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/

Rose Haven Day Shelter: Support For The Houseless Blossoms In One Of Portland's Most Popular Neighborhoods

By, Annabelle Packer

 One of the top rated neighborhoods to live in Portland Oregon is the NorthWest area. Based around the shop filled NW 23rd Ave, this neighborhood has countless restaurants, thrift stores, quaint vintage apartments, and even a Trader Joes. It was the obvious choice for a student like me who needed to be close to the Portland State campus, yet yearned to get away from the hazards of living downtown. As I began exploring my new environment, which of course suffered the same economical decline that many neighborhoods experience after the pandemic and a rise in homelessness, I found myself captivated with long walks, grabbing drinks with friends, and trying new things. I had taken note several times of a building with a large sign adorn with a rose a couple blocks away from my place. On the sign it also read Rose Haven which all together, in my eyes, signified a possible brunch location of sorts. It didn’t take me long to realize that this supposed coffee shop was actually a community women's shelter.

Rose Haven is a nonprofit that was founded in 1997 by Cathie Boerboom and Joan Van Almen. By interacting with the house community in Portland. These women found that many other women were needing access to a safe space to go during the day where they could also take their children. They have been located in Northwest Portland since 2007, where they have worked tirelessly to provide a day shelter, emotional support, and quality of life for women, children, and marginalized genders experiencing poverty. Their services they run out of their 10,000 square-foot facility includes one on one counseling, financial assistance, nutritious meals, on-site, clinics, showers and restrooms, clothing, and outdoor gear, secure, mailboxes, bus tickets, laundry, computer, lab, and device charging, create classes, kids and baby supplies, and community celebrations. As revealed in their 2022 service summaries, Rose Haven was able to serve 3,027 guests, serve 39,670 meals, provide 2,027 nurse visits, and provide 18,265 bus tickets throughout the year. The cumulative efforts made at Rose Haven work tirelessly to support women in between their access to other resources, and fill in the gaps the other resources might not be able to fulfill. processes, such as helping people get their IDs and allowing their address to be used for resumes and mail, fulfills a unique need that other shelters can’t.

   All of this was happening in my backyard and I had no idea. The support that many throughout the city travel daily to access, with something I unintentionally interacted with daily. Rose Haven interacts and responds to communities' needs in such a way that allows both the impoverished communities in Portland, as well as other communities, to come together and celebrate our community as a whole. They are proof that social justice resources can be productively integrated into society in order to reach its desired population in an effective manner.

Link to Rose Haven's Official Website- https://rosehaven.org/

A Journey to Hope: a solution for the homeless in Longview Wa. Part 1:

 By Ashley Swofford

Camp Alabama

     Nestled along the I5 corridor between Portland and Seattle is Longview Washington. A town full of rich history, and industrial workers. Longview is home to beautiful Sacajawea Park, and the historic Monticello hotel. It has a beautiful downtown area that offers shopping and that old town feel that you can not get from the larger cities just 40-60 miles north or south of Longview. However, just like these larger cities Longview has a growing homeless crisis.

            Many who work in the public service sector or in one of the many community health agencies within Longview often call it the city of hope. Longview offers a few different homeless shelter options, along with many outreach groups and substance use treatment programs. Yet, ally ways, medians, local parks, and doorways to businesses are often occupied with those trying to find a place to sleep. Their sleeping bags spread out, a tent pitched, their grocery cart with their belongings taking up space and to many it is an eye sore and a safety risk.

            In 2019 the city opened a city run homeless camp on Alabama street with a 3-month permit. The idea behind this was to get the tents off the city streets and keep the homeless concentrated in one area situated just out of sight. And with this simple 3-month permit, Camp Alabama was formed.

            Camp Alabama remained open for 3 years due to the COVID pandemic causing the government to move slower on many issues. Around 150 people called this city run camp home at any given time during this 3-year span. Even with a fence built around it local businesses and citizens complained about the smell, the eye sore and the crime they said was rising. Before the city declared it a public health emergency in 2021, Camp Alabama saw its own wave of crime within the tent city, along with many overdoses.

            Due to the unsanitary conditions in 2021 Longview city officials declared a public health emergency for Camp Alabama, which led to a massive city cleanup. After this initial cleanup the tent city remained until 2022 when the second clean up occurred. The public health emergency brought a lot of attention to the Longview tent city and the homeless crisis and it also aloud the city to bypass parts of state mandate process to receive funding to address the homeless issue. The city of Longview received 2.5 million dollars to build 8x8 foot tiny home structures on the site of Camp Alabama. These funds began to pave the road to what is now called Hope Village.

     Hope Village officially welcomed its first residents in December of 2022 and has been open just over a year. This micro community has 50 8x8 pallet homes along with 2 different bathroom/shower buildings. Now a little more then a year after Hope Village has opened there are still many questions to answer like how does the community feel about it, what kind of outcomes has it had on homeless crisis,  where did those living in Camp Alabama go when the tent city was shut down permanently, with only 50 spots open in Hope Village and most importantly where will Hope village continue to get the funding to stay operational. We will discuss these questions in Part 2 of A Journey to Hope: a solution for the homeless in Longview Wa.

To learn more about Camp Alabama and it's transition to hope click here.

Hygiene 4 All: Because Everyone Deserves to Feel Clean

                                                                                     “A hygiene hub for unsheltered residents of Portland’s Central Eastside.”

In the beautiful city of Portland lies a community that is often overlooked and underserved: the unsheltered residents. Every day, people facing homelessness navigate the hardships of survival, dreaming of finding a place of stability. At the heart of their struggle lies a fundamental need: hygiene. Imagine for a moment the daily realities faced by people without stable housing. Within those realities is the lack of access to basic hygiene necessities. For the unsheltered residents in Portland and anywhere in the world, access to clean water, toilets, showers, and personal hygiene resources isn’t just a convenience; it’s a matter of dignity, health, and well-being.

 Hygiene 4 All is an organization dedicated to addressing the hygiene needs of the houseless residents of Portland. It is led by a diverse team of both sheltered and unsheltered staff members. Hygiene 4 All has become a symbol of hope in the Portland community. At the heart of their mission is the commitment to address the public health and sanitation crisis contributed by disparities in housing, wealth, and infrastructure. Through collective effort and compassionate action, Hygiene 4 All has created a safe space that offers healing and support to those in need.

                                

MISSION:

 “H4A’s team of sheltered and unsheltered staff has designed a place of community safety that offers an effective, healing response to the public health and sanitation crisis brought by growing housing, wealth, and infrastructure gaps. H4A works to ensure our houseless neighbors have an equal voice in creating more equitable access to the basic public resources required for human dignity, including water, sewer, and waste management services.”

WEBSITE:

hygiene4all (h4apdx.org) 

ADDRESS:  

824 SE MLK Jr Blvd (Corner of SE MLK and Belmont)

Feed the Streets: Change Happens One Meal at a Time

By Mariya Chmykh 

Food insecurity is becoming more prevalent in America. With the cost of living increasing tremendously, many are faced with the difficulty of finding their next meal. Whether from a grocery store or a restaurant chain, the cost of food can be unaffordable. This issue is especially devastating to individuals who are unable to afford a stable living environment. Without an apartment or house, there are limits to the type of food one can access. In order to adequately cook a meal, ingredients often require an appliance such as a stovetop or oven. Pre-made meals are usually frozen and need the use of a microwave to be cooked properly. If some houseless individuals are able afford groceries, they have limited options to what they can eat. One might say an alternative to this issue is fast-food restaurants. Yet these meals are unhealthy and have also grown to be expensive and unaffordable. 

Image Credit: https://ourstreets.org/

The Portland based organization Our Streets is combating this issue with their project “Feed the Streets.” Founded in 2020 by Buchi Asemota and Mikah Takashige, this non-profit is dedicated to providing accessible meals for individuals without homes. With the help of volunteers and donations, Our Streets is able to produce 1,000 meals a day. The contributions of volunteer work is key to the development of this project. As more members of the community learn about the program, more are volunteering their time to ensure houseless individuals are able to eat nourishing meals. 

The kitchen of Our Streets is open all days of the week to ensure individuals are able to access meals daily. “Feed the Streets” is a valuable resource to those who face the challenges of living without a sustainable shelter. By providing nutritious meals, this project reduces the stress of food insecurity. Organizations such as Our Streets, are essential to the community as their work eliminates the issue of hunger for those living below the poverty line.

Image Credit: Instagram @ourstreetspdx

When faced with unforeseen circumstances, it may be difficult to overcome a dire situation. Reducing food insecurity allows for a better chance to emerge from hardship.

Click here to learn more on their official website: https://ourstreets.org/  

Want to help? Here's how to volunteer! https://ourstreets.org/volunteer/

PCC Legal Resource Center: Know Your Resources!

By Alizah Khan 

Navigating legal issues can make you feel like you're trying to find your way through a maze blindfolded. Deciding on which resource to trust or if you can even afford assistance adds another layer of complexity and inaccessibility. Knowing your legal resources is key! It helps you make informed choices and confidently navigate the legal system. 

In Oregon we have the PCC Legal Resource Center a free legal clinic at PCC Cascade in North Portland, providing free legal services to Oregonians. Originally known as PCC CLEAR Clinic the PCC legal Resource Center provides a variety of resources, including but not limited to Criminal Record Relief, Housing Justice, Immigration Justice, and legal referrals.

Purpose

The purpose of the PCC Legal Resource Center is to tear down the legal barriers that keep our community from enjoying the benefit of each members’ full participation.

Vision

The PCC Legal resource center acknowledges the state and nation’s devastating history of white supremacy both within and outside the legal system; our vision is to clear our community members’ legal obstacles that arise from oppressive systems, and to work toward ending those systems entirely.

Mission

The PCC Legal Resource Center creates and fosters a PCC community that values all of its members and allows each person to shine their brightest, without being held back by legal issues. W help our community clear their records, clear up their housing and immigration issues, and clear their paths forward through free legal services and advocacy.

Values

• Every human being has inherent value. We strive to treat everyone who comes through our doors with dignity and respect and provide legal services that help promote the value of each person.

• Legal advocacy is critical for social and racial justice. We focus on reducing barriers to success and well-being and addressing historical injustice by providing access to essential legal services.

• Charging clients for legal services is an inherent barrier to accessing justice. Eliminating fees for our work increases equity and accessibility of legal services that support our community’s basic needs.

• Community resilience is possible through collaboration. We believe that our responsibility to the community goes beyond the college’s doors. We carry this responsibility through, among other things, the hands-on legal work we do in the Center and our community partnerships that provide wraparound support and community care.

• Fostering curiosity and growth provides opportunities for student leadership development. We are honored to provide experiential learning opportunities for PCC students through legal services leadership programs.

• Responding to harm or violations of the law does not require us to rely on incarceration and punishment. We work towards a society where immigration is not criminalized, and our response to harm or legal violations is repair not punishment.

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Please visit our website to educate yourselves on the resources available in the Portland community!

Link Below:

PCC Legal Resource Center at PCC

If you're interested in meeting us in person, feel free to drop by Cascade Campus, Terrell Hall, Room 203.

How Grants Pass, Oregon and The Supreme Court Could Make Overcoming NIMBYism The Only Humane Option.

By Jevin Morris

The Supreme Court seems poised to change the way American law applies to the unhoused. In April, the Supreme Court held a hearing on a case stemming from Grants Pass, Oregon which could decide how much control local governments have over the unhoused in their cities. Grants Pass passed two ordinances on homelessness which would effectively criminalize “camping” in public spaces, ordinances meant to deter unhoused individuals from taking shelter wherever they can. The problem? Grants Pass has no shelters in place for the unhoused. Because of this, if allowed to enforce those two ordinances, Grants Pass would be able to effectively ban the unhoused from their city.

During the April hearing, the court’s conservative justices seemed to side with Grants Pass, which could indicate they plan to rule that Grants Pass and other cities across the country can enforce ordinances that would ban sleeping in public. In practical terms, ordinances such as these could mean that unhoused folks have to choose between sleeping in unsafe areas or risking fees or jail time by sleeping in public. It goes without saying that a ruling for Grants Pass has the potential to trigger a flurry of copycat ordinances that could exacerbate the growing crisis that many cities face. Will these ordinances solve the homelessness crisis?

To put it simply, no. But they may illuminate how overcoming NIMBYism is the only way to solve our current crisis. One of the main points of controversy surrounding the case is that Grants Pass seems to have no other plan to tackle homelessness. When NIMBYism reigns supreme, the only option left is to criminalize the most subjugated in society. If ordinances like Grants Pass’ are allowed to exist, the only option will be to build shelters and low-income housing and to build them quickly. Without vital infrastructure, the lives of too many unhoused folks across the nation will be affected. If we can’t eradicate the NIMBY urge to stand in the way of real lifelines for the unhoused, things will get a lot worse. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked in the hearing, “Where do we put them if every city, every village, every town lacks compassion?” 

 To learn more about Grants Pass v. Johnson, the case heard at the Supreme Court, visit: https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/05/02/supreme-court-set-to-rule-on-laws-criminalizing-homelessness-in-grants-pass-decision/  

 To hear about Governor Tina Kotek’s response to the case, visit: https://kobi5.com/news/gov-kotek-weighs-in-on-grants-pass-homeless-case-heard-by-supreme-court-227278/