Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2018)
Hope and help for houseless STORY AND PHOTO BY JEAUETTIE WRIGHT THE CLACKAMAS PRINT This past week, Oregon lawmakers approved the addition of $5.2 million to the state’s 2017- 2019 budget to cover costs o f emergency and homeless shelters. Oregon City doesn’t currently o ffe r a lot of support to th eir hom eless com m unity, and during the coldest time of the year, the lack of shelter is much more obvious, and much more dangerous. In November, a fire in a homeless cam p in Oregon City claimed the life of a woman living iirthe camp with her boyfriend. Following the tragedy, Clackamas County declared a six month state of emergency regarding homelessness and lack of shelter. The lack of resources, shelter and information together create a deadly combination affecting not only the homeless and potentially homeless population, but also th e securely-housed population. Clackamas Community College is at the end o f a bus line, so some people getting o ff at the stop simply don’t have somewhere else to go. People sleeping and comuning in community room of The Father’s Hearts Street Ministry building. “ Sometimes, on occasion, we’ll have negative interactions with people who are not affiliated W ith only four employees, it’s m ostly run with the college,” said CCC Director of Campus through volunteers, and Robin Schm idt, the Safety, Phillip Zerzan. “ W e’ll have folks that executive director at The Father’ s Heart, says someone com ing in and offering haircuts, to a “ People just don’t understand. That’ s why w ill get o ff [the bus] here, t h a t ... just find about 30 volunteers are needed each week. doctor coming in once a month to see patients I always invite people to come here.” Schmidt themselves on cam pus, and som etim es they The m in istry serves breakfast and sack It’s not that sim ple.” Other volunteers frequent the shelter, from The lack of education about homelessness is a huge part o f the problem, said Schmidt. and wrie prescriptions. They even bring in a said. “Almost inevitably when people come here, foot care team. it’s not what they expected, when they know it’s have limited resources.” lunches to take away every day, and on Saturdays, W hile CCC can’t offer shelter, Zerzansaid they still help, offering bus tickets and directions Volunteers fro m lo c a l churches take turns “ Most people haven’t, but obviously, if you’ve a day shelter, they are pleasantly surprised, they driving a van to the Oregon City Bridge to serve seen the feet of the homeless, it would Change almost always come back to donate or volunteer to shelters. breakfast. your perspective [on the] homeless altogether. somehow. It’s a real eye-opener.” “ W e’re not a social service provider. W e’re Schmidt says the lack of local resources for the not really equipped to provide services to people homeless is something she hopes will change, that are houseless,” Zerzan said, “ So, our goal that change is starting with the Father’ s Heart is to connect people with resources that [that’s] ministry. their role.” It’s just really sad what people have hidden under their socks and shoes.” Schmidt said. Being a faith-based ministry, The Father’s Heart aims to practice their beliefs: “ The people that volunteer always toll me, ‘I had no idea how grateful everybody is’ . ” Schmidt said, “A lot of people, they help each other. This is a great community, from what I’ve seen; I’ve “ It’s true that there isn’ t enough going on,” “We believe that the best way to reach people R achel M organ, th e associated student Schmidt said. “ This place offers a lot of resources with the love of God is to show it in the way that their worst day, they’ll give you the shirt o ff their governm ent’s com m unity w ellness director, in one spot, which makes it a nice place to go to. we serve people,” Schmidt said. “ So, we’re all back. You and I might think, ‘Oh, I need to hang said the ASG volunteered at The Father’s Heart You can take care Of a lot of different things all about hugs and smiles and learning people’s onto this one, but 1*11 get you something else’ Street M inistry as part o f their training, and atone tim e.” names here. ” They just don’t think like that. ” Schmidt said. Morgan hopes the Cougar Cave will eventually be accessible to the whole community. Some of the resources offered at The Father’s Heart, besides meals and a roof, include donated Even with the shelter, there’s an obvious lack of places to go. learned a lot from the homeless community. On From jobs like answering phones, to drivers, fundraisers, organizing clothing and food drives, “ Because we’re a community college, I think clothing, showers, and help connecting to other “ There’ s no place for th em to go, and we really focus more on the community, and how services: m ental health partners, housing everybody wants them to go and there isn’t. our campus is open to people,” Morgan said. programs, even job opportunities. There just isn’ t any,” Schmidt said. or even attending the showers, anything helps. Donations and volunteers are always needed. The Father’ s Heart has received donations The Father’s Heart Street Ministry is one of M en tal health is a huge problem in the “ Everywhere you go, you’re shooed out, from all kinds o f people, from churches and very few homeless resources available in Oregon homeless community, and Schmidt hopes more unless you have m oney to spend,’* Schm idt com panies, to individuals offering financial City. mental health resources will become available said. “ Especially if you have a bunch of things support. in the future. with you, and it’s a little ‘unsightly’ for some The Father’s Heart, located a few blocks from the Oregon City Swimming Pool, is a day shelter, “ People living in homelessness deal with a but som etim es is available overnight, if the lot o f depression, poor self-w orth, get yelled “ To m e , in O regon C ity , a lo t o f the sleeping time temperature is predicted to be 33 at a lo t,” Schm idt said. “ People ju st don’ t hom elessness is hidden. People stay pretty degrees Fahrenheit or lower. understand how hard it is, [they] th in k you hidden, it’s not in your face like you might see should just make a change and it’ll all go away. in other places,” Schmidt said. The Father’s Heart is a faith-based ministry people to handle.” . An eight-year old boy recently? donated the birthday gifts he received, and a girl donated $20 of her allowance, along with a note sending prayers. “That’s the kind of things that keep us open.” Schmidt said. and serves more than 100 people every day. Clackamas Print ---------------------- theclackam asprint.net _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ March 7, 2018
