Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2015)
Street Roots • July 31-Aug. 6, 2015 Vendors Page 6 Bridges VENDOR PROFILE by Eileen Vizenor Louis Adams Bridges to there. Bridges to here. Bridges that go up, and bridges that go down. Bridges to walk or ride on. Bridges to admire views from. BY LEONORA KO C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R ouis Adams is back indoors after being homeless for 17 years. B Portland is referred to as “Bridge City” and one of my favorites would be the S t John’s Bridge I love its renaissance style, as if it was leading to a castle on the other side. However, my favorite bridge would definitely be the bridge that closes all negative gaps. The bridge that ends all hatred, abuse, judgments, violence and racism. Each one of us can be a bridge that supports love, understanding, compassion and empathy. Bridges to support each one of us! Answers to puzzles on page 15 “It is just like winning the lottery,” he says. Louis had just been chased out of his camping spot when he got the news he could move into Bud Clark Commons. The Commons is an award-winning building that opened in 2011 and provides apartments for people who are homeless. The studio apartments have full kitchens and baths, and the complex has a community room with television and other amenities. The controlled-access building has a 24-hour desk and Home Forward staff who provide services to the residents. The staff asked Louis if he could move in that day. Louis told them, “You bet I can. My stuffs packed up and just down the street I’ll be back within an hour.” “I brought everything I had left that hadn’t been stolen,” Louis says. “That would consist of a sleeping bag, a pillow, some tarps, my cellphone, a cellphone charger... couple of new drinking glasses that I was starting to accumulate when I got on the inside. Really there wasn’t much else, except some clothes. sleep. “You know it was kind of eerie because I’m so used to noise. Freeway noise over my head. People fighting all the time. When I got into that silence, it was really kind of strange. I had to open up the windows, the door and everything else just so I could let some noise in,” he says and laughs. Now Louis sleeps better, and “it’s nice to be able to take a shower every day, cook my own meals, stuff like th a t” Shortly after moving in, Louis was offered a dishwashing job at Trader Vic’s, where he often sells Street Roots. Unfortunately, he recently had a mini-stroke that temporarily paralyzed his hand. “The job was going great, right up until that happened. I can’t do pots and pans. I can’t lift nothing right now,” he says. “But there’s been quite a bit of improvement already, so I m hoping to return within a week.” Medical issues pushed Louis to the top of the waiting list to enter Bud Clark Commons. “I applied four years ago when the place first opened up, and I didn’t quite qualify to get in there. I guess there wasn’t enough wrong with me yet,” he says, laughing again. This time, Outside In staff qualified him. Louis has friends and acquaintances at the Commons, but he is most looking forward to having his daughter and grandson over for dinner. “If it weren’t for my daughter and my grandson, I probably would have given up a long time ago,” he says. “(My daughter) is the coolest thing that ever happened to me in my life. The day I cut the cord is . something I won’t ever forget I can still' close my eyes and see i t “I missed quite a bit of her life, you know, after the divorce. But I’ve seen how she’s grown. How mature she’s become. How smart she really is. Coming from two screw- up parents, she’s really done good for herself.” Louis is grateful to the people who have helped him. He says, “I’d like to thank Haven at Outside In and the (Home Forward) staff at Bud Clark Commons for helping me get in. “I’d also like to thank all my readers and supporters for helping me out over the years. “Street Roots is a big part of my life. It’s a big plus anytime you’re employed. It makes a keep your self-respect and self-esteem. “Let the customers know, without their help, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to get off of the streets.” . “I had a shopping cart that I kept my stuff in. So that way, it was easy to move and I didn’t have to make numerous trips. It didn’t take long to move in, let me tell you.” When Louis first moved in, it was hard to o CENTRAL C IT Y C O FFEE Sourcing & roasting craft coffee to benefit programs at Central City Concern. IN STORES Out of Luck? Free Counseling for Gambling Problems Call 503-239-5952 New Seasons Market, Whole Foods, Food Front - Cooperative Grocery, Green Zebra, Chuck's Produce and Will Leather Goods. 9 2 t I- 6 e 8 i 6 9 2 L L 9 s p 8 8 2 9 6 8 9 8 L L S k 9 2 6 9 S 8 L 8 9 k 8 V 6 6 8 2 6 8 2 8 k t 9 L 9 2 L 9 8 8 k p 8 8 9 2 9 L 6 8 6 2 L k 9 8 9 P AT YOUR OFFICE Interested in serving Central City Coffee at your office? Get in touch w ith us and we can help you make that happen. 503.226.7387 ON OUR WEBSITE Buy Central City Coffee online and have it shipped directly to you or a friend. Follow our Facebook page fo r updates and specials. centralcitycoffee.org facebookxom/CentralCityCoffee coffee@ccconcern.org VENDOR WORK ADS Farmer Shaun: If you need gardening, clean-up or any general labor services call Farmer Shaun. 971-222-9938.
