Page 2, Portland Observer, January 29,1986
Healthwatch
EDITORIAL/OPINION
Garlingtons will be missed,
but not forgotten
Rov. John Garlington and his wife
Yvonno will be missed by those in the city
who bolieve in equal justice and equality
for all in society. The Garlingtons were
killod in an automobile accident in Florida
on Jan. 16.
Although the entire city lost two out
standing citizens, Portland's Black com
munity will be affected the most by the
loss of the Garlingtons. Rev. Garlington
was always involved in issues pertinent to
the Black community. He was active in
education, employment and other social
issues.
Rov. Garlington was concerned about
tho crime problem facing residents of
Northeast Portland. When citizens
marched in the rain to protest drug traf
ficking and prostitution in their communi
ty back in October, Rov. Garlington
marched alongside them, giving his
support to their cause.
He spoke out against police brutality,
and was an original member of the Police
Internal Investigation Auditing Commit
tee. This committee monitors the Portland
Police Bureau's handling of public com
plaints.
Rev. Garlington was also active in the
Albina Ministerial Alliance, serving as
president. Rev. Garlington's deep Chris
tian faith in God and humanity served him
well as he led the fight against injustice
and racism. To many Black Portlanders.
Rev. Garlington was another Dr. Martin
Luther King. Jr. Indeed both he and Dr.
King devoted their entire lives to the
betterment of all. This is why. like Dr.
King, Rov. Garlington and his wife Yvonne
will not be forgotten.
We at the Portland Observer wish to
expross our deepist sympathy to the Gar
lington family and the people of Mara-
natha.
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
HAP addresses the needs of the homeless
by Connie D. Easter
Who can escapo tho recent
coverage by the media of the
plight of the humolss. Headlines
cry out for attention to tho needs
of tho unemployed, fatherless,
and the hungry. If NAHRO were
to publish these same articles for
Housing Authorities (HAs| across
tho nation, they probably wouldn't
get a stir—simply because the
homeless are not news to us.
These same nows stories we can
easily match, winning the "one-
upmanship-' game hands down.
We've seen people with stories so
terrible the editors of these same
papers would question tho stories'
basis in fact. Lives so disrupted
wii'vo wondered how the people
managed to carry on. But regard
less of who lulls the story, its end
always spells the same:depriva-
tion. pain, and sorrow.
While the majority of press
attention has been for the "tran
sient," single person, within the
Portland area, tho Housing Au
thority of Portland (HAP) found
the largest number of emergency
services were already being pro
vided for this population. But for
families, most HAs would agree,
the need for housing had long
since reached the critical point.
Certainly it's true these families
— if they wait long enough for
low-income housing or as true in
some cases, oven get on the wait
ing list —will eventually be served.
It also might take a year or two.
Yes. it can and still does happen
for some—most generally for
those who already have a fall
back system that can meet some
of their most pressing needs until
a unit is eventually available.
But what about those families
that can't wait? Those who only
need a short term (two to three
months) life. Those for wh<m
assistance, if given immeidately.
in the form of a total service
package, can and will make it.
Few HAs across the nation are
prepared to provide this total
package: adequato and steady
incomes, iob searches, child caro,
and the all-important daily broad.
This was never the intent of low-
income housing. For some HAs,
this decision was particularly
difficult, as long ago their organi
sation's mission had been clearly
defined: that is. to provide rental
stock for those able to meet the
majority of their needs with a
minimum of support. It became
quickly evident that for tho Hous
ing Authority of Portland to
duplicate what other agencies
had spent years establishing,
would be a grave error in judg
ment. both financially and mana-
gerially. But of one thing HAP was
certain—to serve the family who
needed emergency housing was
an area they couldn’t ignore.
Countless figures were being
touted as to how widespread the
problem had become. HAP hired
a consulting firm. The Planning
Group, simply to get the facts
"straight." They also wanted tho
targeted population narrowed to
geographic locations, within their
area of responsibility. But most
important, the bottom line had to
be—housing of a short-term na
ture. while halting tho reoccur
rence of the homelessness.
The numbers were worse than
most had imagined. Over 1,000
families, or 2.000 individuals in
families, continue to sleep under
bridges, in cardboard boxes, and
in their or someone else's cars.
Families who needed, ns des
cribed earlier, a total package. So
HAP divided its program into two
phuses. Phase I centered on wha,
was immediately needed: sup
plied housing, access to resources
for food, clothing, but also what
HAP felt was an integral part,
staff that could ease the referral
process for other supportive ser
vices. Cut out all the "red tape."
When appropriate, we wanted
families to be able to stay within
their own neighborhoods. We
wanted them to maintain their
privacy. Dormitory-style "night"
shelters and private room resi
dential sheltors wouldn't make it.
W e wanted separate, individual
units, studios, efficiency, or two
to three bedroom units depending
on the family's needs, both in a
scattered site or single-unit style.
Further, any family seeking
housing from HAP during this
period, and for whom it was
deemed an emergency, their
names would go to the top of tho
waiting list for these specially
allocated units. Through this pro
cess, all of the expertise could be
brought to bear on the process of
screening for appropriate fami
lies.
Bocause every city as a “core"
area for its homeless. HAP's goal
was to select sites outside the
"Burnside" area of Portland, a
gathering place for the chronical
ly unemployed and rugged ele
ment of Portland's population.
This gave rise to the “quadrant"
approach, similar to the cluster
apartment sites of Seattle's model.
This approach fit in particular
ly well in Portland as it sees itself
ns a neighborhood-based service
delivery system. And al, service
delivery systems have been esta
blished with this plan in mind.
Again, not wishing to duplicate
what other agencies had spent
years to establish. HAP's pro
gram called for the removal of
some units of HAP's existing
stock, and in turn, leasing them to
an agency within specific loca
tions. that had demonstrated ex
pertise and willingness for the
task. Only those agencies with
well-established track records of
sound and adequate levels of case
management, coupled with suffi
cient staff, would be considered.
Further, they had to have the
reputation of maximising what
few resources might be available
to meet the family's needs, while
at the same time stabilizing the
situation. Contracts would be one
year in length and re-evaluated
biannually. in the beginning. Al
though a one to three month com
mitment of service per family was
also a bottom line, there had to be
room for flexibility on both the
part of the agency and HAP. "W o
simply couldn't be put in the posi
tion of turning emergency' hous
ing into 'permanent' housing,"
related W. E. (Bill) Hunter, exe
cutive director.
.HAP first set about identifying
a specific number of units in each
geographic quadrant for the hous
ing. Latar came the identification
of those projects within these
areas, based on numbers or those
developments with a high rate of
vacancy, regardless of whom they
served, elderly or fammilies. Par
ticularly important were discus
sions with H lID for removal of
these units from originally in
tended use. Agreements both with
HUD and subcontracted local
service agencies as to expecta
tions by all wore additional steps
Phase 11 of the program called
for the acquisition of adjunct p ro
parties to complete the total qua
drant approach in appropriate
areas whero HAP properties are
unavailable. Staff were author
ized to determine the costs and
potential source of property for
the purchase of a duplex or four-
plex to be secured at the point of
heaviest need.
The end product would be a
total of 12 units divided between
four of the county's six quadrant
areas which would neod to be
romoved from the regular rental
rolls and the purchase of one to
two additional duplexes of four-
plexes—all of which would be
leased to social providers. HAP
would provide the property and
maintenance of such, but the
other necessities such as bedding,
furniture, etc. would have to be
provided and maintained by the
contracted agency.
"It has not been an easy pro
cess." rotated Bill Hunter, "this
process of assuring a sound pro
gram. meant to continue. But the
results have been gratifying. We
view this process as one by which
several needs can be filled:
families can receive emergency
services, working relationships
between agencies will be en
hanced. vacant units within HAP
need not wait months to be filled,
and new hope will be kindled in
many who now face despair.
"Granted not all 'kinks' in the
armor have been ironed out. but
we're well on our way. And. we'd
be more than happy to share our
expertise with anyone interested
in duplicating this effort."
Connie D. Easter is the Public
Affairs Coordinator of the Hous
ing Authority of Portland.
by Steven bailey N. D.
Last week the New England
Journal of Medicine (Vol. 314. No.
4) published a study from Den
mark which states that “ obesity
has a strong genetic component.”
This, like other adoption studies
makes use of the enormous data
available through the Danish
Adoption Register, which has the
records of every non-famihal
adoption in Denmark between
1024 and 1947.
The statistical assessment of
biological parents' weights, adop
tive parents' weights and chil
dren's weights shows a strong
probability of obese mothers hav
ing obese children and virtually
no relationship between adopting
parents' weight status and their
children's future weight.
From this probability assay the
authors declare an end to the
debate on obesity as a result of
environment versus heredity. They
do however state that environ
ment may influence the genetic
traits and further that exercise
may diminish obesity.
While the authors declare that
obesity may soon be treated with
genetic screening, and that the
environment is mostly insignifi
cant. they ignore one important
component which may totally
obviate the worth of their study.
These statisticians treat the nine
months of interutero life as non-
environment.
While medicine recognizes the
abibty of diabetic high blood
sugar to significantly alter the
birth weight of children, these
authors toss out serum nutrition
to the fetus as insignificant, when
from a logical and scientific basis
it is essential. Truly the only
human study that can approxi
mate an environment versus here
dity study will occur with test
tube babies in which the biolo
gical parents do not involve
themselves with the incubation of
the fetus.
There are a couple of sad
points to this study. One is that
this prestigious magazine did not
screen for this statistical manipu
lation of the study groups; and
secondly, that during a health
renaissance of public awareness
of diet and lifestyle, a study such
as this can do much to de-empha-
size the importance of proper
nutrition, exercise and appropri
ate lifestyle.
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY
Reproductive freedom is a Black issue
Dear Sisters:
The International Council of
African W'omen is best known for
our work on international issues
that bring together women of
African descent uround tho world.
This is because we are communi
ty activists who care about and
work on international, national
and local issues including rape,
food cooperatives, civil rights,
and Black independent schools.
Today, we are writing you
about problems often unacknow
ledged by our communitytoenage
pregnancy, birth control and
abortion. We. as Black women
need to consider that:
1. Black teenagers (under age
18) account for 28® o of all Black
births in the United States.
2. 54®'a of Black teenagers are
sexually active.
3. Black adolescents seeking
birth control do so about 14
months after their first sexual
experience.
4 Among 18-year-old mothers,
nearly six in 10 have not com
pleted high school.
5. 85®» of young Black mothers
(under age 25) and their children
live in poverty.
6. 80®/a of children born to
teenagers outside of marriage,
who live and are not adopted,
receive welfare.
7. Black children living in sin
gle-parent households increased
from 32®/» of all Black children in
1977 to 49®,• in 1980 and 54®» in
1983.
8. A study conducted at Attica
State Prison in New York found
»ha, 9O®o of the inmates were
born to teenage mothers.
These facts and statistics paint
a frightening picture of the condi
tion of Black womon and children.
Ye, our community too often
denies the existence of this prob
lem. Often we think preaching to
children about morality and se
verely controlling their move
ments are enough to prevent un
wanted pregnancies. These stra
tegies are obviously failing.
Similarly, when young Black
women have unexpected preg
nancies. they face the difficult
choices of: 1) having and keeping
the baby (and possibly ending
their education); 2) giving the
baby up for adoption (in the face
of record numbers of unadopted
Black children); or 3) having an
abortion (if she can afford it.
since the 1977 Hyde Amendment
prohibits federal funding of abor
tions for poor women). If she
chooses the latter option, she
must find safe, affordable ser
vices.
To add to her problems, she
may experience racist harass
ment at abortion clinics because
these clinics are the targets of
fanatic
anti-abortion
zealots.
Abortion and family planning
clinics have been bombed around
the country, and women entering
these clinics have been verbally
and physically attacked. Who,
the newspapers have no, report
ed is the fact that most of the peo
ple attacking these clinics are
white men. while most of the
women using these clinics are
Black women. Thus, we have
white men violently interfering
with Black women's rights to
choose what is best for them
selves. which is nothing new.
Since slavery, our right to control
our reproduction was challenged
by white men and this racist
attack on Black women continues
today.
The birth control and abortion
issue is a sensitive and serious
one in our community. W e have
real and legitimate fears about
the genocide the profit-oriented
health industry has practiced on
our people. However, we should
no, confuse this crime with the
issue of birth control and abor
tion. because if the right of Black
womon to make our own repro
ductive decisions is lost —then we
again face forced child birth.
Forced child birth is as wrong as
forced sterilization. Forced child
birth is what we deal, with during
slavery — and if the right to make
our own choices is taken away
from us. we let ourselves again be
bred like cattle to supply cheap
labor for America.
ICAW has determined that we
shall no, sit back Bnd le, our
sisters experience racist harass
ment and face these difficult
decisions without our voices of
support being heard. For far too
long, the Black community has
seen the struggle for safe birth
control and affordable, legal a-
bortions as "white women's"
issues, while being blind to the
incredible numbers of Black wo
men also affected. Perhaps we
are more vulnerable, because our
usual financial situations don't
allow us the privilege of private
physicians and secret overseas
abortions. Too often, we are in
public facilites. get our birth con
trol from public sources, and
have to put up with racism and
harassment white women can
avoid by having more resources
and choices.
ICAW has agreed to work with
the National Black Women's
Health Project, the National Coun
cil of Negro Women. Women
Ministers of Greater Washington,
tho D.C. Rape Crisis Center, and
the National Organization for
Women (NOW ) in a M arch to
Save Women's Lives, a national
MB» »•
Portland Observer
Mt
demonstration of 150.000 people
to show our support for safe birth
control and legal abortions.
The M arch to Save Women's
Lives will be held M arch 9,h in
Washington. DC and will bring
together community leaders, cele
brities. and elected officials to
show the world we are tired of
“ moral majority" (read immoral
minority) attacks on our rights—
both our reproductive rights and
our civil rights. The day after the
March. March 10th. we are
working with NOW on a Congres
sional Lobby Day for the Civil
Rights Restoration Act of 1985,
which is currently being blocked
in the House by an anti-abortion
amendment. While we often fail
to see the link between reproduc
tive rights and our civil rights,
you can be, the Right Wing has
made the connection.
The Black community is amaz
ingly silent on this issue. I, is as if
we fear speaking out. But in this
era of skyrocketing teenage preg
nancies, starvation of women and
children in Africa, and callous
insensitivity to the struggles of
people of color, i, is outrageous
that Right-wing forces, under the
leadership of the Reagan admin
istration. are trying to move us
back to the 19»h century. The
"good old days" weren't that
good for us— remember slavery,
Jim Crow, and coa,-hanger abor
tions? These things killed more
Black women than child birth.
ICAW hopes »ha, each of you is
moved by the plight of our sisters
— moved to erase our collective
silence on abortion and birth
control. The "immoral minority"
is trying to turn back the clock of
our progress and they have taken
our silence for weakness. N O W IS
THE TIM E for us to make our own
statement. ICAW hopes that you
will join us in Washington. DC on
M arch 9»h to show that we are
not indifferent to the fate of our
community. Now is not the time
for fighting among ourselves or
quibbling over whether we can /
should work with white women on
this issue.
ICAW will work to provide
housing assistance to all sisters
traveling to Washington for this
March. Low-cost transportation
is also available and all partici
pants are asked to wear white.
W e will have a large banner with
ICAW's name on it, and we hope
each of you is marching proudly
beside us. Please contact the
Rape Crisis Center a, (202) 232-
0203. and tell us you wan, to
March to Save Women's Lives!
In Sisterhood.
Nkenge Toure
Co-Coordinator. 1CAW
Tha P u rtlv td Ohnrrvrr IU S P S M M H M 1» p rM a h a d »»ary
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