Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 2020)
Continued from Page 8 Prior to that, Hayes worked at Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare for 16 years ful- fi lling a variety of roles, from residential aid and case manager to a drug and alco- hol counselor. With no formal education in counseling or behavioral sciences, he found “a good opportunity to learn in the fi eld.” In this capacity, he was spurred to more closely examine homelessness on the North Coast and the systemic issues that contrib- ute to its pervasive nature. A couple years ago, he began interviewing social service providers and members of the homeless population on the streets of Astoria, Sea- side, Warrenton and Cannon Beach for a series called City Wide. Growing, connecting “To me, it was just a natural exten- sion,” Hayes said, adding he already had established relationships with members of that community. He originally intended to develop a fi lm, his “love song to Astoria” that would document a moment of time for the rapidly changing city, but the scope of the project expanded, he said. Eventually, he accumulated more than 100 individ- ual interviews, driven in part by his innate belief that it could produce change. Some of his footage is incorporated on the website of Friends of the Unsheltered, a nonprofi t organization whose mission is to provide valuable research and resources to bridge the gap between local government and the homeless population in Clatsop County. It also can be found on his You- Tube channel, Loop Based Zero. His inter- views lend multiple faces and voices to the occasionally ambiguous concepts of help- ing the homeless and addressing the myriad circumstances contributing to the problem with tangible solutions. Hayes doesn’t consider the project com- plete, but there came a point where he needed to step away. Anytime people inter- act with others in a raw, vulnerable way, he said, “There’s a lot of transference, you engage in their lives emotionally.” “To stay sane, you have to be able to turn things off, there’s just too much stimu- lus,” he said. Throughout the project, as Hayes was able to successfully integrate himself with transient citizens, he recognized many com- munity members want to do something, but they don’t know what. His solution is to talk directly with people affected by home- lessness to discover what they need. As with any relationship, he added, “you’ve got to ask questions — you can’t just assume things.” Art by Roger Hayes, ‘Flavel Tree’ oil painting. Vintage hardware Architectural Salvage and Home Furnishings Reclaiming, Repurposing and Inspiring our Community Since 2008 Open Every Day - 1162 Marine Drive - (503)325-1313 CBD/THC Flower Concentrates Edibles Extracts PreRolls Accessories hi Casual Cannabis 503-325-4078 193 Marine Dr. Astoria, Or hi Casual Cannabis Asto r ia BRING IN THIS COUPON FOR 10% OFF YO U R E N T I R E O R D E R ! expires 1/30/2020 Open 9 to 9 Everyday Daily Happy Hour 3-5 Home of the Bud Mentors - Cultivated to Serve Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of reach of children. Popcorn • Fudge • Chocolates • Ice Cream • Taffy • Cotton Candy • Carmel Apples Art by Roger Hayes, ‘Roots’ acrylic. Astoria • Cannon Beach • Manzanita • Rockaway Beach • Seaside THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020 // 9
