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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2013)
Local News Warming Trick or Treat? continued from page 1 change will worsen existing equity issues within the United States,” the Black Caucus says. Public Impact Officials at Multnomah County say their newest report strongly embraces climate change equity, which it illustrates with charts showing health statistics on hospital visits in environmental hotspots. The county’s charts show the elderly, dis- abled, people living in poverty, communities of color and the homeless are the people most like- ly to be concentrated in parts of the city with fewest trees, greenbelts, parks or waterways. Multnomah County’s short list of public impacts includes: —Congressional Black Caucus Foundation — an increase in heat- related illness and deaths, including heart African Americans are proverbial canaries emergencies, especially “among vulnerable in the mineshaft,” the report says. “We are populations such as the elderly, low income, on the frontline of the likely social, envi- homeless, pregnant women, and individuals ronmental, and economic upheaval with outdoor occupations;” — “diminished lung function, increased resulting from climate change.” Reports and calls to action specifically asthma, and increases in premature mortali- within Black communities nationwide ty,” from air pollution, including ozone; — and more diseases spread by insects picked up first after Hurricane Katrina in 2006 and again after Hurricane Sandy in and vermin — especially mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus — due to longer 2012. The CBC Foundation listed three find- breeding seasons. Urban Heat Islands ings: Of extra concern is the “urban heat 1) African Americans are already hit more than other groups by the health effects of island” effect, in which the concentration of climate change, including deaths during paved surfaces in a neighborhood absorbs heat waves and from worsened air pollu- heat and magnifies it, boosting temperatures tion. “Similarly, unemployment and hotter than the surrounding area. In 1995 some 750 people died in Chica- economic hardship associated with climate change will fall most heavily on the African go’s infamous heat wave when daytime temperatures spiked for just five days in a American community,” the report says. 2) African Americans bear less responsi- row – the hottest day reached 106 degrees, bility for climate change than other but, experts say, the heat island effect made Americans do because “both historically it closer to 150 degrees in some spots. Most of the dead were elderly, disabled and at present, African Americans emit less and African American people who did not greenhouse gas.” 3) Finally, the CBC Foundation warns want to open their windows or go outside that policies to help soften or fix climate for fear of crime, reports said at the time. Experts say similar heat waves will espe- change are likely to “generate large health and economic benefits or costs for African cially impact the Pacific Northwest because Americans, depending on how they are our climate has historically been so mild that few people have air conditioners; an structured. “Unless appropriate actions are taken to increase in daytime, and nighttime, heat mitigate its effects or adapt to them, climate waves in summer has already begun, the the answer is yes. In fact a significant body of research is emerging that suggests that Black people care more about climate change than most other groups in the Unit- ed States. The racial impact of global warming is laid out in the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2004 report, “Climate Change: An Unequal Burden.” “Where U.S. Energy Policy is concerned, PHOTO BY JERRY FOSTER ‘Unless appropriate actions are taken to mitigate its effects or adapt to them, climate change will worsen existing equity issues within the United States’ New Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Leah Treat on Halloween handed out bike safety lights to kids at Vernon Elementary School on Northeast Killingsworth Street. She was helped by Principal Tina Acker; all were swarmed by eager kids. hottest clocking in at 115 degrees in 2009. Not only that, these warmer temperatures simmer air pollutants into a toxic soup called ozone — the culprit in upper respira- tory illnesses from asthma to pneumonia and bronchitis — not to mention turning up the dial on heart attacks. Duncan says the simple question of where people live and how rich or poor they are can make all the difference in terms of who is most hurt by the extra smog, heat and ver- min that all come with global warming. “These are people who do not have the means to adapt or to get out of town; these are people who often live in substandard housing, conditions that already have mold and mildew that exacerbate their children’s asthma,” he says. “They are elders who are not socially mobile but they live in a heat island, and they may have little access to parks and greenspaces because they have little choice in their housing options. “People here are subject to a double- whammy.” For more on the Multnomah Climate Change Plan go to www.multco.us and search “climate change,” or go to www.kingcounty.gov and search “climate change.” Highland continued from page 1 churches we are working with, are so criti- cal,” she said. And that’s why we are actively targeting funding dollars to cultur- ally specific services.” Jean DeMaster, executive director of Human Solutions said that while the reces- sion may officially be over, DeMaster said, “It is not over for poor people. “We are seeing an increase in homeless families, especially families who are hard hit by the recession and the fact that our families can’t get living wage jobs.” Pastor William Hardy said he thought of the 18,000 people displaced in the 1948 Vanport flood, when he decided to offer the church building for use by the day center. “The African American community in Portland became instantly homeless,” he said. Many Vanport residents lost their pho- tos, treasures, everything they possessed that day. “Everything sacred to them was gone in a flash.” Hardy’s parents told him the story of the flood, and how Portland churches and citi- zens rallied to help. “So if I’m in a position to open doors for other Oregonians who are homeless, why shouldn’t I do that?” The Parkrose Winter Family Shelter opens today Nov. 1 at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, 12505 NE Halsey St. It will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly between Nov. 1, and April 30, 2014. The Parkrose shelter has space for 100 people at night, but just 70 during the day. Human Solutions also operates the 15-bed Daybreak Shelter Network. Portland Home- less Family Solutions runs a 27-bed family shelter in Goose Hollow. The City of Portland will operate a shelter for 70 single women. In the past, Human Solutions held a lot- tery to decide who could stay inside, and who had to leave. Opening the day shelter at Highland Christian Center means from now on no families will have to be on the street during the day. And if more family shelter beds are needed this winter, Highland has agreed to host a night shelter too. “There is no person, no parent who wants to be homeless. And in a perfect world no- one would be,” said Multnomah County This is a problem that can only be solved on a national level, DeMasters says. “We need housing that’s affordable to people at very low income levels.” Li urged the public to join in the effort to help homeless families by donating bedding, food, books, toys, clothing and volunteer time. “No one person can end homelessness but we can all contribute to this effort,” she said. — Marissa Madrigal “These are our children. These are our community’s children. Please engage with us.” The support means a lot to Johnny and the effort to meet the need is inspiring.” Even affordable housing often is priced Emoni Hollingsworth. Johnny, 33, became too high for people under 40 percent of the a father at just 19 years old, after a child- average family income, DeMaster points hood of insecurity. Today he is taking Emoni to register at high school. Then he out. A new 67-unit affordable housing com- begins his job search. He says he’ll take plex on NE 102nd and Glisan, created with anything offered. “Failure is not an option for me,” he says. state, city and county funds, will house fam- ilies earning from 40-60 percent of median “I just want to make my child happy. Emoni knows she has six weeks of catch- income. But with rents priced from $400 to $700, it is beyond the reach of people on ing up to do, but she is not daunted. “I want to be a judge or an attorney when welfare or those in low-waged or part-time I get older,” she says. “I like school.” work. Chair Marissa Madrigal at the day center’s launch. “The need is huge and heartbreaking, but The need is huge and heartbreaking, but the effort to meet the need is inspiring November 6, 2013 The Portland Skanner Page 3
