S t r e e t R o o t s • A u g . 7 -1 3 , 2 0 1 5
Vendors
Page 6
Storm Dancing
at Street Roots.
Something he wished others would
understand about people who are homeless
is that what might seem like strange
behavior is a result of experiences those
people have had.
For example, Timms knows a man who
BY CHRISTINE MENGES
STAFF WRITER
often seems like he’s talking to himself and
ignores people when they speak to him.
esse Timms is originally from Southern
What passers-by on the street don’t know is
California but found his way to Portland
that the man is deaf.
after a series of job searches led him
Timms has another friend who was
e. Timms’ first job was with the Navy,
injured at his job when a heavy object fell
which he joined as a young adult However,
on his head. The man was not given
he did not like the experience and soon left
workers’ compensation, and today he
He went on to work many odd jobs in
suffers from hallucinations.
factories, construction and food production.
“A lot of the time, he just looks like
Finally, he got a job with Orange County’s
some crazy homeless man, and they
largest animal shelter. He said that although
don’t know that he has a brain injury.
the job was challenging at times, he really
He’s a college graduate. He was a
enjoyed working there.
productive, normal person, and then
However, conflicts with management and
he was disabled like that,” Timms
chronic understaffing eventually made
said.
Timms decide to leave, and so he headed to
Timms also said that people
Oklahoma where he found a job working at
with
homes have a place to vent •
McDonald’s. Although he was glad to have a
off steam when they’ve had a
job, the wages were low, and then his sister
difficult day. Homeless people,
died, which left him feeling depressed. As a
Timms said, do not have that
result, he missed a few days of work and
luxury, which also might
lost his job. So he hit
the road again and
landed in Portland.
Between jobs
now, Timms
says he is just
trying to
figure out
what he
wants to do,
and to also get
his Veterans
Affairs
registration, which will
give him medical and dental
care. In the meantime, he
continues with the vendor program
VENDOR PROFILE
by J. Mccurdy
Jesse Timms
don’t be the match
that strikes my skin
her breaths
matched the ragged asset beat
of the heart who had suddenly
forgotten
its own rhythms
he watched
her eyes set fire
to lightning
watched terror and adrenaline
surrender and all out war
break out along nerve endings
that couldn’t
wait to begin
and to be honest
for a minute
he wasn’t sure
if Kevlar...
or a parachute
would save the day...
but for sure and for certain
it was a cliff diving
kinda day
i
Answers to puzzles on page 15
explain some of the behavior other people
see.
One thing Street Roots offers Timms is a
place to call home. He said he likes the fact
that he can stop by the office and use the
bathroom or get a cup of coffee.
“We don’t have a place here you can
think of as your ‘house,”’ Timms said.
“Street Roots is part of my ‘house’ here in
Portland.’’
In the future, Timms wants to get back
into working with animals. A few years ago,
he was working on a ranch m New Mexico
and picked up a few skills in agriculture. He
thinks that with his skills, he
will be able to work on a
small-scale farm.
“Agriculture is the
foundation of any
economy. People
need to eat,” he
said.
“That’s what I’d
like to do for
myself.”
N 1 N 3 al
3 >1 0 A 3
1. s 1 3 HJ
I
PHOTO BY COLE MERKEL
©
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