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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2017)
Page 6 December 27, 2017 BUSINESSGuide Double J Tires New & Used Tires Overstock & Used Tires $20 & up Priced To Sell All tires mounted & balanced on the car, out the door – no additives. Free stock wheels w/ purchase of any new or used tire limited to stock on hand 30 years in business 2 locations to Serve You 6841 NE MLK, Portland 503-283-9437 4510 SE 52 nd & Holgate 503-771-1834 Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer BUSINESS GUIDE Call 503-288-0033 ads@portlandobserver.com by D anny P eterson /t he P ortlanD o bserver Brienna Fultz has been struggling with homelessness for about three years and in previous years relied on staying with friends or sleeping in her car to avoid the cold. This is her first winter in a tent. Surviving Together C ontinueD froM f ront $5.00 TEES CLUBS FAMILY REUNIONS SCHOOL CLUBS BUSINESSES SCREEN PRINTING 503-762-6042 971-570-8214 Seasonal Clean Up Special! E-Waste • Car Towing Appliances • Debris Scrap Metal • Recycling ABLE ARM Reycling (503) 545-3160 Brienna Fultz, a Portland wom- an who has been struggling with homelessness for about three years, told the Portland Observer that this is the first winter spent in a tent. In previous years she stayed in her car or with a friend. “With as many homeless as there are, it’s really hard to find places where we can actually stay,” Fultz said. Last February, there was an es- timated 4,000 homeless people in Multnomah County, a 10 percent increase from two years ago. The camp I spoke to represents just a small portion of the over 1,600 homeless people who went with- out shelter at the time of the count. Nearly 30 percent of them were women. “It’s hard during the winter, you know, to keep moving and trying to figure out ‘okay, where are we going to go?” Fultz said. “It’s been cold… everything about it is hard,” said another woman, who is called Bug. As the camp mom, Lex said she has broken up fights, provid- ed spare dry clothes for older or sick members of the group, cooks camp meals when there’s enough food to go around, and provides emotional support. “Most of us are out here be- cause our families have abandoned us and we don’t have family […] we’re more of a community than most families because we look out for each other. We may not like each other, but we love each oth- er,” she said. Alta Willman, 54, is thankful for Lex and the other camp mem- bers who took notice when she had an infection on her neck that was left untreated for days. Her companions urged her to go to the hospital. “Had these ladies not cared and loved about me as a human being, ‘cause I had gotten bit in the neck by a spider (choking up) had they not pushed me to go, I wouldn’t be here. The doctor said if I would’ve waited another four to six hours, I’d be dead,” Willman said. As the women look after each other, it’s a vivid contrast “to the many more people that are looking down on us,” Lex said. “We have people drive by everyday honking at us, throwing shit at us, calling us garbage. And heaven forbid one of their family members ever becomes homeless.” “You know, we all have feel- ings,” Lex added. “We don’t need people to feel sorry for us. We don’t need people to pity us. If they want to help, we need water, garbage [removal], bathrooms. The rest of it we pretty much take care of on our own.” As frigid temperatures hit the Portland area in recent weeks, with ice and snow being the lat- est ordeal to overcome during the long Christmas holiday weekend, shelters were opening in response. Responding to the city’s home- less emergency, officials continue to step up to reach people in risk. Anyone who is suffering from conditions such as hypothermia or inhaling carbon monoxide from burning fuels is urged to call 211 to get emergency transportation to a warming center or shelter. Those who are interested in donating or volunteering can go also call 211 or visit 211info.org for informa- tion or make donations. Got Loved Ones You Want to Visit? Coffee Creek, Two Rivers, Snake River, OSP, Deer Ridge, Mill Creek, Federal, OSCI, Eastern Oregon or other institutions? We can Help. Carpool with us on the weekend. Lunch Included. Space is Limited, RSVP required. For More information . . . Call or Text 503-447-6550