Street roots., September 16, 2011, Page 5, Image 5

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Street roots
S ept 16, 2011
Taking a long walk through the valley of homelessness
BY DEVAN SCHWARTZ
C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R
T T T hen Stephen Millhouse was a child
l / l / he had a speech impediment
V V known as rhotacism, which
replaces ‘r ’ with ‘w.’ He wanted to be a rock
star, so when he’d say this it sounded like “I
want to be a walk star.” This summer
Stephen has become a real-life walk star —
embarking on a foot-powered journey from
Missoula, M ont, to Los Angeles to raise
awareness about homelessness.
Stephen looked deep inside himself to
gain inspiration for his project, My One
Man March for the Homeless. He reflected
on a former career as a marine, his pursuit
of two college degrees at the University of
Montana, time working as an actor, and on
his own experiences of honielessness.But
Stephen tells me that the precipitating
event was the death of his niece Rachel in a
drunk-driving accident.
Now while walking Western America’s
highways, Stephen photographs highway
crosses and remembers Rachel. A Dixon.
Rpllerpack, combination backpack and
wheeled cart, carries his possessions. He
talks to me from Twin Falls, Idaho where
he’s seeking care for his foot, which may
have a march-induced fracture.
The idea for his 1,460 mile trip came
from the average miles walked per year by
somone who is homeless. Millhouse says a
homeless person walks 3 to 5 miles per day,
which he averaged to 4, and then multiplied
by 365. His route will take him through
Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and California. By
Thanksgiving he intends to arrive in Los
Angeles. It’s in L.A. where he first
experienced homelessness and learned of a
pervasive level of homelessness.
sponsorships of a penny a mile and has set
the ambitious goal of raising $1 million.
Though he knows this total is Unlikely to
materialize, he‘s excited to use proceeds for
a granting process to organizations and gifts
to worthy individuals. (The non-profit status
is still pending.)
But Millhouse recognizes that the more
important element is not a monetary one
but a human one.
“I’d like to see people break down the
barriers of perception between themselves
and the homeless,” he says. “I want people
to break down that stereotype and actually
participate, whether that’s volunteering or -
even just talking.
“Talking can be a lot more nourishing
than food — sometimes it’s better tb give
your time than to give money. Find out
where homeless people are from. Say ‘hi’
when you see them on the street. So often
they’re not even acknowledged as human.
“If I fail miserably on the fundrajsing I
won’t see it as a failure. A lot of the effects
of my trip I probably won’t see anyway —,
the one person who decides to go down to
the local shelter and then changes someone
else’s life.”
The night I talked to him, Stephen slept
on the lawn of an old Catholic church. He
will think about making it over the Sierra
Nevada passes before snow hits. He will
rest his feet, plan his route, update his Web
site and look for shelters and soup kitchens
down the road. He will laugh about all the .
beer cans on the side of the highway, the
ones telling him which counties prefer
Budweiser or Coors.
“At the very least I’m making the attempt
to do something,” Stephen says., “I was
tired of sitting on the sidelines. I’ve been
given so much in my life that I wanted to do
this. I wanted to walk the walk.”
While many people attempt America’s
great space through hikes, from the
Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest,
Stephen Millhprare^ foot-powered fa.'ip r.is~~
unique, securing his walk star status.
PH O TO COURTESY OF STEPHEN M ILLHOUSE
Follow Stephen’s progress at:
myonemanmarch. org/
Stephen Millhouse setting out on his 1,460 walk to raise awareness about homelessness.
Street Books, A bicycle-powered mobile
library, coming to a street near you!
CENTRAL CITY
ft
I Is I t
i“ i I I
Library Location & Hours:
Wednesdays, 10-2 Skidmore Fountain.
Saturdays, 10-2, Park Blocks @ SW Salmon.
Street Books will use an old-school card catalogue system, checking
out and accepting returned books, twice weekly through the summer.
You do not need an address to be able to check out books. The website
streetbooks.org will feature photos of patrons who wish to be featured
with their book of choice, on-line book reviews submitted by patrons, and
updates about Street Books news and library hours. At the end of the
summer, Street Books will host a reception, inviting patrons to come talk
about their favorite books, and share their experiences with the project.
To find out more about the project, or to donate paperbacks,
contact Laura Moulton: laura@ideacog.net.
Changing Lives
Creating community, creating change.
Building Communities
Creating Opportunities
Sisters O f The Road is—
Meals served up with hospitality,
B b I m ' "
W ant to know a little more about yo u r vendor? Check
o u t www.streetroots.wordpress.com fo r pa st articles
about the m en a n d women selling Street Roots!
Empowerment through our
Dorothy Day Community School
t
www.centralcityconcern.org
503-294-1681
|] H
K v-
I Learning together for a
.1 nonviolent and just community.
J And don’t forget: fun!
Stop by for a delicious meal,
Monday-Friday, 10am -2:30pm .
www.sistersoftheroad.org
133 NW 6th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
503-222-5694
SISTERS
OF THE
ROAD
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