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.
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