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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Extended Stay Hotels and Motels- Why Are They Important to Solving Our Homelessness Crisis?

Extended stay hotels once made up a significant portion of the last level before being on the streets for a large portion of the United States. In the seventies and eighties, these started being phased out as cities decided that they attracted those that the government viewed as undesirable, and who brought down the value of a neighborhood. While these hotels were definitely not the nicest of places, and they did come with some worries of crime, they could be made fairly safe places, and as an area of last resort before living on the streets, they were incredibly important. 

Today we are starting to see these extended stay hotels pop up again, and they are drastically needed. As our housing shortage continues to exacerbate, and as our entry level rental prices drastically increase, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep people at the end of their rope from having to resort to the streets. Extended stay hotels give us a resource to get people into housing, and help pull themselves out of homelessness, if you see one going up in your city, this may be one reason to help encourage it.

NPR- Extended Stay Hotels, Why We Need Them

-KA

Are Portland's homeless prepared for freezing temperatures？

In February 2021, a winter storm hit Portland. Affected by the severe cold, the temperature in Portland dropped to minus 35 degrees. Due to freezing rain and heavy snow, the power supply of more than 270,000 people ware without power, and many infrastructures were destroyed. Compared with usual, the homeless in Portland are seriously threatened by the heavy snow.

Authorities in Portland are providing temporary shelters for homeless people who are not safe to live outside due to snow accumulation caused by the snow. According to Portland data provided by the government, they will be $16.5 million in federal CARES bill money for homeless service, created 365 of physical winter shelter, 100 portable toilets was installed in the whole community. In addition, the Portland government purchased six motels for older adults and other homeless people who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. However, due to COVID-19, the shelter does not mean safe. How the homeless in Portland will survive the cold wave is worrying.

                (David Ryder/Getty Images)

Sources:

https://www.koin.com/news/homeless/freezing-temperatures-prompt-concern-for-portland-homeless/

https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/hundreds-of-thousands-without-power-in-pacific-northwest-snow-storm/

The city of Portland will step up efforts to provide better care for the homeless

In May 2020, voters approved a new 1 percent income tax (New Homeless Services Tax) on high-income families in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties. The tax is expected to be used to address and improve the lives of homeless people in the Portland area.

Multnomah County plans to use this tax (expected to pay $55 million) to fund " supportive housing" and provide follow-up training, treatment, and education programs for the homeless. The proposal will establish permanent supportive housing, a service for the homeless to establish contact with permanent housing and help people who may be at risk of homelessness obtain housing, and for those who may be at risk of eviction from COVID-19 Provide emergency rent assistance and expand alternative housing programs.

In addition, the preliminary also involves community building and health services, including maintaining emergency shelters during COVID-19, developing new adult shelters, and improving the mental health of the homeless, for the homeless and the unemployed. Provide educational training and job opportunities.

                (Courtesy Peter Eckert Photography)

Sources:

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/501548-401930-businesses-challenge-legality-of-metro-homeless-tax-rules

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

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

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

Homelessness doesn't equal substance abuse

One correlation often associated with the homeless population is drugs or alcohol, some sort of substance abuse.  Growing up without understanding them, the stereotype I was shown was that they were bad people and you would steer away from them.  Often in the media they’ll be depicted as dangerous, on the side doing drugs or heavily drunk among parks, etc.  What needs to be understood is that most of the homeless individuals struggling with substance abuse have some form of a pre-existing mental health condition and were led to drugs or alcohol as a result before their homelessness.  This would then lead to their relationships and responsibilities being broken down and those they can rely on leaving them or disregarding them. Homelessness becomes a result of these issues, and due to lack of support they are unable to find or receive proper treatment.

In terms of data,  it is estimated that over half of the people living in supportive housing systems suffer from substance abuse disorder.  It is found that the elderly will turn to alcohol and the youth towards drugs.  These housing solutions aren’t a final means to solving the homeless crisis as these individuals living through the housing systems also require proper address of their issues to get them back on their feet and to a position where they can place themselves back in society.  Luckily there are solutions towards that in the form of recovery centers.  These centers will help assess and work on improving their problems with substance abuse or their mental health while providing resources for them to utilize and absorb for their reintegration.  The issue of course that comes with being homeless is the means to pay for it or access it.  In regards to payment, the options include scholarships, public insurance, or free and low income programs of which can be researched for the desirable area.  The links below provide additional information and resources for help.

Resources

Addiction Resource

AddictionCenter

Recovery

Homelessness in Families

Homelessness in Families

    Did you know that Oregon had the highest rate of unsheltered homeless families in the country in 2019? Oregon had a rate of 54%. The closest states to Oregon in this were Colorado and Tennessee at 30%. That is a 24% difference in rates, almost double the rates of Colorado and Tennessee. When I read this statistic, I found it very upsetting. 

    I feel like when the homeless population is brought up in media, they only focus on homeless individuals and not the families that are experiencing homelessness. I had figured that there were some homeless families as well but I didn't know it was to this extent. This is why I think that having low-income housing and available shelters are so important in our communities because we need to help those in need and especially help those who are struggling to provide for their families and young children. If we want to stop homelessness, we need to start focusing on the younger generations that are experiencing homeless so that they don't grow up homeless and have children who are then homeless and the trend continues for more generations to come.

    One company that is trying to combat homelessness in Oregon (Portland specifically) is Portland Homeless Family Solutions. They provide housing for homeless people in Portland and you can help the fight by donating or volunteering with the company. Find out more at http://www.pdxhfs.org/.

FINANCIAL PLANNING TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

2020 has been a year of uncertainty for all of us. Some of us are dealing with personal losses, career setbacks, financial and housing struggles, and all of us are looking with uncertainty at the global economy, housing market, and job economy. It can be hard to feel safe and secure when there are so many uncontrollable factors affecting our lives. Homelessness often occurs due to unforeseen or uncontrollable financial burdens, which is why it is important to take a hard look at our financial security and assess where we are at, and where we may be vulnerable to hardships and loss.

Financial security is more than simply having money in the bank or a roof over our heads.  Financial security includes our assets, sources of income, our debt to income ratio, our living expenses, our job security, and more. Our Financial security is affected by questions like: What would happen if you got sick and could not work?  What is your biggest financial expense and what would happen if this burden grew? If you could not pay all of your expenses, which ones would you pay first? We have to look at all these factors to calculate our financial security, and it's only after taking a hard look at our finances that we can plan and prepare for the unknown and work to prevent financial crisis and homelessness. 

Some questions we should be asking ourselves when assessing our 2020 financial security

• How would you and your family be affected if you or a family member tested positive for COVID-19?
• What would your household income look like if you or a partner lost your job due to employer cutbacks?
• If you had no income coming in, how long would you be able to pay your expenses?
• If you had a sudden or large emergency expense, would you be able to pay it?
• What is the current cost of your housing and living expenses and how can you manage and lower these costs if need be?
• What is the bare minimum income you need to maintain your housing or to find a more affordable housing option?

"Change what you can control, manage what you don't, and know the difference"-Peter Drucker

All these aspects of calculating financial security allow us to plan for the uncertain times, and unexpected financial burdens, that often lead to homelessness.  By knowing our current finances, and planning ahead, we can seek to avoid financial struggles and prevent homelessness. Everyone at every level of income and financial standing benefits from assessing their financial security and planning for the future. Creating a plan for your financial success and stability should not feel unreachable or unavailable to anyone. These links provide information and resources for calculating your financial security and planning ahead for financial struggles.

How to measure your financial security

Baby steps to beginning financial success​

Resources for low-income financial counseling 

Click Here For LowIncome Financial Help Counseling

Myths about Homelessness

Photo by Steve Knutson on Unsplash

What do you think about when you heard the word homeless? You may think of tents, cardboard signs, addiction, sickness, shelters, hunger, cold, helpless, dirty, vulnerable, and likely many other words. But, what if your impression of homelessness was skewed?

Here are a few myths of homelessness that people all too easily believe.

Myth: Homeless people are addicts.

Truth: Only a portion of homeless people actually struggle with substance abuse. According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), only one third of the homeless population struggle with substance abuse. https://www.vox.com/2015/1/15/7552441/homeless-facts-myths


Myth: Homeless people have mental illnesses.

Truth: Mental illness is definitely higher in the homeless population – about 1 in 4 homeless people struggle with severe mental illness. This statistic only reflects those living in shelters, not to mention those who are still living on the streets. While mental illness is prevalent, it is not the main cause of homelessness. Unaffordable housing, unemployment, and poverty are the top three causes of homelessness. (http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/2014/1211-report-hh.pdf)


Myth: If homeless people get a job, they will no longer have to be houseless.

Truth: While getting a job may certainly help someone’s situation, housing prices are so expensive that even when working full time at a minimum wage job, someone could still not afford to rent or purchase a housing unit for themselves. The National Low income Housing Coalition found that someone would have to work between 69-174 hours a week to pay for an affordable two bedroom rental unit as the federal government defines “affordable” as 30 percent of a person’s income. “A full-time minimum wage worker couldn't afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent, a standard set by the federal government, in any state.” (https://www.vox.com/2015/1/15/7552441/homeless-facts-myths) Many homeless people do some paid work, but not enough to help remove them from their situation. Lack of permanent address, access to showers, and transportation also make it difficult to maintain regular work. (https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/homelessness-101/myths-and-questions-about-homelessness)

For more information on other myths and facts, visit:

https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/homelessness-101/myths-and-questions-about-homelessness

https://www.vox.com/2015/1/15/7552441/homeless-facts-myths

The Importance of Community and Mentorship

 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201212/our-hierarchy-needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs argues that an individual cannot begin to prioritize their social needs before feeling secure in their ability to procure the basics of survival. Without base of sustenance, shelter, and safety, it is not impossible but very difficult to to work on fully making the connections that humans need in order to maintain their mental health. Furthermore, these relationships are incredibly important to the development of young people both to aid their brains in socially maturing as well to model healthy relationships in the future. However, if an individual—or family unit—is preoccupied with taking care of their physiological and safety needs, then they may have less energy to put towards taking part in a community. This can take a toll on long-term mental health. 

This demonstrates the importance of programs that emphasize in community building and establishing meaningful relationships among houseless youth. Providing an area where there is access to resources such as food and hygienic products(addressing the first tier of the hierarchy) coupled with an understanding team and opportunity to interact with their peers(second and third tier) is a crucial combination in creating a ‘safe space’. 

One of these programs offered in Portland, Oregon is Friends of the Children. Full time employed staff, known as “friends” are assigned to individual children and meet with them on a regular basis to aid in their education as well as establishing a mentor connection with them. As long as the youth is enrolled in the program, they are guaranteed their “friend” for 12.5 years (the duration of the K-12 education track). They have a fantastic success rate and have been established for around 25 years. Programs such as Friends of the Children are a great example of acknowledging the importance of basic needs when also working on community building.

Learn more about Friends of the Children

More PDX youth programs and shelters

Coping with COVID-19 while experiencing homelessness

 

Photo by Tim Mossholder from Pexels

COVID-19 has touched every corner of this planet, affecting the lifeways and practices of almost every person. Masks, face shields, social distancing, frequent handwashing and cleaning of surfaces are increasingly commonplace. 

But what happens when you don't have access to running water? What happens when you share an encampment with many others, with no way to socially distance? Where do you get masks if you can't afford them?

Protests in Portland: How civil unrest affects the unhoused

Photo by Taufiq Klinkenborg from Pexels

Protests in Portland, Oregon, have garnered much media attention, and have been a consistent presence in the city for over two months. Police tactics from the local Bureau as well as Federal agents have sparked both outrage and support, mostly depending on one’s political leanings. People are risking their health and safety to be out in the streets, practicing their First Amendment rights and taking part in civil disobedience in response to police brutality. 

But the people in the streets each night- protestors and police alike- get to go home and wash off the tear gas afterward. What about the people who don’t have a home to go to?