“Teachers have affected my life more than anyone throughout my entire life. Specifically my English teachers because it’s always been my best class. They’ve been the biggest supports that I’ve had. I’ve had English teachers take me to their house for the holidays. I’ve had English teachers over the summer invite me over.”
Back in January, the city did its biennial street count and recently released the results. Not surprisingly the levels of homelessness in Multnomah County have increased over the past couple years. Nearly 3,000 people were counted as "literally homeless" for the one night, an increase of 7-9% from the 2009 count. The count gives us a broader picture of what homelessness in Portland looks like and what the needs are, but there are some "hidden" populations that don't show up in the report.
Many of the youth p:ear serves are couch surfing, staying with friends or cycling on/off the streets. As they were not literally homeless on the night of January 26th, those youth are not in the count. Expanding the definition of homelessness to its broadest (including those who are couch surfing or in temporary housing), the report estimates the number of homeless folks in Portland to be closer to 15,000.
As the City of Portland is over half-way through its 10 year plan to end homelessness, it will be interesting to see how the results and information from the Street Count effect and guide the way we address homelessness.
To the dedicated members of p:ear,
I would like to thank you, more than I can possibly explain, for the kindness and welcoming you offered me for many years as a homeless youth in Portland, Oregon. I was once a regular at the center, and those days spent creating art with your ample resources did more for my emotional growth than any amount of money could have. Warm food, warm people, and a warm place to create was often all that kept me going through some of those cold lonely days. I just passed my 21st birthday and thought I might express my gratitude at this point. It's been four years now since I last walked through your doors or stood in your gallery, but those moments still bring me warm fuzzies. Had I never found your help, I may have never discovered my passion for photography. Had I never found your help, I may have never discovered my self worth.
I would not be the person I am today without you.
Please accept my thanks, and kindly glance over the "about me" section of my website to find mention of your support: http://meahphotography.com/Kind regards,
Mia
Recently the new Bud Clark Commons (offering housing, shelter and a day center) opened up just down the street from p:ear, and just this morning OPB's Think Out Loud tackled the issue of how we should think about and start to address the issues(s) surrounding homelessness. At p:ear, our transitional housing program is an all encompassing program designed to help young people not only find stable housing, but learn to how "live" in stable housing which means a long-term commitment from both the staff at p:ear and the youth. Success comes about from both inner strength AND a strong supporting structure.
There's an interesting discussion over at OPB about Portland's ten year plan to end homelessness and other topics. Join the discussion here.
"You know what? You are imperfect, and you wired for struggle but you are worthy of love and belonging."
November 16th is Portland's first Day of Homelessness Awareness. Organized by JOIN and focused on what faith-based organizations are going to end homelessness, the day is meant to provoke action to help Portland's homeless population. Event organizers are asking participants to forgo a "splurge" (i.e. a coffee or snack) and instead donate to one of Portland's many organizations working with the homeless population. For more information, check out this OregonLive article on the Walk of Awareness that took place this morning.
As the weather turns colder, p:ear is always on the look out for warm winter clothing especially hoodies, jackets, socks. If you'd like to make a donation, please stop by or contact us.
In Portland, Ore., another magnet for the young and homeless, the young adult segment increased by 25 percent last year, more than double the overall increase (12 percent) in homelessness for all age groups, said Natasha Detweiler, research analyst for Oregon Housing and Community Services. Oregon counted 1,595 young people in this year's one-night snapshot of homelessness. "And that's certainly an underestimate," she said.While p:ear serves as a day center, offering up a warm and safe location for kids to get a cup of coffee, use a phone and get a hot meal, we still have noticed that this population is growing. Over the past months, the number of kids we serve on a daily basis has nearly doubled. "You feed us really well here," one said while filling up a bowl with pozole (Mexican bean soup) and then grabbing a couple pieces of fresh-baked bread from Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. Read the full article here.
Last May Mobile Loaves & Fishes, an Austin-based ministry that "lifts homeless people off the streets, into gently used RVs and mobile homes and on the way to a better life," tried a unique approach to put a face on homelessness. Check out the story from Good Magazine about Danny, the homeless man who spent three days living on the catwalk of the billboard to raise $12,000 to help move him and his wife into a RV. What do you think about the campaign? An effective way to raise the profile of the issue of homelessness? Or a short-term solution that missed the root of the problem?
