Street Roots • July 15-21, 2016
Homelessness isn’t normal
that’s in front of you. You try to be present. You try
tanding in line waiting for dinner after a long
day, a day after returning from vacation, I
to be strategic.
checked my email. It was a hospital social
Of course, very rarely, does anyone actually
worker. Simon was in the emergency room again. verbalize these kinds of thoughts in a public
The fourth time this week.
manner. As the executive director of Street Roots
It was at least the seventh time Simon had been
and community leader, I’m not allowed to appear
admitted to the emergency room in the past six
vulnerable. But it’s exactly what I was, vulnerable.
weeks after having a heart attack on the streets.
I chose not to go to the E.R. that night to see
The list was long. Possible
Simon, but Simon’s story and, more importantly,
stroke. Severe seizures
his rapidly declining health and lack of housing
related to alcohol
continues to gnaw at me.
withdrawal.
Head
trauma.
BIBECTOB'i
Simon has been homeless for more than a
Now, Simon was hardly
D SSS
decade. His life has been a living hell. Drinking
responsive, laying in the
most nights to chase away whatever demons had
E.R. with what they were
By Israel Bayer
calling altered mental status. led him to the streets —Simon was a chronic
alcoholic. He was in his 50s, but starting to look as
Simon, whose real name
I’m not using for this story,
though he was 70. Simon needed both housing and
has a special place in my h eart
a supportive recovery network. Unfortunately,
After reading the email, I considered jumping in
Simon’s insurance had lapsed. Finding a recovery
a cab and heading to the hospital.
program with no insurance is almost
I had visited him on multiple
impossible. There is still no housing
occasions at the emergency room,
immediately available.
The
reality
Is
that
like I do with many vendors. I’ve
The reality is that beyond the
beyond
the
efforts
of
sat with him, holding his hand.
efforts
of the dedicated handful of
the dedicated
Trying to make sense of what was
homeless outreach workers, a couple
going on and what we could do to
handful of homeless
of staff at Street Roots and a hospital
help. I have debated with nurses
outreach workers, a
social worker — Simon didn’t have a
and doctors on his behalf,
conple of staff at
chance in hell in making it much
requesting that he remain in the
Street Roots and a
longer.
hospital. I had pleaded with them
hospital social
“How was this story going to end,”
to refer Simon into a housing
I think to myself.
worker — Simon
program for outgoing patients.
Would Simon end up like so many
d id n 't have a chance
There were no beds available.
Street Roots has provided Simon
in hell in making it others who had died long before
with money for a hotel when the
much longer. "How their time? Would he eventually
funds allowed.
was this story going recover, only to be a shell of himself
Staring at my dinner that night,
and we would find him housing?
to end," 1 think to
after spending a week in the
Would the system find time and
myself.
wilderness and coming back to
resources to prioritize Simon, among
work, I realized in that moment
the thousands of people in dire
just how traumatized I had
situations? I sure hope so.
become from the years of working
Simon story isn’t an isolated incident The lack
on the streets. The despair. The suffering. The
of housing and skyrocketing rents has created a
survival. The death. The endless stories, one after
perfect storm. The public has grown angry and
another, came rushing into my mind. There they
intolerant in some cases, staging protests against
stood, like ghosts, seeking refuge in a world gone
the homeless. Politicians are scrambling and
wrong, an illogical world. It hit me like a ton of
frustrated. The media ponders on a daily basis
bricks.
about the right way to cover the issue. The
Regardless of whether you’re someone
landscape seems to be changing by the day.
experience homelessness, a police officer, an E.R.
One thing remains constant through it all.
nurse or a social worker, you try to never let
yourself get trapped by the trauma, by these
Homelessness is not normal. It’s not normal for
thoughts. You dust it off. You bury it. You let it go.
you. It’s not normal for me. It’s not normal for the
You move on. You seek self-care where you can
millions of Americans seeking a safe place to call
find it. You cry. You hope for the best and work
home. Simon’s story simply isn’t normal.
your ass off. You try to be smart about the work
S
Israel Bayer is the
executive director o f
Street Roots. You can
reach him at
israel@streetroots.org
or follow him on
Twitter @israelbayer.
Page 3
E d it o r ia l
Write in
w o u would like
/.
to have
/
something
w you've
Bitten published
in our pages, or would
\
\
..
\
.....
\
/
life to get involved as a .*
member of our reporting staff,
:
B ntact Managing Editor Joanne Zuhl at
503-228-5657, joanne@streetroots.org.
We ask that all submissions induite the
awlhor’s name and contact information,
if available.
Street Roots
211 NW Davis St.
Portland, OR 97209
503-228-5657
Fax:593-227-3117
www.streetraots.org .
wwwjieWs.streetroots.org <
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.rti. Mon.-Fri., 7:30
a.m-2 p,ro' Sat. and 7:30-11 a.m. Sun:
Advertising
Interested in advertising in Street- Roots?
Contact Israel Bayer at israel@streetroots.org
Staff
Executive Director Israel Bayer
israel@streetroots.org
Managing Editor
Joanne ZuW
joanne@streetroots.org
■ n a d e r Program Director Cote Merkel
cote@streetroots.org
Operations Director Sarah Beecroft
Development Director Sarah Cloud
Program Assistant Scott Jackson, Jesuit
Volunteer
Development Assistant Ann-Derrick
Gaillot
Reporters Emily Green, Suzanne Zalokar,
Ann-Derrick Gaillot, Sarah Hansell, Leonora
Ko, Jared Paben, Amanda W aldroupe
Photographers Diego Diaz, Joe Glode,
Ben Brink
Editorial Assistant Monica Kwasnik
Canvasser Desmond Hardison
Board of Directors
Chairman Brad Taylor
Vice-Chairman Rachel Langford
Treasurer Heather Stadick
Secretary Amber Bielman
Directors Bruce Anderson, Rich Rodgers,
Michael Anderson, Leo Rhodes, Nora Coon,
Marcus Swift
Volunteers
Jan Bayer, John Barker, Stacey Heath, Stephanie
Holum, Anjali Rathore, Zoe Klingmann, Haven
Herrin, Dan Jones, Rob Shyrock, Dennis Hogan,
Tom Wright, Eileen Deerdock, Vince Waldman,
Judy Taylor, Karen Allen, Monica McKune,
Susan Wotfe, Lucas Hawthorne, Thomas Buell
Jr., Jeanie Lunsford, Yasmin Amirsoleymani,
Jason Cohen, Tom Ray, Doug Spangle,
Susannah Kamala, Jon Raymond, Hilary Smith,
Diana Richardson, Cherie Manning
If you are interested in volunteering with Street
Roots, please submit a volunteer application at
streetroots.org/volunteer. Or call our
volunteer coordinator for more information
at 503-228-5657.