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.