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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2023)
August 16, 2023 Page 5 Celebrating the Success of First Micro-Village Sleeping pods and more act as transitional housing Five formerly homeless and vulnerable Portlanders have found stable, permanent housing, thanks to the new approach of a WeShine micro-village. Volunteers, donors, the board and church members gathered Friday, Aug 11 at Park- rose Community United Church of Christ to learn about what’s next. “Everyone has worked very hard for this success,” says Janet McManus, WeShine’s Executive Director and Founder. “We’ve learned a lot, but we also knew that a 10-pod micro-village would work well for our guests. Two more villages are in the works.” WeShine, a two-year-old nonprofit started by neighbors in Northeast Portland, opened its first village a year ago with space for 11 people, on property owned by Parkrose Community United Church in Christ.“We felt compelled to act to help people.” The Welcome Desk of Mt. Hood’s new Equity Center. Photo courte- sy of Mt. Hood. New Space Focuses on Students Needs This picture demonstrates the ways guests make the sleeping pods feel like home! Photo courtesy of WeShinePDX.org says Christine Tanner, chair of the board. A micro-village is a community of approximately 10 secure “sleeping pods” and three small community buildings for shared space, located in a neigh- borhood close to transportation and businesses. “Guests” can rest safely, have access to hygiene and meals, secure their belong- ings, and learn healthy ways to advocate for themselves and their needs. In addition to the small size and comprehensive services, neighborhood engagement con- tributes to the micro-village mod- el’s success. Villagers must sign Good Guest agreements, and the village and neighborhood associ- ations work together to develop a Good Neighbor agreement. “People living in the micro-vil- lage learn the skills to be commu- nity members,” says Ruin Riggs, Service Resources Coordinator. “I’ve seen people really blossom and grow here.” WeShine fund- ing comes from the Multnomah County Joint Office of Home- less Services WeShine designs, builds, and operates neighbor- hood-based micro-villages that provide safe transitional shelter and services, where Portland’s vulnerable unsheltered adults can live as they prepare to become successful tenants in permanent affordable housing. Mt. Hood Community College Unveils Planned Equity Center Mt. Hood Community Col- lege’s (MHCC) student basic needs team recently announced plans for a new equity center, de- signed to meet the needs of stu- dents who are looking for a place to relax, study, meet, eat, and ac- cess resources. The equity center will be built in the for- mer bookstore. The project is a result of sever- al key occurrences, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many students in a state of food and housing insecurity and re- vealed a need for more student re- sources According to the MHCC Student Basic Needs team, the equity center will provide a range of resources and support to stu- dents. It will be a multi-faceted space, featuring the food pan- try, housing support, and other resources such as laptops and hotspots. The center will offer a “living room” feel, making it a comfortable place for students to hang out, study, and socialize. The location of the equity cen- ter has been carefully chosen to ensure it is easily accessible to students. It is centrally-located di- Continued on Page 11 Medicare Part D now covers all recommended vaccines at no cost to you. Don’t let preventable diseases keep you from doing the things you love. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are right for you.
