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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2013)
2 street roots June 21, 2013 EDITORIAL Paying it forward still an inspiring way to live F We need to update our perceptions about poverty fe ime was that moving out of the city and into the suburbs was a mark of success, a move solidifying a family’s foothold in the middle class and a future of upward mobility. In the 1960s and 70s, the federal government encouraged suburban living, investing in incentives for homebuyers to fill row upon row of shiny new homes. It was the commercial format for the American Dream. Today, however, suburbs have reached the tipping point. Suburbs today are home to a larger and faster growing poor population than both cities and rural areas — 16.4 million residents and counting. That’s according to a new report by the Metropolitan Policy Program of the Brookings Institute. In the Portland metro area, the city saw its poverty population increase 71 percent between 2000 and 2011. In its suburbs, during the same period, the increase was 99 percent, nearly doubling in The suburban poor are, 10 years. What does this matter? for now, far on the Here, there, poverty is all periphery of our the same, right? political consciousness, It m atters because we our social programs cannot solve a problem without first understanding and our solutions. it. Indeed, there are similarities among people experiencing poverty regardless of where they live, but there are differences as well: challenges to less-affluent schools shouldering more and more children in need, obstacles in transportation access and costs, and an overburdened safety net of services It m atters in how we plan for affordable housing. Portland proper became a high-cost housing destination while the suburbs became the last affordable place for low-income and eeling overwhelmed by my busy week at Street Roots, I was reminded last week by vendor John Michael of a simple message — that all anyone really needs is to know that they’re loved. I stopped in my JR S tracks. F He smiled at me and gave me a hug. We each By Israel Bayer shared a story with one another, laughing at our siiiy Ways. We fist bumped and went about our day. It was magic. Each day, we are bombarded with different messages and tasks and things we have to do. The daily grind of life can take a toll on all of us. Sometimes, it’s hard to stop and recognize that at the end of the day, we are all just simply doing our best to make it through each day. The reality is people are people, and I would like to believe that deep down we all want what’s best for the people in our lives and the world we live in. Sometimes we forget that a simple smile or a “hello,” or taking the time to do something nice for a stranger has a huge impact on people’s lives and the community we call home. It’s also good for the soul. I was forwarded a meme this week on Facebook that talked about the idea of paying it forward. The idea is to ask people that may owe you something to pay it forward and to give to others — possibly even a stranger. Another rendition is that T Israel Bayer is the executive director o f Street Roots. You can reach him at israel@streetroots. org or follow him on Twitter @israelbayer. when eating out or getting a coffee or purchasing a Street Roots, that you make your next purchase for a stranger that may not have the resources. I thought to myself, what a great idea. I started telling friends and co-workers about it. They laughed and said, “Um, there was a movie about that called Pay It Forward. I think it starred Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt.” Oh. OK. After doing more research (Google, Wikipedia), I discovered that, apparently, the idea has been around for centuries. What a relief, I thought to myself, knowing this idea wasn’t invented in Hollywood. Regardless of where the idea began, or entered into pop culture, or was dropped in our lives, the idea of doing for others still bears weight. When we are able to rise above the madness that life sometimes brings, and give to others, than we are setting an example for everyone around us. It becomes contagious. So, to quote Kevin Spacey’s character from the movie, “What if the world is one big disappointment? Unless, you take the things you don’t like about this world and flip them upside down. You can start this today.” I couldn’t agree more. Regardless of your plight in life and the resources at your disposal, possibly it’s a smile or a meal or possibly something more, let’s start today and pay it forward. You just never know what we might silently inspire. subsidized re n te rs, including th e elderly and disabled on limited incomes. But perhaps the most problematic challenge is the least concrete: Our perception of who is poor and homeless today. The 99 percent, as it were, are families, with both parents working full-time and then one, if not both, losing their job. They are children, struggling in school where free and reduced-lunch programs are filling in for meals missed at home. Foreclosures and long-term unemployment have derailed families across communities with few resources or direct service. The city’s one-night homeless count found 2,869 people sleeping in emergency shelter or on the streets. An additional 1,572 people were counted in transitional housing that same night. In addition to those figures are more than 4,800 people who received rent assistance or perm anent supportive housing on the night of the count. Altogether, the city is looking at a 10 percent increase over the 2011 count. But those figures don’t include individuals and families who are doubled up, and the city’s report suggest that they may account for as many as four times the number of people sleeping in shelters or on the streets. They are, for now, far on the periphery of our political consciousness, our social programs and our solutions. We need more flexible funding streams and greater regional collaboration to turn this around. Our perceptions must change about who is living in poverty today if we are to see the political will and collaboration needed to reverse this terrible trend. IS STOPPING out vendors, we receive additional support from Mary Pacios, Jan Bayer, Ann Ereline, Vinnie Kinsella, Sharron Thompson, Ann-Derrick Galliot, Joe Thick, Stacey Heath, Taurin Skinner-Macginnis, Bethany Hague, Michelle Holbert, John Lisifka, Raven Canoles, Carol McCreary Reporters Jake Thomas, Alex Zielinski, Nathan 211 NW Davis St. Portland, OR 97209 503-228-5657 Fax: 503-227-3117 www.streetroots.org www.news.streetroots.org Gilles, Robert Britt, Sue Zalokar, Erin Fenner Photographers Kristina Wright, Christopher Onstott Street Roots Rose City Resource Street Roots publishes the Rose City Resource, a comprehensive booklet of services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. To inquire about getting guides, call 503-228-5657. Resources are also available online at www.rosecityresource.org. 75c goes directly to the vendor who sold you the paper Vendor orientations are at 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Street Roots office
