Street roots., May 09, 2014, Page 3, Image 3

Street roots
May 9, 2014
1 I -À
3
<■?■•. "WssiS
Trena Sutton sits outside the Clackamas
Service Center, one o f the few drop-in,
resource center^ fo r people experiencing
homelessness in Clackamas County. There,
negotiations have started to create a tent city,
much like Portland’s R ight 2 Dream Too
(shown below), fo r people who are homeless.
‘ P H O T O B Y AQ R IE N N E BÄRNETT
ALEX ZIELINSKI
S T A F F W R IT E R '
n any given evening along the dark,
wooded perimeters of the Springwater
Corridor in Clackamas Cpunty, more
than 50 homeless individuals tuck- themselves
in for the night and hope for the best — or, at
least a good night’s re s t
To many, uninterrupted sleep comes as a
luxury in an area fraught with late-night camp
H
ámongtnose experiencing homelessness
have turned to organizing around safety.
“What chance do we have when we can’t
feel safe in the only place we call home?” ?
asks Hilary, a woman living with her husband
under a nearby bridge. “It’s always one step
forward and two steps back.”
The main haven for this community,
Southeast 82nd Avenue’s Clackamas Service
Center, remains understaffed and out of
space for the county’s steadily growing1
homeless population. With free meals, health
services, à free clothing room, and a future
promise of public showers and laundry
facilities, the service center is working on all
cylinders but staff still admits there’s a
làrgè gap in their services.
“We are burning the candle at both ends
Here,” says CSC volunteer staff member - <■
Trena Sutton, who fields safety-related calls
and concerns from the center’s visitors on a
daily basis. “We need a location where people
can be safe. A well-maintained camp would
give them the safe, communal living many of
these folks need to move forward with their
fives.”
* Despite her already full plate of
responsibilities at the center, Sutton’s paired
up with Ibrahim Mubarak, the founder and
head of downtown Portland’s Right 2 Dream
Too homeless encampment, to bring this J
idea into a reality. Their ultimate goal: Bring'
the Clackamas community together to
support and create a second Right 2 Dream
Too cainp,'
The original Right 2 Dream Too
community — currently in th e stages of a
Transition
Projects
believes
no Ohe
should have to be
homeless.
Vote By May 20!
Transition^
Projects »
For now, Sutton, is working to maintain a
steady, meditated push towards solidarity
within Clackamas’ social ranks, despite the
urgent need for help at her doorstep.
“How are you supposed to find work when
your possessions .are regularly stolen? When
you don’t know when you’re going to be
woken up In the middle of the night?”.Sutton
says. “We’ve got to be able to offer them
something more.”.
Sisters Of The Road
a non-profit cafe in Old Town
" Folks who come in are
not just passive recipients
of services, but have the
option to participate
in the work of the cafe.
Because of this, everyone
can potentially feel a
sense of ownership,
collaborative effort, of
being useful."- Volunteer
650 NW IrvingS t?
DEBORAH
I
■ MULTNOMAH
COUNTY CHAIR
much-debated move from its East Burnside
grounds -- has grown into a respectable and
secure rest area since its creation in October
2011. Like R2DToo, Sutton’s proposed ,
second site would have a front desk with
24-hour surveillance and prohibit alcohol, -
drugs, violence and discrimination. Here,
Sùtton says, the people wanting to better
themselves and ¡dig themselves out of an
anxiety-saturated livelihood would be
protected from predatory individuals.
“I’ve seen people being victimized over
and over again from predators on the trail,”
she says. “So many people arespread out
and vulnerable, they have no way to truly 1
protect themselves. I need a safe place for
my folks.”
Compared to inner Portland, Clackamas
County’s facilities and services for its
homeless population are few and far between,
ramping up the need for a Solution.
According to Sutton, the area only has three
dependable homeless shelters specifically for
women and families. One is closing at the
end of the month. If you’re single or without
children, the closest shelter is more than 6
miles away — or a 45-minute bus ride. , .
According to a 2013 count of homeless
people in Clackamas County, county
homeless prevention programs had served
215 out of the counted 2,070 homeless
individuals. Additionally, while the overall
number of homeless decreased from a 2011
count, there was asubstantial 22 percent
bump in “chronically homeless” individuals.
Meanwhile, the property around 1-205 and
the Springwater Corridor has been targeted
for camp sweeps by .the Oregon Department
of Transportation.
“This is a completely different situation
than (downtown’s) Right 2 Dream Too,” says.
Mubarak. “I don’t want to go fast in pushing
the idea, we have to be smart about our
approach.”
Mubarak says he’s only a consultant, and if
and when the camp comes into fruition, it
should be a local operation. “It’s got to be ;
run by people who know the people, know
the community, to really succeed,” he says.
To Mubarak and Sutton, and their team of
supporters, th is m e a n s ta lk in g one-o n -o n e
with eaehJcdiffm'®i^^jrafitpPto' gain th e if” '
trust and confidence. So far, they have the
support-of hoitieless CSC’visitors and the ;
faith-based community. Next u p ,..
neighborhood and business associations.
Only then, Mubarak says, can the team
present their camp proposal to the County
Board of Commissioners.
At this point, county health and housing
representatives won’t comment on the
potential camp, mostly due to it being in such
early stages. Once the group presents to the
county, however, the larger discussion will be
on the table. But it’s unsure when that will
be. ' jj
Portland, OR 97209
503.280.4700
www.tprojects.org -
All are welcome*
Monday - Friday 10am -2:30pm
133 NW Sixth Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
main: 503 222 5694
www.sistersoftheroad.org