those who don't necessarily have the ability to live as comfortably as they would like are just as important as someone who can. Homeless people typically have a limited access to communication, outside of in person and the occasional smartphone access. And while this is a form of communication, due to the recent issues, social distancing, and the like, have made it more difficult to meet that basic need. Which can lead to an increase in stress and depression.  

What can be done? Even though we have to keep social distancing to keep everyone safe, things like texting and calling are still a form of communication. Speaking to people from a safe distance is a good way too, and its completely free. For those who are homeless and don't have access to smartphones being in a public area to talk can be a way to get in that socialization. Not to mention during the holidays, as these times can drive up stress and mental illness symptoms.

Now, what kinds of options are there for communication that doesn't require in person communication, nor knowing too many people? The link below provides various numbers that can help with loneliness, mental illness aid, and so on.

Somewhere that you can go to get various types of help or are simply wanting to talk with someone

Productivity During a Pandemic

If you’re like me, COVID-19 has thrown off your entire way of life. Any routine you had before has probably been altered or completely demolished. I have been feeling like month after month there is no point in even trying to get something accomplished. This was particularly hard at the beginning of lock down, but as the year of COVID continues, I find myself getting more and more pessimistic about productivity. In response to my struggle with being a functioning human being, I have decided to help others get through their COVID hump with a field guide to productivity during a pandemic. 

The first thing that has helped me is that routine is essential to feeling productive. Whether you have anything real to accomplish or not, make sure you wake up, shower, and get dressed around the same time everyday! It helps to maintain a sense of purpose. Maybe you spend the rest of your day just reading a book or binging TV, at least you started your day off with purpose! It’ll also help motivate you to keep the day moving forward instead of lounging around in pajamas. 

Along with a routine, I have found that lists are SUPER helpful! Something about checking something off a list makes you feel like you are on top of things! Here’s a tip: add something on your list that you’ve already accomplished. Then you can check it off without doing anything! Lists help to make things feel manageable and digestible. If there’s 5 things on your todo list, then that means you’re just 5 steps away from a fully productive day (even if those steps are just doing the dishes and sweeping your kitchen up!)

The last thing to do is to stay in touch with the people in your life! It can be hard when physical contact isn’t possible, but there are so many ways to keep in touch with friends and family. Maintaining contact and stimulating conversation with loved ones keeps me motivated and feeling connected to the real world. Letting yourself hide in your apartment or home makes it hard to be productive. For me personally, I need to be interacting with other people to get motivated and feel fulfilled, so if you are struggling with productivity, maybe try to reach out to a friend!

Everyone is struggling right now with getting back into a routine and feeling motivated to do anything. I think that we are all in a state of limbo where we are unable to go back to our normal day to day activities, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create a new routine! Start small and go from there. Try these simple steps and see where it takes you!

The Covid Holidays: What to Expect and How to Help

    This holiday season is strange. We can't travel or see our family, as Covid is still relevant and impacting our everyday lives. In the state of the pandemic, we are focused on trying to stay safe and keep others safe. The most important aspect to remember is that we are working towards safety, as a vaccine is said to be close to release. But what do we do as we wait for safety? And more importantly, in light of the topic for this term, how can we help people who are in need (the homeless), who don't have access to any sort of precautions as we may have.

    The CDC has informed us on what precautions we should take in regards to gatherings, traveling and exposure during the holiday season. By now, we understand what we should be doing to keep safe. Social distancing, masks and staying clean has become a part of our daily lives.

To learn more about CDC holiday guidelines, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html

    So what about those in need, who don't have access to these precautions. The homeless want to stay safe during these times, and we have the ability to assist them during the holiday season. This is the time for giving to others, and it's easy to donate to homeless shelters or food banks. An article from WWNY News covers an annual student Christmas Drive, where they discuss how they are donating cleaning supplies such as baby wipes or hand sanitizers to those in need.

To read the full article, click here: https://www.wwnytv.com/2020/11/12/helping-homeless-during-holiday-season/

   Of course we have the ability to donate money or food to those in need, but what they really need is kindness and compassion during these dark times. The holiday season is supposed to be a jolly time of the year, and no one should be forced to feel terrible during these times. By donating and helping the homeless, we have the ability to show the homeless that we want them to have a wonderful holiday season. One non-profit, HandsOn Greater Portland, focuses on improving and changing communities for the better, and for the holidays they are in need of volunteers.

If you are interested in the HandsOn project, you can go to: https://www.handsonportland.org

This holiday season, be kind, help others and of course, stay safe!

COVID-19 Shutting Us Down

Portland just like everywhere in America is being hit hard with COVID-19 and what it has done to local businesses. It has brought extreme tension and sadness on what is happening to our local economy. Not only are the business owners suffering, but so are the employees that make a living at the shutdown businesses. This latest shutdown by Governor Brown, which started on November 18 is very scary in terms if businesses will be able to get back up on their feet again.

Financial Assistance to Businesses

Governor Kate Brown will be allocating $55 million in assistance to businesses that are being affected by  COVID-19. The money will come from the federal CARES Act fund. This is supposed to be the start of potential more money down the road to help sustain the economy until the virus gets contained. The money will be handled and awarded to the counties based on population. Each county will have to figure out how they want the funds distributed and managing the applications. The hospitality industry and the businesses from black, native American and other disadvantaged communities will be prioritized. 

 

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2020/11/oregon-gov-kate-brown-pledges-55-million-in-state-aid-for-businesses-hurt-by-covid-19.html

 

 

Oregon Business Groups Urging Kate Brown of shutdown

Oregon’s Coronavirus Recovery Business Coalition urged Kate Brown to consider alternatives in regards to her shutdown of businesses. Sandra McDonough, President and CEO of Oregon Business & Industry said that this shut down will be a lot more damaging than the previous one. This shut down is a little bit more mysterious than the last one right now for workers and business owners because we had the federal unemployment support and small business assistance that was in play. The Business Coalition brought to the table some ideas, but the governor was not buying into that course of action.

 

https://www.wweek.com/news/business/2020/11/13/oregon-business-groups-urged-gov-kate-brown-not-to-implement-statewide-freeze-amid-covid-19-spike/

 

 

Ways to Help Small Businesses

1)Gift Cards- Purchasing gift cards would generate instant cash flow to the suffering businesses. It’s a Win-Win-Win though for all three groups involved though. The business is obviously benefiting because they are bringing in money. The purchaser is benefiting because they are going to be providing a good to the person of their choosing. The receiver of the gift card will obviously be benefiting because they will be able to spend money at that business whenever they want.

 

2)Shopping Local- Instead of shopping at all the chain restaurants or grocery stores do a good service and try to help out the local businesses instead. It is imperative during these times we are going through that we stick together and support each other as much as we possibly can.

 

3) Ordering Online- The easiest way in today’s world is to purchase everything and have it delivered by Amazon. Instead of doing everything the easiest and most convenient way try and order necessary items through local and brick and motor stores and shops. That could make the biggest difference towards them being able to fight through these times.

 

4) Pick-up from Restaurants- if some of your local restaurants don’t do delivery simply see if you can pick it up from them. Even though everything is most convenient through all of the food delivery services try and support your local restaurants when they need it the most.

Helping Others During the Holidays

Image Source: Morgan, Steve.” File:Pioneer Courthouse Square with Christmas tree 2011.jpg.” commons.wikimedia.org, December 23, 2011, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pioneer_Courthouse_Square_with_Christmas_tree_2011.jpg



As we come closer to the December holidays it is becoming increasingly evident that because of the Covid 19 pandemic many non-profit organizations are changing how they are accepting donations at their holiday events this year. Among the events that are changing the way they do things is Sunshine Division’s Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway. Sunshine Division is a non-profit whose mission is to provide food and clothing for those in need in Portland and their yearly fundraising event, Winter Wonderland, helps with that mission. Winter Wonderland is a drive through Christmas light show, but what is changing this year is that tickets are only available for online purchase. Sunshine Division has already had to cancel the majority of their fundraiser events due to the pandemic, so they are hoping for a big turn out at Winter Wonderland to help feed families this year.

The event runs until January 2nd and tickets are sold here: http://winterwonderlandportland.com/

If you are interested in getting involved visit their website: Sunshine Division.org

Similarly to Sunshine Division’s Winter Wonderland the South Portland Toy Drive is being forced to change how they are accepting donations this year. Each year they provide kids with clothes and toys for Christmas, but this year only monetary donations are acceptable due to Covid restrictions.

Here is the information on how to donate this year: South Portland Toy Drive

Another Portland based organization whose priorities are in providing food and shelter for those who might need them is Portland Rescue Mission. In lieu of typical holiday fundraisers, Portland Rescue Mission has established a telethon event in which people may call in to donate.

You can donate by calling 877-544-1319 or online at: Hope for the Holidays Telethon

If you are interested in getting involved visit their website: Portland Rescue Mission.org

Portland PD’s Response to Homelessness

 

Image source: Ellis, Rebecca. “Half Of PPB's 2017-18 Arrests Were Of People Experiencing Homelessness.” opb.org, July 17, 2019, https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-police-homeless-arrests-half-review-2018/.


Overall 2020 has been a year of great societal turmoil, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Portland which have been focal points for social justice advocacy. Since the killing of George Floyd back in May of this year, the public’s attention has shifted once again on the corruption of law enforcement. While the many cases of misconduct in law enforcement involve racial prejudice, many marginalized communities are affected by police behavior as well, such as the homeless.


According to yearly studies by The Oregonian, in the past three years more than fifty percent of arrests in the Portland area were of people living on the streets. This is a troubling statistic in and of itself, but one could truly understand the severity of the issue when considering the fact that less than 5 percent of the population is currently homeless. When taking into account that homeless people are but a fraction of the total population and yet make up the majority of arrests indicate a blatant bias in law enforcement towards homeless people. A bias which is akin to the obvious prejudice seen in law enforcement's treatment of people of color nationwide.


The solution to the homeless crisis does not lie in an endless cycle of jail bookings but rather access to affordable housing. If the Portland Police Department was in partnership with local shelters and organizations that facilitate affordable housing such as Transition Projects, then there may be progress towards diminishing the number of people living on the streets.


If you would like to inform yourself further on the subject:

2019 Portland Police Bureau Review

The Oregonian Report


If you know, or are a person in need of shelter, there are resources here:

Transition Projects

Homelessness during a Pandemic

 

    With our country in a pandemic, this has lead more people to being homeless and living on the streets. Lawmakers are trying to help secure shelter for the increasing amount of homeless people, especially since Winter is coming and temperatures are dropping: "With Winter fast approaching, Representative Pam Marsh along with Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer want to help get secure shelters for those who need it. “The emergency board of the legislature is meeting, and we'll be considering our $65 million request for it to use, uh, general fund dollars,” Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer said". https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-lawmakers-look-to-buy-hotels-to-house-homeless-during-coronavirus-pandemic

    Even though the government is trying to help those in need during the colder months, I feel like the holidays allow us to especially help those in need if we can't necessarily help during the rest of the year. Myself personally, I like to try and help out some organization during the holidays that helps those in need, wether that's animals or people. This year I am donating supplies for animals in need in shelters. I think it is important for us to help those, especially the growing homeless population, during this time of year if we can fit it into our budget. 

    One organization that I have volunteered for in the past and I feel is reliable and organized, is the Portland Rescue Mission. They help homeless people all throughout the year and have homeless shelters available throughout the Portland Metro area. They also have recovery programs available; they have Shepherd's Door which helps women, especially with children: "Shepherd’s Door is a community of single women and women with children (ages 10 and under) who participate in New Life Ministries at Portland Rescue Mission. At Shepherd’s Door, you’ll find a sanctuary of peace and security as you move into a healthy lifestyle while dealing with the pain of addiction and previous choices". They also have a recovery program for men called The Harbor: "The Harbor is a community of men overcoming homelessness and addiction in the men’s New Life Ministry of Portland Rescue Mission". I feel like these services and this organization is very helpful to the homeless community in Portland and is a good way to help out during the holidays and during the year. https://www.portlandrescuemission.org/

Permanent Housing vs Shelters

 

Permanent housing versus shelters.  For a long while I had believed that more shelters would assist the homelessness issue, but with research towards homelessness assistance I came up on the topic concerning the effectiveness of shelters and permanent housing.  The main points are financial costs and path to self-sufficiency.  When looking up past instances of permanent housing projects it has appeared to be more effective in getting individuals to a point where they’re able to work again and self-sustain themselves.  

When in permanent housing, the claim is that with stable housing, it provides a sense of security and stability.  With that in mind it leads to a homeless individual being able to seek out more help and increases their chances of becoming self-independent.  How can one hope to get back on their feet if they have to seek shelter or necessities everyday after all?  In the video provided above, the housing solution shown contains a portion of the building where those who live there can learn skills such as in the cooking area that turns into a restaurant during the day.  This example is a fantastic illustration of just what these permanent housing buildings can do if done right.  Incorporating an environment that puts them into situations where they can be a working person and in this case even pay them for it (since it is a restaurant too) gives them some form of job training that they can take with them later on.  As they also say in the video it’s almost no different from an apartment and it’s flexible that they have different types of room options such as studios, or double rooms that can house siblings.  

They also bring up an interesting point that I think becomes a concern with these offers.  The goal of course is to get them back working and independent as soon as they possibly can, but they’re aware that some, especially young individuals may not be able to do it within their 1 year binding contract.  It becomes more effective to provide programs that will help them get there sooner, but while the effort is to in the future open up another room, it’s reasonable not to expect residents to leave after that year.

Is it really cost saving?  For Multnomah county, there was a claim that it would cost $8000 per household to help an individual attain permanent housing whereas $8000-1000 to maintain one bed in a shelter.  I think the cost savings eventually come in the effort that’s provided to get them off the streets and become no longer homeless where the success rates of shelters being less than 10% just has them going back.  In combination due to permanent housing taking more time to build as well as housing a smaller number of people at a time, shelters however still provide a very temporary solution to housing bigger numbers.  This will only improve as more permanent housing solutions are built over time.

Some statements from calcoast that I think summarize the idea is that instead of getting them ready to move out of homelessness, you give them a roof and services which will then make it easier for them to assess their problems.

RESOURCES

Housing First

Coalition for the Homeless

Home for Hope

Dehumanization of homeless

 Dehumanization of homeless  by Malik walker 

    Homelessness in America is in one of its all time highs, with lost of wages from jobs and people being forced out of there homes due the pandemic of covid 19 the world has been in  a spiral and it has caused a lot of financial hardship for many people 

 

according to www.whitehouse.gov "Of those, 194,467 (35 percent) were unsheltered, and 358,363 (65 percent) were sheltered. The overall homeless population on a single night represents 0.2 percent of the U.S. population, or 17 people per 10,000 in the population."  this  marker indicates a baseline showing percentages of homelessness before  the covid 19 pandemic began this year  due to the inability to come to a definitive percentage of homelessness since the years study is not over, but   through out  major states there has dramatic increases in the homeless population  for examples according to www.theguardian.com "An estimated 82,955 people became homeless in 2019, a 51% increase from the year before. About 64% became housed again on their own, which means on average, 207 people exit homelessness each day while 227 become homeless." 

 people tend to forget that homeless people are just people that have gotten into a bad situation. there is a fear that a lot of people have of the homeless acting as if they are monsters or are less then human. men and women across the nation suffer from finical hardships  due to extremely high cost of living in  certain states such as California, Oregon and other major cities.  state by www.finacialplanneria.com "The website Gobankingrates.com jumped in and did the math for us in their piece, “How Much Money You Need to Live Comfortably in the 50 Biggest Cities”. They calculated an annual income of $74,371 was about right for the average person to live comfortably in Los Angeles." while the average wages in California are 62,000 a year

 

.https://fb.watch/21MDnx7Ixl/

Homelessness and COVID-19 in Portland

COVID-19 and the impact of infection spread around the country has been the highlight of this year 2020. To flatten the coronavirus curve, we have been introducing new systems and trying to getting used to the new operations as a member of the community. 

One of the difficulties that Oregon has faced during the pandemic is how to protect homeless people and/or people around them from the coronavirus spread. According to Homelessness Toolkit (portlandoregon.gov), about 2,037 individuals sleep unsheltered in the City of Portland each night. 

The government has implemented The Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program (HUCIRP) under the State of Emergency in Housing and Homelessness to help reduce the impact of homelessness within the community by creating service navigation opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness while also facilitating the removal of hazardous items and debris from our public spaces. However, as a response to the current condition and the increase of COVID-19 cases, the City of Portland has begun the Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program to protect health and safety. Here are the conditions for determining the sites that will be cleaned up.

Campsites will be prioritized for cleanup

• 8 or more occupied structures 
• Block public sidewalks, paths, transit stations, restrooms, or building entrances 
• Prevent 6 feet of physical distancing 
• Significant garbage or debris 
• Evidence of conspicuous drug use: uncapped, used hypodermic needles or other paraphernalia
• Credible reports of criminal behavior, verified by Portland Police or Multnomah County Sherif

(https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/756745)

To avoid warning and cleanup, we can do 

• Limit campsites to fewer than 8 structures. 
• Keep tents 12 feet apart from people not in your household. 
• Make sure people can reasonably maintain 6 feet of distance from you and your property. 
• Leave 10 feet of space from any doorway, transit stop, public restroom, or other high-activity areas. 
• Keep your camp area free of soiled items, biohazards, and garbage that could transmit disease.

(https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/756745)

Summary

Homelessness has become one of the biggest problems in Oregon. Especially during the pandemic, the community's responsible operations and appropriate treatments are significant. However, it is also clear that all of us need to cooperate together for reducing COVID-19 cases in the community. When we think about how you can protect not only yourself but also your neighborhoods, there are many things that individuals can practice to protect our community from COVID-19. 

For example,

• Don’t share cigarettes, phones, utensils, and other commonly shared items. 
• As much as possible, wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. For information about accessing a hygiene station, call 503-823-4000. 
• Use hand sanitizer when possible, rubbing it through fingers – do not wipe it off. 
• Refrain from touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.

Take a time to reconsider someone else, we are all together now. 

For More Information

Portland government websites and PDF.

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/69845

https://www.portland.gov/phb/management-information-system

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/756745

Homelessness and Autism

 

There is no doubt that there are a lot of homeless people who have physical disabilities, thus making it harder for them to find work and live a decent life amongst the populace of not just American society, but societies in other countries. On an equal note, there are also those with disabilities or disorders that are neurological in nature, and cannot be seen by the naked eye. I am of course talking about autism.

Being a person on the autism spectrum myself, I can’t help but sympathize with those who have little to no help during tough economic times, especially now due to COVID-19. Much like those who are physically handicapped, homeless people who have neurological or mental disabilities have extremely limited options open to them in terms of help and support, both from a financial and healthcare standpoint. It’s much worse for those who are unable to make decisions for themselves. For them, being homeless is not only further damaging their mental health, but also their lives as a whole.

As an ever-growing society that spans many different backgrounds, it is important to assist those that need help, especially in the homeless and handicapped communities. There are organizations out there that you can donate to help. In my case, one organization I definitely support is the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, which helps educate those who aren’t familiar with certain high and low-functioning disabilities (i.e. Aspergers’ Syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders [PDD]), how they can be identified, and how they are treated.

For more information on autism and homelessness, see this article from 2016 that also brings it to light and why it matters: https://rootedinrights.org/autism-and-homelessness-the-real-crisis/

Autistic Self Advocacy Network: https://autisticadvocacy.org/

Post by Tom Newton
Senior, PSU