NIMBYism: A Barrier to Homelessness

By Paige Huffmaster

As many of our residents in Portland become overwhelmed, and ultimately overcome,  by the housing crisis, NIMBYism is still at the forefront of the obstacles to affordable housing. NIMBY is an acronym for the phrase “not in my back yard”, and characterizes these residents who fight the attempted solutions to homelessness out of prejudice and fear, typically to boost racism and classism. The consequences of such resistance lead to zone restrictions, public disputes, project cancellations, ect. The Florida Housing Coalition President/CEO, Jaimie Ross, and their Legal Director, Kody Glazer, came up with the following five steps to help combat NIMBYism in relation to affordable housing. Click here to access the full article. 

1. Know your rights

1. Seeing through the fear of traffic congestion or crowded schools that NIMBYs present for what it is, discrimination. Educate yourself on the local laws and learn about who can help advocate within your community. 

2. Expand legal protections 

1. Especially in Oregon, there are many laws and policies that enable NIMBYism. There are also unique zoning, land, and property hurdles in communities. Advocating for fair process and better policies will help combat NIMBYism. 

3. Educate

1. Educate your community and local policy makers on affordable housing and what it entails. 

4. Gain support 

1. Gain the following of local agencies, policy makers, advocates, organizations, and the community. Teach them about NIMBYism, and how it's affecting the housing crisis and the homeless population, and why it matters.  

5. Address opposing positions

1. Make sure to learn the history of concerns and their legitimacy. If they can all be proven to be illegitimate, there is no stance left for NIMBYism to stand. (Ross, Glazer, 2022)

Many organizations have shared other ways to help combat NIMBYism too, like the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Invisible People, and Housing Finance Magazine. Of these resources, a common theme is connection with the community. Allowing people to see what you are building and who will be living there, who they are, will help bridge the connections we need to see past these prejudices and build homes for those who need them. To learn more about the consequences of NIMBYism, consider viewing the book or podcast linked below.

Excluded by housing policy researcher Richar D Kahlenberg https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781541701465 

The David McWilliams Podcast: “Common Law or Common Sense?” https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ksGkqcftQB5J977fmtilT?si=jTEisK4YSSq3dujsfIYuag 

Source: 

Ross, J., Glazer, K., & Florida Housing Coalition. (2022). The Not in My Backyard Syndrome: Overcoming NIMBY opposition to Affordable housing. In NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION, NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION (pp. 2–43). https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/2022AG_2-11_Avoiding-Overcoming.pdf 

Does domestic violence cause mental health?

   By Angelina Megedyuk

Domestic Abuse has always have been seen as a negative thing that people perceive. However the statistics show that over 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 man experience severe intimate partner physical violence and sexual violence. Domestic abuse can hurt someone mentally and also physically as well. Without resources or support the damages of domestic abuse can still be severe even after the victim leaves the abuser. In this blog post I will share how to mentally prepare to leave someone who is abusive and how to get a support plan.

Why is this so important?

Understanding Abuse is important because it helps us understand the bias of circumstances that happen such as family dynamics, romantic partners, schools, etc. With people who are vulnerable everyday knowing how to prevent this from happening is being knowledgeable about this information and also to be an impact to help others process as well.

What does abuse do to the individual?

What abuse does to the individual is it can lead to symptoms such as PTSD, depression, anxiety. It could lead to worse symptoms such as being an alcoholic using drugs to cope with the system of domestic abuse. Emotional or physcial abuse causes emotional outbursts, changes in mood, changes in behavior, sadness, with-drawl, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, and low self esteem.

What can you do to prevent abuse?

To prevent this from happening is that when the abuse happens you could lead into emotional support by

• Acknowledge that their situation is difficult or scary.
• Not judging their decisions and refusing to criticize them or guilt them from this happening
• Remembering that you cannot rescue them

For more information click here:

https://www.thehotline.org/support-others/ways-to-support-a-domestic-violence-survivor/

Resources:

https://www.dvrc-or.org/

https://www.thehotline.org/

Dignity Village: "A Radical Experiment to End Homelessness"

 by: Brandon Marx

Dignity Village, located in NE Portland, is community-based organization that has been offering shelter to 60+ people since 2000. It was the first "Village Model" shelter in North America, operating as self-governing, self-administrating, and self-operating.

Dignity Village offers a look at an innovating, grassroots approach to approaching homelessness.

"We came out of the doorways of Portland’s streets, out from under the bridges, from under the bushes of public parks, we came openly with nothing and no longer a need to hide as Portland’s inhumane and Draconian camping ban had just been overturned on two constitutional grounds. We came armed with a vision of a better future for ourselves and for all of Portland, a vision of a green, sustainable urban village where we can live in peace and improve not only the condition of our own lives but the quality of life in Portland in general. We came in from the cold of a December day and we refuse to go back to the way things were." 

Dignity Village aims to provide a clean, unified, self-governed, and safe community on a temporary basis until more sustainable and long-term forms of affordable housing are available. The community offers peer-based support in reaching goals and aspirations, as well as a "community based on love and respect for each other and ourselves.

Donate to Dignity Village: Here! Via Paypal.

You can read more about Dignity Village, their bylaws, origins, and history Here!

Ranked Choice Voting: A Way Out?

 by: Brandon Marx

    Ranked choice voting (RCV) is a voting system gaining popularity across the country, offering a transformative approach to our elections, and is currently used in a handful of elections across the country. RCV is a system of voting that allows each person to rank their preferred candidates in order, instead of having to fall for the traditional "lesser of two evils" decision so commonly made. 

Watch this quick 1 minute video to see how RCV works: 

    At it's core, RCV gives the power of representation--- an opportunity to elect officials who align most with your morals and view points, without the fear a wasted or spoiler vote--- if, for example, Diego Owl is your ideal candidate, but you're worried that Abel Frog's platform is so bad that any vote other than the top candidate, Gloria Beaver would effectively just be a vote for Abel Frog, then you're not voting for your interests, you're voting to keep the worst person out of office, not for the best one to be elected.

    To bring this to reality, our country operates in a 2 party system, and any candidate outside of these two parties are never given the chance or opportunity to be taken seriously, as the other candidate is always just worse. Homelessness, as well as a myriad of other systemic issues across this country, is a symptom of this political disenfranchisement, further marginalizing underrepresented communities. With the ability to vote for who you actually want instead of who you really don't, a wide range of opportunities would open up for this country and we could see transformative solutions put in place, voting for policy---- wether it be solutions to homelessness, economic inequality, social rights, etc. RCV would allow us a Portlanders to prioritize candidates who have strong, ethical, and substantive platforms as it relates to homelessness.

With RCV in affect, a candidate would have to rely on their own platform and policy, effectively requiring that they have solutions for such issues as homelessness, gone would be the days where "I'm not him!" is good enough--- RCV also has the opportunity to make our elections less volatile, it would do no good to alienate a subset of voters by spending millions on attack ads for a candidate, if you are also trying to capture their bases' 2nd or 3rd choice vote.

Through RCV, we have the opportunity to build a more equitable voting system, one that could bring along social justices, a more equitable economy, and help get to the route causes of issues like homelessness.

Learn more about RCV as it relates specifically to Oregon: Here!

FAMILY PROMISE

Families dealing with housing instability face numerous challenges that deeply affect both parents/ guardians, and children. Parents and guardians often endure high levels of stress and anxiety as they struggle to keep the family together and provide essentials like food, clothing, and safe shelter, which can lead to mental health issues and difficulty maintaining steady employment. For children, unstable housing disrupts their education, resulting in poor academic performance and attendance. Additionally, the trauma and instability of houselessness can cause emotional and behavioral issues, hindering social development and mental well-being. 

 Family Promise of Metro East acknowledges the ongoing cycle of hardship and how it impacts every aspect of family life. The organization highlights the need for comprehensive support, resources, and community partnerships to address housing instability.

 

Family Promise of Metro East Mission Statement:

"Our mission is to help families experiencing housing instability achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.

 

Family Promise of Metro East (serving NE and SE Portland, Oregon) helps our community coordinate their compassion to address the root causes of family homelessness. Our goal is to address the issue holistically, providing prevention services before families reach crisis, shelter and case management when they become homeless, and stabilization programs once they have secured housing to ensure they remain independent. We tap existing local resources to empower families toward economic stability. Families come to us in crisis; we help them rebuild their lives with new skills and ongoing support."

Learn more about Family Promise of Metro East:

Image by Family Promise website

Contact & Location Information:

Family Promise of Metro East

 Community of Christ Portland

4837 NE Couch St

Portland, OR 97213

​CALL: 503-753-3960

info@pdxfp.org​

Family Promise Website

A Journey To Hope Part 2: What now for Hope Village

    By: Ashley Swofford

     Hope Village which is run by the Salvation army has been open for roughly a year and half and yet still has many in the area wondering if the small pallet home community is creating enough change to validate the hefty price tag.

As discussed in part 1 of this blog series Hope village is a tiny pallet supportive housing community in Longview Washington. Hope village was the city's solution to their homeless crisis and the dangerous tent city that was called Alabama camp. Hope village costs between $80,000-$100,000 a month to run depending on the fluctuating needs, or roughly 1 million dollars annually. However, the money is running out and funding this homeless shelter through the city's Homeless Housing Response program is no longer a guarantee as the new mayor and council  look at disabling the program and rejoining the county program which refused to fund Hope village when the project was first presented. It is important to note that the city is hoping to be granted 1.5 million dollars a year from the Washington state operational budget but there is high concern that Longview will not receive the money for Hope Village and be denied like they were the year before. If these solutions to funding Hope Village do not come to fruition the question remains how well this supportive housing community stay open.

    It seems Hope Village is trying hard to change the community's negative opinions about the homeless shelter in hopes that they will gain their support and intern receive the needed funding. Since Hope Village opened its gates crime in the area has gone down which is reflected in the decrease of police calls.

The streets have less litter and some business owners who were once considering moving locations have decided to remain open because the neighborhood feels safe once again. Yet, the lower crime rate and happy neighbors does not seem to be enough to gain the support of the majority of the city. In order to continue to gain the support of the community, employees of Hope village along with residents take to the streets on community clean up missions. So far they have spent time cleaning up garbage down Commerce Ave, up in the Highlands neighborhood and civic circle.

      While community clean up is a great way to give back to the community, the residents of Hope village have some pretty strict rules to live by, which leads to many being removed from the small community. In order to stay a resident there are daily room checks as there is a no weapon or drug policy in place and they must meet with a case manager and be engaged in mental health services  and substance use disorder services if needed. Hope village has a goal of helping all residents find permanent housing within 90 days of entrance and they believe that is done through helping the residents become healthy and stable first. While Hope village does have to remove some residents they have also found permanent housing for 50 residents in the first year. The case managers of Hope village do find the current housing crisis poses a barrier for the residents as many receive SSID and do not receive enough income monthly to afford rent. Those who can afford  housing often  get looked past  because of the bias landlords have for those who are homeless. 

    It seems that if the community gives Hope Village a chance and their support,  the  good of Hope Village outweighs the bad. Still the question remains: is one community of 50 tiny homes enough to truly help the homeless crisis in Longview? Currently Hope Village has a wait list of 150 people on it and for now those people are most likely living on the streets or in empty lots throughout Longview. When I started my current job in December of 2022, I worked with the outreach team. In January when Hope village opened we spent a couple weeks searching the streets, known homeless camp locations by the river and  in wooded areas by the railroad tracks looking for residents from Alabama camp that did not receive a spot in Hope Village. As we expected they were scattered all over Longview and constantly having to move their home sites. 

    It will be interesting to watch how the community reacts to Hope Village for the rest of its second year in action. Will the city/county/state decide to fund the small community going forward and if the outcomes from Hope Village remain positive will the residents of Longview Washington embrace a second small supportive community  or will they fall back on to their strong held belief of nimbyism?

To follow the journey of Hope Village on Facebook click here

The Eviction Legal Defense Program: Know Your Resources!

  By Alizah Khan 

In the last episode of "Know Your Resources," we covered the "PCC Legal Resource Center." One of their key resources is housing justice. This blog post will focus on the Eviction Legal Defense Program.

Working alongside the Oregon Law Center, the Portland Community College (PCC) Legal Resource Center's Eviction Legal Defense Program, provides free legal assistance to low-income tenants facing eviction. Among its many services, the center’s Eviction Defense Project is a project working for a better future for low-income tenants facing eviction. This blog post aims to shed light on this vital project and its role in preserving housing rights.

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Eviction is a harsh reality for many low-income tenants. It’s not just about losing a place to live; it’s about the loss of stability, security, a sense of belonging, and a community. The legal system is harsh on tenants, and due to the discriminatory history of landlord-tenant law, it tends to favor landlords. This is where the Eviction Defense Project steps in.

The Eviction Defense Project is a collaboration between the Oregon Law Center and several different organizations. It provides free legal assistance to low-income tenants who have received a termination notice from their landlord or have an eviction court case pending. 

The project’s primary goal is to ensure that tenants’ rights are upheld during the eviction process. It provides legal advice, representation in court, and assistance in negotiating with landlords. The project also educates tenants about their rights and responsibilities, empowering them to advocate for themselves.

The Eviction Defense Project is more than just a legal service; it’s a movement towards a more equitable society. By providing free legal assistance to those who need it most, the project is helping to level the playing field and ensure that everyone, regardless of their income, has access to justice.

In a world where eviction is a looming threat for many, the Eviction Defense Project is an important service that many are unaware of. It embodies the PCC Legal Resource Center’s commitment to increasing access to justice and addressing the impact on marginalized communities. If you or someone you know is facing eviction, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Eviction Defense Project. Remember, you’re not alone, and help is just a phone call away.

If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer or a legal aid organization.

If you’re a tenant facing eviction, you can contact the Eviction Defense Project by filling out the Eviction Legal Defense Project web form or calling 888-585-9638. Once you reach out, you’ll be connected with a team of dedicated professionals who will guide you through the eviction process.

Joint Office Contract Payout System: Underworked and Overpaid

Mikayla Coyier

In May, 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 26-210, a regional supportive housing services fund paid for by our tax dollars. The fund is meant to support organizations with programs that help move homeless people into housing and stop people from entering homelessness. But, there’s an issue. The money isn’t being spent. Reports show that by the end of the third quarter in 2023, only half of the intended $83.4 million was spent. Why? Fingers point to the Joint Office of Homeless Service contract payout system.

Portland Oregon has several nonprofit organizations serving those facing risks of homelessness, many in which stay afloat with the help of our tax dollars. Self Enhancement, Inc is a comprehensive, one stop resource in Portland aiming to provide support for youth and families living in poverty. Like several other nonprofits, SEI is partially funded by the regional supportive housing services fund which is overseen by the Joint Office of Homeless Services.

 

When nonprofits sign a contract for funding with the Joint Office, they don’t see the money until after the services on the contract are carried out. But nonprofit contractors can’t afford to pay competitive wages and retain employees to carry out services for those in need.

Employees at nonprofits like SEI are underpaid and overworked. Witnessing the struggles and hardships of clients facing homelessness takes a toll on the mental and emotional well-being of staff. Burnout and turnover are common; high demand for services and limited resources in the nonprofit sector leads to heavy workloads and long hours. The employees are hard to retain at the pay they receive when realizing they can work at a Taco Bell or Target for the same income and take home less stress. Others look to similar jobs at Multnomah County where they can make at least $3.50 more an hour. Director of SEI, Sahaan McKelvey, says due to the lack of funding and therefore low wages, his staff often qualify for the programs they provide creating an even more challenging working environment.

It is collectively known that low wages and the inability to retain employees is the reason our tax dollars aren’t being put to use and preventing those in need from receiving help. Local leaders are joining the call for competitive wages for nonprofit contractors. Andrew Hoan, Portland Business Alliance president made his stance clear in a letter he wrote to three county chairs representing the Portland metro region; “we must urgently address the ability of our service providers to hire and retain front line and support workers to do the tough and often heroic work of helping our homeless neighbors get the services they need.”  Adjusting the Joint Office of Homeless Services contracting system to allow service providers access to funding will provide nonprofits a budget for competitive wages. 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE 

72 Years on The Frontlines of Homelessness Services

By Paige Huffmaster

Blanchet House (Blan- shāy) https://blanchethouse.org 

Mission: Our mission is to alleviate suffering and offer hope for a better life by serving essential aid with dignity. 

Core Values: Hospitality, Dignity, Hope, Integrity, Community, and Authenticity

Services: Meal Program: Hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner six days per week

Clothing Program: clothing, hygiene, and sleep essentials

Residential Program: Blanchet House and Blanchet Farm, both are “life renewal work programs”, in which the residents earn room and board by serving other clients (Blanchet House) or by keeping the farm, animals, wood shop, and beehives (Blanchet Farm) 

About: The Blanchet House is a nonprofit organization in Portland that provides housing support, food, and clothing to community members in need. They have been completely funded by donations, sponsorships, and grants since their founding in 1952. The Blanchet House was founded by The University of Portland. After a pause in service during World War II, The Blanchet House reopened its doors and reframed its vision in order to serve those in need in the community. On February 11, 1952, The Blanchet House served over 200 men their first meal with this community. Just six years later the founders had raised enough funds to buy the building and turn the upper floors into a shelter for the men they were serving.

Word was getting out to the Portland community that there are people able and willing to help. The founders took notice of the struggles preventing these men from getting their lives back, namely, alcoholism and substance use. Noting the prevalence and access to substances within the city, the founders purchased land to expand their outreach once again, getting their clients out of the city's enticement and onto a farm to focus on their recovery and treatment. This property, Blanchet Farm, in Yamhill County, has grown into a 62 acre facility housing 22 men. Today The Blanchet House is an even larger property abeling them to serve almost 1000 meals each day and house over 50 men in their program. 

Impact: With homelessness and addiction rates increasing so rapidly, support and services are in high demand. The founders and staff at Blanchet House have dedicated their time and efforts over the last 70 years to create a program that makes a difference. 

The following link provides a news story from late last year, including the story and perspective of the program from two residents. They share about the work they have done and how it has impacted their lives. https://www.kptv.com/video/2023/12/05/recovery-program-blanchet-farm-enriches-lives-both-animals-humans/ 

 

Karley

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, my family faced the harsh reality of homelessness. It was a challenging time, filled with uncertainty and fear. Losing our home in the crash of 08' and then again being priced out of rent in 2018. Reflecting on that experience, I've come to realize the importance of access to resources that could have eased our journey and provided support during that difficult period.

One crucial resource that could have made a difference is case management services. Having a dedicated case manager who could connect us with housing assistance programs, navigate complex social service systems, and provide emotional support would have been valuable. Organizations like JOIN and Central City Concern offer such services, providing holistic support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Additionally, access to affordable housing options tailored to our needs would have been life-changing. Affordable housing developments with supportive services, such as those managed by Home Forward, could have provided the stability and security my family desperately needed.

Community-based organizations like Portland Homeless Family Solutions play a vital role in addressing the unique needs of families experiencing homelessness. Programs offering shelter, childcare, and employment assistance can help families regain stability and self-sufficiency.

Reflecting on my family's journey, I'm passionate about raising awareness of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness and advocating for solutions that prioritize housing equity and support services. By sharing our stories and supporting organizations working to address homelessness in Portland, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others facing similar struggles.

https://allwoodgrp.com/2019/02/24/portland-homeless-family-solutions/