Street roots., March 03, 2017, Page 6, Image 6

VENDOR PROFILE
o
April
CENTRAL C ITY
CO FFEE
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Sourcing & roasting craft coffee to
benefit programs at Central City Concern.
BY MEGHANN V AN PELT
STAFF WRITER
T f you find yourself in conversation with
Street Roots vendor April, possibly at
her sales spot at Alberta Co-op, you may
very well lose track of time talking about
everything from Voltaire to the importance
of having your friend?s back in times of
need.
An active member of the community,
April attributes her success in Portland to
thé Alberta Co-op, among many other
organizations.
One in particular, SAFES - Salvation
Army Female Emergency Shelter - has
recently opened new horizons and,
quite literally, new doors for April.
“It is by SAFES, the Salvation
Army, that I now have housing and
intensive case management for
housing for a year,” she said.
Her sense of gratitude for
SAFES, Rose Haven Day
Center for Women and
Children, Catholic
Charities, and a host of
other agencies
throughout Portland was
evident as she described
her experience since
leaving California a
I
A
IN STORES
New Seasons Market, Whole Foods, Food Front
Cooperative Grocery, Green Zebra, Chuck's
Produce and Will Leather Goods.
AT YOUR OFFICE
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office? Get in touch with us and we can help you
make th a t happen. 503.226.7387
ON OUR WEBSITE
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shipped directly to you d r a friend.
AT KASBAH MOROCCAN CAFE
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Answers to Page 15 Puzzles
SAFES introduced April to its housing
program, through which, after 30 days of
following community standards, participants
have the opportunity to apply for an SRO
(single room occupancy) apartment.
In January, Aprilgot into an apartment
and despite the long journey to get to this
point, she has maintained an enviable sense
of humor. She had only positive words to
share about her current
home.
“Check this out
They have this thing
called the closet.
It’s amazing.
Leaves me
wondering
what they’ll
think up
next. You
go in, you
open it up,
you put
possessions, you open the door, you leave,
you get a key, you come back, you open it
up; there it is, it has all of your possessions
still. I love it!”
April, who describes herself as a “peace
-punk,” recognizes the value that lies in
being part of larger communities.
“Remember that you’re not that unique.
The more you remember that, the less
disconnected you’re going to feel.”
April is practicing what she
preaches and keeping busy in the
community. You may see her
selling papers outside of
Alberta Coop; in the
Street Roots office on
Wednesday mornings
at the creative
writing group or at
the upcoming Street
Roots women’s
group; or at various
other organizations
throughout Portland
and the LGBTQ
community.
S ince h e r
arrival in
Portland, April
has been living
on and off the
streets, a
difficult rèality,
especially as a
transgender
woman.
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Did®us«ve>the
Armed Forces
and are experiencing
or at
risk of
becoming
homeless?
Transition
Projects
Please call 855.425.5544
or visit 650 NW Irving Stree