June 28, 2017 The Skanner Page 3 News that while people of col- or make up more than 40 percent of the total homeless population and 35 percent of the unsheltered population, they represent only 29 percent of county’s resi- dents. Increase in sheltered, but still more homeless Since the last “point- in-time” count in 2015, the findings represent an 11.6 percent decrease in the unsheltered popula- tion – the lowest it’s been since 2009. Moreover, the shel- tered population has increased by 31 percent, “ cont’d from pg 1 Income disparity, soar- ing rents A major reason for the increase in homeless- ness, according to coun- ty figures, is the growing income disparity and rents that have far out- paced wages. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment — now far above $1,100 a month — has grown 20 times faster than the median income since 2015. For those making minimum wage, rent in- creases since 2005 have cost thousands of dol- lars more in real income, making it much more 4,177 people are without permanent housing on any given night due to the county’s ef- forts in making available 637 additional beds since January 2016. Investments in shelters and housing aid have largely been the work of A Home for Everyone, a partnership between the county, city and com- munity members. As the region’s first communi- ty-wide plan for tackling homelessness, the group has placed a record 4,600 homeless people into permanent housing in three years. That’s a 55 percent increase since 2014. Among those who found homes, 62 percent are people of color. Adding to that, more than 5,200 homeless — 67 percent of those people of color – have received prevention services since A Home for Every- one launched in 2014. Yet in two years, the county’s homeless pop- ulation has in fact in- creased by 10 percent, or 376 individuals. Mayor difficult to afford other basics like groceries and transportation. “The people that folks used to turn to in their lives for help, with may- be a room to stay, are now facing homeless- ness. That’s where we are right now,” Denis Theri- ault, spokesperson for the Joint Office of Home- less Services, told The Skanner. While Portland is sometimes character- ized as a destination for homeless and transient people, perhaps due to its moderate tempera- tures and image of public tolerance, the numbers show otherwise. According to research by city officials and Portland State Univer- sity, about 85 percent of homeless people are from the community in which they dwell. Read the rest of this story at TheSkanner.com PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED Homeless Greater Seattle Black Graduation Brandon Vaughan a graduate of Rainier Beach High School shows of his graduation cap during a little competition to see who had designed the best cap at the Greater Seattle Black Graduation 2017, June 24 at Washington Hall.  Students from high schools all over Seattle were honored for their accomplishments. Violence cont’d from pg 1 as CEO. At the heart of his mes- sage was a commitment to unity. “When we’ve made strides his- torically, we’ve been unified in a common goal,” he said. “We’re here to take a stance and have a voice.” Initiated by Hopson and Albi- na Head Start CEO Ron Herndon, the public forum was headed by a panel of some of Portland’s prom- inent Black leaders. Its intent was to draw Black men whose pres- ence, according to organizers, has been missing. “When you talk about voices around the violent issues that are happening, the Black men are not there in mass, there’s no unified effort,” Hopson told a group of reporters, which included The Skanner. Wednesday’s meeting was about fortifying that effort. “Realistically, there’s a lot of things that are better, but it’s not nearly as good as it ought to be,” Hopson said. He mentioned SEI’s success in boosting graduation rates for Black students, in the face of persistent unemployment and “ When we’ve made strides historically, we’ve been uni- fied in a com- mon goal criminal activity. “We still have a long way to go… But I look at all of these Black men who care and have congregated here, it gives me energy.” Ronnie Herndon, who moved to Portland in 1968 from Harlem, reflected on the socio-econom- ic plight of Blacks at that time. Some 50 years on, he believes the core issues remain the same: un- employment and a lack of decent housing and education. “But what’s important is that people still have the spirit to want to change,” said Herndon. “People are here to listen and their ques- tions are about the next steps.” Recent violence has been sent shockwaves through the Portland and Black neighborhoods in par- ticular. “Our community is under siege,” said panelist Rev. Dr. Le- Roy Haynes, Jr. of the Allen Tem- ple and the Albina Ministerial Alliance. He likened the resurgence of White supremacist activity to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. “White supremacy will not win,” continued Haynes. “We are not going back. We will move for- ward.” He also acknowledged the ne- cessity of Portland’s police to be “community-oriented and willing to respect Black men and boys.” Read more at TheSkanner.com cont’d from pg 1 street homelessness. We’ve obviously, now, successfully passed our housing bond, and we’ve put into place both the advisory committee and the oversight committee that will be responsible for making sure that that $250 million in- vestment in workforce and lower-in- come housing is very successful. I’ve worked with Commissioner (Chloe) Eudaly to make sure that all of the thou- sands of workforce and lower-income housing units that are in the pipeline for permitting, that we see those go from permit to actually shovels in the ground and cranes in the air. We now have what I would describe as the most aggressive climate action plan in the United States. And it inten- tionally is a just climate action plan, meaning that everybody in the commu- nity who is impacted by the plan – in- cluding lower-income folks, including people who are not typically invited to the table, including communities of col- or — are very much part of the process, and gain the economic benefits from making investments in renewable en- ergy strategies, infrastructure, R & D, educational opportunities. We’re working hand in glove with the Coali- tion of Communities of Color to make sure that everybody benefits from that program. So those are just some of the things we’ve done in six months. TSN: You appoint a lot of boards and commissions. On some public boards “ and supporting new leadership at city hall, supporting new leadership on my team, that I think is more reflective of the community that we’re going to see in the future. I don’t need to lecture you on demographic change, but people are keenly aware of the fact that for school- aged kids under the age of 10, we have a minority-majority community. My question as mayor is, are we doing ev- My question as mayor is, are we doing every- thing on the civic side to ensure that this next generation of leaders is ready to take the lead and commissions, people will serve six or eight terms. Do you think those boards can become stagnated? TW: I do think that’s a possibility, and as communities change — particular- ly a community changing as rapidly as Portland is — I think it is healthy to bring new people onto boards. I’m very proud, actually, of my record in the first six months, in terms of bringing new people onto boards and commissions erything on the civic side to ensure that this next generation of leaders is ready to take the lead in all institutions -- not just government, but the private sector, the nonprofit and philanthrop- ic sectors? We’ve got to make sure that we’re setting the table for this next gen- eration to not only be fully participa- tory in a meaningful way but also that they are ready to lead. And I’m highly committed to that. TSN: On police reform, why did you decide to take the search for a new po- lice chief nationwide, and where are we at with that? TW: First of all, we have to go back. Former Mayor Hales had a problem with his police chief. He lost his police chief and he appointed Chief Marsh- man to be the police chief. I was, of course, in the final throes of my may- oral campaign and I was asked, would I just stick with that chief or would I do a national search? I said I would do a na- tional search. I think it is very important in this position to make sure that given the changes that are taking place in the community, given the changes that are taking place nationally around polic- ing, it’s very important to me, as the po- lice commissioner, to make sure that I have a police chief that is on board with the stated reforms that I put on the ta- ble during my campaign. Read the full interview at TheSkanner.com