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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