Emergency shelter intake form

In Gabriel Kahane's full orchestra oratorio Emergency shelter intake form we come across a work which seeks the “why” in why we should care. In order to do this, Kahane's piece focuses on the systemic problems that keep people unhoused even when they are seeking help or resources. Over the course of thirteen movements the listener is given a variety of common form questions often posed to those seeking help, “Have you ever been denied a lease?”, “Are you eligible for section 8 Voucher”, “Do your coworkers know that you have lost your home” are all a few titles to movements themselves. Perhaps ironically these robot-like inquiries help us access a more human, relatable vision into what it's like to seek help from a systemic force.

cover art designed by Timo Andres

Kahane importantly mediates on some root causes of homelessness. In the eleventh movement he brings up the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008. The music is comedically jolly and big band inspired, paired with the vocal solo it sounds like a playful christmas track. This is a perfect pairing to the libretto which gives the listener a brief, cheeky summary of wall street's love affair with CD loans. Together your presented with a pseudo macabre slap to the face, that the rich will always have fun getting richer even at the cost of those who are the most vulnerable. 

In the final movement “Thank you for completing this form” we get a choral performance with orchestra, which was sung by Maybelle community singers on the listed recording- a group who all face issues with homelessness. The movement is a haunting close, the music gives a dissonant representation of the disheartening under the rug treatment the unhoused receive. It buckles down on a core issue in the unhoused reality, how many who aren't in that situation don't care. Perhaps, if the piece is successful in its vision, it can be a conduit of changing minds for those who aren't as close to the issue as others.

If you’d like to find out more about this piece visit this link:

https://gabrielkahane.bandcamp.com/track/xiii-thank-you-for-completing-this-form

 

Legacy of the Underground Great Wall

Homelessness and housing insecurity take many forms. It does not have a single shape, or a single cause. In asking why we should care about homelessness, it is useful to broaden our understanding of how it can look. 

Homelessness does not always mean not having a roof, or not paying rent, it is not exclusive to unemployed people struggling with drug addiction. If we are being asked to care about housing insecurity, we can not ask to care only about the forms where a stereotype holds true. 

All of Beijing is dense, but underground in retrofitted bomb shelters and building code-required basements are especially tight, sometimes just big enough for a bed. Approximately 1 million people live under the city in these claustrophobic rooms without sunlight. Who are these people? As difficult as it is to speak about any collection of a million people, in general they are young working professionals in the service industry who migrated from elsewhere in China, they pay rent and they go to work and they live underneath high rises and dense industry alike.  

But all of this underground housing is technically illegal to rent or reside in. With all of the complications that presents. These retrofitted fallout shelters are not safe or intended for continual residence, but they’re cheap, near work and they’re somewhere.  

You can find out more from Chi Yin Sim’s photography project and NPR

Where to Begin

When thinking of homelessness many different topics come to mind. Quality of life, access to healthcare, mental health, violence, families, etc. Within this combined and disarrayed sense of what “homelessness” is, identifying what steps to take in order to get to a better place can be daunting and anxiety-inducing. It is important to identify the subsets each individual faces.

It is a generalization and harmful to assume to know the situation of those without shelter even if at times a generalization may be true. Each situation is often a combination. If we do not know what is going on with an individual, the first step would be to assess the current state of where they are currently. Without identifying where they are and what they need help dealing with, a path forward is just a shot in the dark.

Effectively, just like when visiting a doctor, any help received is diminished when the diagnosis is incorrect. Offering help does not mean it is the right kind of help, nor does it mean it will be accepted simply because it is offered. In the journey of finding yourself homeless, the one question I feel the need to answer is how would one begin to get back to a more stable place. Because of this, I would like to highlight the opportunity for those looking for that refuge and a bridge to more resources at the Multnomah County Behavioral Health Resource Center. 

“A safe and welcoming day center where anyone who is houseless and experiencing addiction or mental health challenges can take a break from living on the street. You can warm up, find support and get help, use the restroom and take a shower. Located at SW Park Ave and Oak St in downtown Portland, we’re run by people who’ve been there and get it.

You do not need to be clean or sober. And we allow pets!”

Behavioral Health Resource Center

333 SW Park Ave (at SW Oak St)

Portland, Oregon (Map)

503-988-4100

bhrc-info@multco.us (link sends e-mail)

Hours: 8am to 8pm daily

Website:

https://www.multco.us/behavioral-health/behavioral-health-resource-center

This health center provides those without shelter a location that enables connection and a tender place of care. With showers, low-barrier entry, beds, etc., and an inclusive community that accepts people for who they currently are and provides them with care from peers who have been in similar situations.

Although you may or may not be experiencing homelessness, in the end you are human, and each human deserves to feel like they can be safe. Thank you to Multnomah County and the project coordinators for cultivating a more engaged community. 

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5217414,-122.679454,3a,75y,334.53h,109.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVIEnuobT-tRwwzSCJnpv9Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVIEnuobT-tRwwzSCJnpv9Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D359.1608%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192 *

*The area/building has been renovated slightly. The location is provided as a reference. 

For more information on the amenities provided visit their overview here: https://multco-web7-psh-files-usw2.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/BHRC-Summary.pdf 

What Our Current Housing Crisis Looks Like

The homeless crisis in the Portland metro area is at an all-time high, due to the increased prices of affordable rent and the increased cost of living in Portland. Coupled with this, there is a racial disparity in unhoused folks as in 2015, there was a 48% increase in the number of unhoused Black people compared to the previous year, and that number is only getting higher. Additionally, there is a large number of folks who identify as women that are homeless and they are one of the fastest-growing unsheltered populations as of 2015. As the population of unhoused folks grows, so does the population of those people being children and people in families. 

Chart courtesy of https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/562207

This matters because these are members of our community that are being greatly affected by the housing crisis that is happening here in Portland. Although, this is a problem that is not isolated to just Portland as there is a national housing crisis happening throughout the U.S. To help those in the Portland community, consider taking a look at Portland Rescue Mission as they are a non-profit that is community funded in trying to help homeless folks find shelter, food, and housing in the Portland area.

https://portlandrescuemission.org/

Tiana Low, Winter 2023

An Innovative solution to address homelessness in Portland

When we hear homelessness we often think about how complex and challenging this issue can be. Simply being aware of it is ineffective and it will require innovative solutions.

The cost of living in Portland has continued to go up, this is especially true for home prices, this makes it near impossible for the homeless to afford a place, considering they have to worry about other basic needs such as food and clothes. 

One innovative method I have been looking into is a project that focusses on building tiny homes for the homeless, these tiny homes are very mobile and cheap to make. It is highly effective in providing transitional housing for homeless individuals in the Portland area. 

The Village Coalition is an active organization that is using the housing first approach, this means that priority in providing housing to homeless families, this approach reduces an individual or family's need to meet certain requirements before being eligible for housing. This method is very effective in reducing the overall number of homelessness. 

This method is very innovative because tiny homes are affordable and can be built at a rapid rate, which is an ideal solution to affordable housing in the high cost Portland area. The Village Coalition also provides rehabilitation services such as job training, counseling and case management. 

I personally believe that providing housing is the most important part of getting out of homelessness, providing food to those in need is important but it isn't as transformative as providing affordable housing, since at the end of the day, homeless families are in need of shelter more than anything. 

For more information of the Village Coalition go to https://cityrepair.org/village-coalition, it will have important information on their mission.

Mutual Aid in Portland, OR

This week, I wanted to highlight one of the various mutual aid groups in Portland, Oregon. For those that may not be familiar with the term, mutual aid is a cooperative exchange of resources and services of which the benefits can be shared by many and all. It’s about people giving what they can and getting what they need.  Mutual aid is often used to provide people with food, shelter, supplies, medical care, and other forms of relief in times of catastrophe. Of course, mutual aid isn’t limited to moments of disaster, in fact, there are many mutual aid groups operating in our city that provide an outlet for people to give and get help at any time. 

Such as Portland Free Fridge, a volunteer community member-run mutual aid effort that provides access to free food and supplies through independently managed fridges, freezers, and pantries all over Portland. 

 (PDX Free Fridge)

Community members are encouraged to as their motto states, “take what you need, leave what you don’t, give what you can.”  One can find various types of food, hygiene products, and pet foods at any given free fridge site, and their website provides people with a map of current locations. Community members also use their Instagram page to communicate updates about locations and when new supplies or food are available. 

Fridge and pantry located at 3932 SE Woodstock (PDX Free Fridge)

For those who would like to start a fridge, there is a guide with useful information and tools to achieve this on their website. The purpose of this project is to share abundance by redistributing resources and minimizing unnecessary waste. 

(PDX Free Fridge)

If you would like to learn more about PDX Free Fridge, make a donation, or find some free food and supplies check out their website and give them a follow on Instagram @pdxfreefridge! 

The Catch-22 of Escaping Homelessness

    

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, a ‘catch-22’ is “a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule”. So how does that relate to homelessness?

A common notion is that the homeless can’t hold a position of employment because the various problems related to their person makes them undesirable to hire. This often leads to individuals seeking jobs to hide their housing status, which can become a problem later for the employers. Others who have dependency on drugs or alcohol might consider getting their addiction under control, but accessing often comes with upfront costs, waiting time, or some kind of insurance they often do not have. Criminal records can also be a deterrent to potential hiring positions. This is not to mention the mental toll of living in dangerous conditions where personal belongings at risk of being damaged or stolen, meals can be infrequent, hygiene a struggle to maintain, higher education level difficult to achieve, all while being on the receiving end of discrimination.

In short, once someone finds themselves in a bad situation, it can turn into a pit that is difficult to climb out of when it seems like everything is working to keep them stuck. Not only does the homeless find more difficulty in getting hired but they struggle also keeping the job more often than those with a relatively stable lifestyle. Some are mentally, financially, or physically unable to meet with demands from employers, which can spiral into a harsh cycle of homelessness and unemployment.

What can be done?

A simple solution is to provide support, without cost, until the person is on a path of independence. Making the process of recovery easier to begin by spreading awareness of local services can help a lot. Hiring practices like choosing based on housing status, existence of a criminal records, or history of addiction also needs to be prevented. More funding to provide affordable housing projects and healthcare can also alleviate the financial burden that can lead to homelessness. Help is out there, but sometimes it just needs to be found.

Are you struggling with homelessness, want to learn more, or wish to help? Check out the links below! 👇

• Resource page made by PSU 
  
• App to connect with resources for Low-income or Homeless
  
• Donate or Volunteer in Portland provided by Our Streets PDX
  
• Homelessness affecting veterans in Oregon
• List of resources and websites provided by SE Uplift
  
• Treatment centers for substance abuse listed by Oregonian counties and service provided
• Learn about Homelessness and Addiction
  

Local Organizations in Portland for Those in Need

There are various community organizations that are currently helping reduce severity of the homeless problem in Portland. This blog is created for those who are less exposed to these existing organizations and give them a way to access these resources.

JOIN is a local organization that provides outreach, support, and services to people experiencing homelessness. Their services include housing placement, rental assistance, case management, and employment support. Their mission statement is to "support the efforts of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to transition into permanent housing. Our efforts are directed at individuals sleeping outside or in their car in the Portland Metro area. Our service provision is not dependent on age, gender, race, ethnicity, faith, culture, language, sexual identity, specific diagnosis, or identifiable issue". The phone number is (503) 232-2031.

Street Roots is a local newspaper focused on providing employment opportunities to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. The newspaper also raises awareness on social issues related to homelessness and poverty in the the Portland area. They are nonprofit and found in 1998 and are one of the most reliable and creditable organization in terms of addressing the homelessness. Their phone number is (503)-228-5657, and they are currently located on 211 NW Davis St, Portland OR 97209.

This picture is a picture of the Street Roots staff and they are one of the friendliest group of people!

These two organizations are just two of many operating in the Portland Metro area, a combination of nonprofit organizations with various attributes are extremely helpful for those who are trying to get out of poverty and start anew life. They have adequate resources and experiences to help those in need! Feel free to seek them out and begin your journey!

The Impact of the Raising Cost of Living and Where You can Seek Help

We cannot ignore the fact that homelessness is a huge problem in our current society, the recent pandemic devastated many Oregonians financially and that really hits home for me. As a Portland resident, I have many relatives that are being affected by the high cost of living in Portland. It's impossible to ignore the growing number of people sleeping on street corners struggling to get by. 

It's saddening to see people living in these conditions, especially when we know that so many of them are just like us - regular people who have fallen on hard times. And most of the time their circumstance is no a result of their own actions but are influenced by events outside of their control. Many homeless individuals I have talked to mentioned that they were evicted from their homes because the increase in rent. This makes many of them feel helpless because they have so little power to do anything, once an individual becomes homeless, it is very hard to get out of that because it eliminates/reduces many opportunities. 

There are existing local organizations in Portland that are trying their best to help the struggling population, organizations such as the Portland Rescue Mission, they are a community funded organization focused on helping the struggling population. They offer various recovery programs for everyone that needs guidance and shelter. Their direct phone number is (503) 906-7650, if anyone reading this blog needs assistance, feel free to give them a call to request assistance.

This image is a picture from downtown Portland and it just shows how severe this homelessness problem has become, no human being should have to live in these conditions, especially when they have control over it. In the end, addressing homelessness in Portland requires a collective effort from all members of our community. It's not something with a simple solution, but by being compassionate and by working together, we can make a huge difference in the lives of those struggling.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell Addresses Crime, Police Staffing and Future Plans #Portland #Police #PortlandPolice #Crime #StraightTalk #ChuckLovell

 

    With growing crime rates and public outrage over the handling of crime, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell sounds off on future plans and current state of the Oregon department of justice. Lovell states they Portland Police are underfunding and are working on hiring new staff in order to manage law enforcement, riot control and crime investigation. Additional training and equipment is also being considered and sought out in order to lower crime rates both short and long term. Highlighted concerns include traffic accidents, fentanyl overdoses and burglaries, among many other concerns. Watch the entire 24 minute interview below.

    Comment your thoughts on this response. What other measures should the city and the police department take? How much funding is necessary? Where should this funding be pulled or created from?

https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/straight-talk/police-chief-chuck-lovell-straight-talk/283-bdb9380f-17a9-453b-8284-c17ac08f13cd

Shelter Help in Portland, OR #Homeless #Portland #Shelters #Youth

 

With the homeless population growing steadily since 2015, an issue arises of having more people in need, than shelters available. This crisis is highlighted in this article, with specific data and statistics provided. This is an important issue to take note of, because it is relevant in Portland in 2023. There have been differing ideas on how to handle the lack of housing, along with controversy about how money should be spent funding these organizations. 

                                          https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/562207

The link below is to donate to the Covent House, which is an organization that provides relief for young people dealing with homelessness. All donations are tax deductible and will truly have the ability to change a young person's life. 

https://www.covenanthouse.org/donation-options/donate-today?sourceid=2492154&origin=DHQEI2306DPJAL&utm_source=2212finalstretch2022gal&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=FY23FinalStretch2022&utm_content=CHI2212finalstretch2022ga&gclid=CjwKCAiAu5agBhBzEiwAdiR5tNbWBNV3JIDBZBZfLEMy79GfIhK3tiZUdx0IHkVhYTEg81wULyIUQBoCQi0QAvD_BwE

You never know much of an impact a small donation or share of this blog can have on a person in need. Thank you for your consideration

Resources for the Homeless in Portland, Oregon

Homelessness has been increasing in Portland and a resource from 2022 found that 6,000 people in the area have experienced homelessness. This number was found through the Metro’s Point-in-Time Homelessness Count on Jan. 26, 2022. This number has increased since then as the population has increased within the city. Since this is such a common issue in Oregon it is important that the residents of Oregon keep their humanity in mind and aid others who may be struggling. There are so many resources available, but these are some popular ones.

The first resource being Blanchet House. It is one nonprofit organization located in Old Town. Its mission is to, “Offer food, shelter, and aid to all those in need of a safe place to be nourished and restored. Assist the transformation of each life we touch with compassion and dignity” (Pettigrew, 2022). Blanchet House offers two residential programs for men. One is a 7-to-9-month program in downtown Portland for men struggling with addiction, unemployment, housing, etc. The other is located on the Blanchet Farm in Yamhill County. This program is more targeted for men battling substance addiction. Additionally, Blanchet House has a partnership with the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon. Through their Pathway Home, MHAAO provides some peer services such as case management and access to housing. Anyone who wants to refer someone to the program can do so here (Pettigrew, 2022). One of their well known and popular programs is the free meal program. “Three times a day, six days a week, no questions asked,” Jon Seibert, Blanchet House’s Director of Programs, said about the free meals that they offer.

A line of people wraps around the Blanchet House in Northwest Portland during the COVID-19 pandemic, March 24, 2020. (KOIN)

Additional Resources:

• Street Roots - provides resources for reduced or free services within Multnomah County

• Hygiene 4 All - public health and sanitation-related services such as foot and wound care, shower trailers and first aid packages

• Affordable Rents for College Students program - subsidizes monthly rent payments

Homelessness could happen to anyone, it is our job as Oregonians to know of resources available and spread the word on them to those in need. Provide the resources for those in need and treat others with care.

Work Cited

Pettigrew, J. (2022, September 21). Need food or shelter in Portland? Try these resources. KOIN.com; KOIN.com. https://www.koin.com/news/portland-oregon-homeless-housing-insecurity-resources/

Housing First

 When people do not have access to affordable and stable housing, they may be forced to live in inadequate or unsafe conditions. This lack of suitable housing can be due to various reasons, including the high cost of rent or the lack of affordable options in certain areas. The cost of living and many other contributing factors to homelessness has increased the number of people living without stable housing and the resources available can't keep up with this increase. While the issues around how many people experience a lack of housing have gone up, the resources available for housing have not. The article Homeless in America article by German Lopez, discusses how the demand for housing does not equate to the supply of housing available. A large barrier impacting homelessness is having a stable living environment itself but when factors such as the price for housing go up with the resources available for housing becoming more and more constrained, this becomes a tougher barrier to cross.

To combat this barrier that is impacting so many individuals is an approach called “Housing First”. Housing First is an approach focused on homelessness, that emphasizes giving permanent houses to people who are experiencing houselessness; ending their homelessness and serving as a foundation from which they may improve their personal lives. There have been many individuals impacted by Housing First-focused programs, many of which highlighted the important foundation that housing provided in order for these individuals to address any physical/mental health issues they were experiencing. For more information regarding Housing First, there are a few resources regarding this at the end of this post.

 

Cited sources and more resources regarding Housing First:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/briefing/homelessness-america-housing-crisis.html

https://endhomelessness.org/resource/housing-first/ 

https://fobh.org/who-we-are/success-stories/

https://aceh.org/housing-first-is-the-most-effective-approach/

Trisha’s Story

Homelessness is a national issue, not just a local one. This blog primarily has a focus on homelessness in Oregon but here's an inspiring east coast story.

Housing First is an approach to resolving homelessness that focuses on providing individuals with stable homes as soon as possible, without expecting them to achieve certain standards or demonstrate sobriety before being housed. This approach has proved successful in many places around the world, with several success stories following its path. Friends of Boston’s Homeless is an organization that uses this Housing first approach, this organization has highlighted the enormous positive impact that housing first has had on many individuals.  The Organization does not list the last name of the individuals on their website but shares many stories of individuals who have been impacted by its programs. 

The Friends of Boston's Homeless has a webpage that tells the story of Trisha, a lady whose life was greatly changed by the FOBH. Trisha is a mother of two, she used to be in the military and had experienced a lot of abuse in her past. Trisha described the starting point of how an injury caused by her husband (now ex-husband), started a cycle of addiction to prescription medication. Trisha was prescribed pain medicine for her back injury, and because she was still experiencing abuse and dealing with trauma from her abuse, the pain medication was a method for her to cope with everything. This addiction to pain medication and a lack of a stable living environment started to impact her life more and more. For years she experienced homelessness, during this time, Trisha was hospitalized quite frequently and the relationship with her family became very strained, eventually leading to no contact at all. 

FOBH provided her with housing and the support needed to help her reconnect with her family, and she was eventually able to reunite with her children. With everything Trisha had been through, the peace of mind and safety afforded by the housing and other support services gave her the stable environment she needed to recover from addiction and deal with the trauma she had experienced. The difference in Trisha's mindset today vs before the influence that the FOBH had, demonstrates the life-changing impact that Housing First programs can have on individuals.

 

“Once in safe, dignified housing, she was able to regain her sobriety, reunite with her children, and finally live the peaceful, healthy, hopeful life we all want to live” (Friends of Boston’s Homeless, 2023). 

 

 

To read more amazing stories like Trisha's and to get involved with FOBH, click this link:

https://fobh.org/who-we-are/success-stories/

Concerns Are Raised Over the Clinton Triangle Homeless Campsite

  In an effort to ban homeless camping on the streets of Portland, Mayor Ted Wheeler announces 

the location of the first city-sanctioned houseless camp. The first proposed mass camp is on the 

Eastside on the private property known as the Clinton Triangle. The Clinton Triangle is one of six 

proposed temporary camps to eliminate camping within the eighteen-month deadline and 27 

million dollar budget set in November. The site will likely accommodate up to 150 people and is 

placed next to transportation and community services and will have security on site 24 hours a 

day. 

 

     

    This raises concern for houseless people and businesses alike: many houseless people feel that

placing them in a camp is counterproductive and limits their freedoms, and surrounding 

businesses refuse to go on record in fear of backlash. It has not gone unnoticed that one of 

Portland’s biggest problems is the housing crisis, Still, the implications of on-site security and 

being on private property are valid concerns for the safety of houseless people who have a tense

relationship with law enforcement, businesses, and Mayor Wheeler alike. Many believe that these 

efforts should be reconsidered with the humanity of homeless people in mind. 

Read more on the Clinton Triangle

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