Street roots
14
Sept. 28, 2012
J I I I I I I^jj
From Land Ho to Right 2 Dream Too, a look back from one year on
hecking my e-mails and working on
some of my project in the Street
Roots office, I was interrupted by an
excited vendor. He asked if I had seen an
article in The Portland Tribune.
His eyes lit up as he explained that a man
wanted to start a tent city, and that I should
read the article. I told him I would. The next
day the same guy asked if I read the article.
“I forgot all about it,” I told him. Then I told
him, “I’ll read it
tonight after I finish all
my work.” This went
on a few more times. I
kept forgetting to read
the article. He finally
brought in the article
and placed it in front
of me and said, “Here
read it.” So I read it. Then he said, “See, he
wants to start a tent city.” I looked at him
and said, “Not really. He just wants to work
with the homeless to use his land. He
replied, “to start a tent city. You should jump
on this before someone else does.”
I e-mailed a friend, Ibrahim Mubarak, and
asked what he think about this article.
Ibrahim emailed me back and replied,
“Sounds like this guy wants to use the
homeless against the city.” I e-mailed back,
“Yes, that’s true, but we can use him too.”
It’s right downtown, in your face, and we
may never get this offer ever again. It’s the
most ideal place.” A little while later Ibrahim
called me. We discussed it a little further.
Ibrahim told me some guy was talking to
him about the same thing. But Ibrahim
didn’t understand him. Then Ibrahim
finished and said we need to ask Right 2
Survive, a group of homeless activists he
works with.
We went to Right 2 Survive meeting and
presented our proposal of starting a tent
city. They loved the idea and the vote was
unanimous to work on starting a tent city.
But nobody knew how to contact the owners.
At the next meeting, Dale Hardaway (I knew
Dale from work we had done together in
Seattle) said, “He made contact with the
owners and set up a meeting with them.”
At the meeting we introduced ourselves,
Ibrahim was the co-founder of Dignity
Village, homeless advocate, went before the
city commissioners many times to talk about
the need for shelters and tent cities. Mike
Dee talked about legal aspects
homelessness. Michael Callaghan spoke
about speaking in front of city
commissioners also. I spoke about starting a
tent city in Seattle and running a tent city,
and both indoor and outdoor shelters. Dale
Hardaway smiled big and said, “I’ve worked
with Leo up in Seattle. But all I want to do is
make the contacts. So my job is done. I got
you all together.
C
Leo Rhodes is a street
activist and homeless
advocate. He is also a
vendor with Street Roots
and a regular conributer to
the newspaper.
EP PORTLAND WARM
The owners introduced themselves
Michael Wright took the lead and talked
about his long battle with the city about his
property. He said he didn’t want the
property to just sit there empty. He wanted
to do something with it.
So we told them about our hope to start a
tent city. There are too many homeless
people on the streets and not enough shelter
or affordable housing, we need to do
something now.
An agreement was made that Right to
Survive with its advocates, supporters and
people that knew how to run a tent city
would take the lead in training the homeless.
Another agreement was that the camp would
pay for all the bills.
The owners also said, “They were still
going to try and sell the property, a buy out
clause was added.”
Everything was set a contract was going
to be made for one year.
After the meeting was over we were all
very excited and couldn’t wait to tell
everybody at the next Right to Survive
meeting that everything was a go.
At the next Right 2 Survive meeting we
gave a debriefing about our meeting with the
owners. Everybody was happy to learn that
everything went well and were excited to get
started on our big project. One thing we
asked of everybody was to keep this a
secret. Those of us that have been through
this kind of project know that there are
other forces that try and prevent this kind of
thing.
One of the biggest issue’s was getting
liability insurance. We also worked on getting
a nonprofit status, board members, the
materials tents tarps blankets, etc.
E-mails were going back and forth early
on are when Ibrahim dubbed the project
“Land Ho.” The next time I saw Ibrahim I
smiled and said, “Land Ho?” Ibrahim looked
at me and started laughing saying, “Yeah
Land Ho.” I started laughing also and said,
“That’s cool.”
In one meeting we were talking about
what the place would look like. One lady
said, “It should have shrubs, flowers and
trees.” Most of the people were agreeing
with her. I said. “No, that would take up too
much space and people might grab them and
throw them around.” I suggested a chain link
fence. Nobody like that idea. Then somebody
raised the idea of using doors as a fence. In
the meeting of how to make this fence, one
issue kept coming up: with all the
hammering and sawing, we need a
distraction. Beause if the people see it,
they’re going to call the cops and make us
take it down. So we need a distraction.
Nobody had an answer.
The name came from Ptery. Ptery wrote
on a piece of paper and gave it to Mike Dee.
Then they both started laughing. So much
that it disrupted the meeting. So we asked
what they were laughing at. Ptery stated that
he came up with the name “Right to
Dream.” Then Mike added, “Too” to the
end. R2DToo. Everybody started laughing
saying, “Yes R2DToo, R2DToo.”
Now we pretty much have all our ducks in
a row except for the start date. Why don t we
start on Homeless Advocacy Day, Oct 10,
Trillium suggested. “On that day, people all
over the world are asked to do some kind of
action dealing with homeless.” It was
unanimous, everybody loved the idea.
Then we had the signing of the contracts.
Everything was set to start but we still
had no answer to a distraction while we built
the door fence.
On Oct. 5 ,1 went to a meeting underneath
the Burnside Bridge. It was about a new
thing called “Occupy Portland.” At the time I
never thought of Occupy Portland being a
distraction.
On Oct. 8, We started to build the door
fence. When I was their some of the Occupy
people marched right by us asking us to join
them. We would of but we were working on
our own project.
On Oct. 10 we started Right 2 Dream Too.
A little while later two guys showed up from
the city asking what was going on. Ibrahim
and Mike Dee told them were starting a rest
area. The guys from the city said, “You’re
starting a tent city?” “No,” Ibrahim said, “It’s
a rest area” then started to explain the
concept. The guys from the city said, “Oh
you mean a tent city?” This went back and
forth. Then one of the guys said we were in
violation of city ordinance, and later they
said somebody complained. It was a
stalemate.
So now the city is claiming Right 2 Dream
Too be a recreational campsite and charging
the rest area. They’re pretty much trying to
fine Right 2 Dream Too out of exsistance.
Right 2 Dream Too is a rest area where
homeless people can come in and get a good
night’s sleep, be safe and secure. This is
much needed. With the sweeps, and the
sidewalk management, one of the questions
homeless people always ask, “If you don’t
want me to sleep here where do I go?” The
reply sometimes is a shelter. The shelters
are full and there’s not enough affordable
housing. It’s insane.
When I visit the rest area I watch as
single men, couples, and single women come
to sleep. Its really great to see. There also a
lot of success stories empowerment, and
other things I’ll write about later.
On Oct. 10, Right 2 Dream Too will have
been around for one year. A lot has
happened since then I’m really excited to
write about.
Family fare from Oregon fields and farms since 1980
Multi-ethnic vegetarian,
chicken & seafood dishes
Largest, healthiest
children’s menu in Portland
Many choices for all special dietary needs
Gluten-free ■ Lactose-free • Soy-free
Transition Projects needs
warm coats for winter.
You can help by hosting
a donation barrel.
Call or email for information
volunteer@tprojects.org 503.280.4741
Transition
Projects
OLD WIVES TALES
1300 East Burnside ■ Portland
503-238-0470
www.oldwivestalesrestaurant.com
Breakfast Anytime ■ Lunch ■ Dinner
Beer & Wine ■ Salad Bar • Soups
Children’s playroom