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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2014)
street roots 2 Aug. 15, 20Í4 Let’s give people something to believe in 1 1 IÏ0 B I1 L I A rem inder o f the connections as necessary as housing n this edition, Colleen Sinsky shines a light on an element of homelessness few people outside of the field truly understand (See page 12). That being homeless often means being alone, in the most extreme sense under the most extreme conditions. It becomes tangible for Sinsky when, as a retention worker for the nonprofit JOIN, she becomes filed as the “emergency contact,” often above a blank “next of kin” line on apartment applications for people trying to get off the streets. It’s heartbreaking, she says, and it illustrates how isolated, physically and emotionally, people in poverty can become. Of course it’s no surprise that depression The straggle for dignity is common among people and stability continues for experiencing poverty and people who are homeless, homelessness. It is a and small triumphs occur reality of the streets, and every day, thanks to those it often never goes away human connections, and even after a person gets the courtesy and support into housing. “This real of workers and residents and compassionate level in this city. . of authentic human connection,” she writes, “is as necessary as housing.” The popular news has been dominated recently ’with the suicide of Robin Williams, who battled depression and addiction much of his life. Comedian Jackie Kashian met Williams on several occasions, and spoke in this edition of his positive influence on comedians — and on people in general - “leading by the example of courtesy and support.” DIBECTOB'S. DESK I Israel Bayer is the executive director o f Street Roots. You can reach him at israel@streetroots. org or follow him on Twitter @israelbayer. Williams was also a powerful advocate for ending perpemafeisolation, and yes, leading by the example of courtesy and support It’s been nearly 25 years since William testified before a Senate panel in support of the Homelessness Prevention and Community Revitalization Act of 1990. He testified to the conditions at the time, to the fastest growing population among the homeless being families with young children, as well as to the nonsense from former president Ronald Reagan that the only people who are homeless are those who have chosen to be so. In his own words and speaking on behalf of fellow comedian Billy Crystal, Williams urged for long-term solutions that involved creating more affordable housing and a better understanding of the dynamics that drive people from their homes onto the streets. With his passing, we lost a great advocate for people experiencing homelessness, in a sadly familiar way. The struggle for dignity and stability continues for people who are homeless, and small triumphs occur every day, thanks to those human connections, and the courtesy and support of workers and residents in this city. While most of us will never be in a position to be an emergency contact, as Sinsky writes about, we all have it within ourselves to be a part of that support, to recognize nonsense and stereotypes when we see them, and to better understand that homelessness is about more than not having a home. O u r missi on Street Roots creates income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty by producing a newspaper and other media that are catalysts for iridMduai and ¿dal'change. Street Roots publishes every two weeks, launching on Fridays, and is available exclusively through our street vendors or by subscription We are proud members of W International Network of Street Papers. Street Roots 211 NW Davis $t. Portland, OR 97209 503-228-5657 Fax:503-227-3117 streetroots.org news.streetroots.org SH« failing at every step along the way. It’s the reason we shouldn’t fund the poor, don’t you know. Send them to the island! Here’s the thing. We actually can end homelessness if both local and federal governments prioritized the issue. It s not so much the plans or the political will that is lacking, it’s having the resources and tools in the toolbox to get the job done. It’s really that simple. Through it all, local governments and law enforcement will claim to have to pick up the pieces through the criminal justice system with campsite cleanups, sidewalk ordinances, trespassing agreements, on and on. Never mind that all of these strategies lead to people having a criminal record that ends up being a barrier to get into the housing they were criminalized for not having in the first place. D idi mention the overcrowding of our jails and an enormous tax burden? The cold, hard reality is we have more homelessness. , than 2,000 people on the streets at any one The policies all look the same to the time. Until we receive adequate outsider. It really doesn’t matter what kind government support, that’s not going to of bow you put on it. It all looks the same change. to me and I’m a so-called “expert” Regardless of your reasoning, n<5 one The plan to end family, Veterans, and wants people on the streets, especially chronic, women’s homelessness goes people living the trauma of homelessness something like this. Create a community itself. wide process, follow a data driven system, Which leads me back to the point of adopt changing policies, tweak those having safe rest areas for people policies 20 degrees in one direction or experiencing homelessness. It’s a another, make nonprofits and people no-brainer. Right 2 Dream Too specifically experiencing homelessness jump through has shown that it can be done in an hoop after hoop arid break out the yellow organized, non-violent fashion that gives ribbons just in time for campaign and people both dignity and shelter from the fundraising season. storm. It’s time we embraced this idea and The most important part to the entire worked towards creating organized camps equation will be that organizations around and alternative fiousirfg o ^ o n s that are the country will be asked to end ^homelessness with little to nothing, scraps ' given reso'M'PWVL) UliWttMTB Lillie through the red tape, and give people in fact, all while having right-wing editorial without a home something to believe iri. boards and the public remind us that We’re 't’s time to embrace the idea of organized camping in Portland for people experiencing poverty. We are now three decades into to the rise of massive homelessness in the United States. During that time we’ve seen tens of billions of dollars By Israel Bayer decrease from our ■■■■■■■»■■■■ housing stock — only to , see wave after wave of ■' hard working individuals and families end up on the streets. The story has been told a million and one times over. We’ve heard from the politicians that we can do better than tent cities. We’ve heard from the political insiders to hold on - we’re getting there. We cap end chronic homelessness. We can end homelessness Noises from a Classroom by John Lawson I think back on the time I was in school The kids around me Strangers at first Paper airplanes flying through air Teachers shouting Classmates laughing Then like a screech in the night We all hear nails Raking over the chalkboard The room grows silent As the teacher starts the lesson For the day ; ■ Board of Directors Director Israel Bayer israel^streetroo&org Managing Editor Joanne Zuhi Bruce Anderson {ChalrroM Michael Anderson (Vice- : ' chairman), Heather Stadick (Treas.), Eddy Barbosa (Sec.),, Rich Rodgers, Brad Taylor, Leo Rhodes, Nora Coon, , / Darren Alexander, Amber Bielman ; / ' Vendor Coordinator Cob Merkel Volunteers cole@streetroots.org Operations Director Sarah Reecroft Program Assistant Grace Badik, Jesuit Volunteer, grace@streetroots.org Development Director Sarah Cloud Office Assistant Amber Bielman Reporters Jake Thomas, Alex Zielinski, Nathan Gilles, Sue Zalokar, Ann-Derrick Gaillot Photographers Kristina Wright, Christopher Onstott, Adrienne Burkett Jan Bayer, Elizabeth Tierney, Rob Shryock, Ann- Derrick Gaillot, Stacey Heath, VinniHinseHa, Michelle Breslau, Paula Cracas, John Barker, Mary Locke, Lucas Manfield, Jessie Carver, Cherie.Vedat Sam Bouman, Isaac Hastings Hauss, Emily Green, Tom Ray, Sarah Hansell, Alana Kansaku-Sarmiento, Kyle Craven, Audrey Benison, Crystal Elinksi 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 online at www.rosedtyresource.org. Vendors Street Roots vendors buy the newspapers for 25 cents each and sell them for $ 1, keeping the 75 cents in ' profit for themselves, in order to keep d ie cost low to our vendors, w e receive additional support from donations and in-kind contributions. ' " ' ■ 7 5 c goes directly to the vendor w ho sold you the paper 25c goes tow ard printing costs Vendor orientations are a t 1 p.m. every M onday, W ednesday and Friday at the Street Roots office.
