What people experiencing homelessness have to say.

 It's 2024, and not only is the Portland Oregon area experiencing one of the worst winters in recorded history, it's also U.S. primary election season. Without delving too deeply into the political side of Portland Oregon, it's important to note the climates (both literally and figuratively) because I've learned over the years that the resources and services available for some of our most vulnerable populations largely depends on who is in office.

I don't mean who our president is, I'm talking about all levels of government because almost anyone who can pick up a mobile device can easily recognize that any Nations "Commander in Chief" is really just a political puppet, sure they're the head puppet but they're a pawn in a rigged game of who has the power. For this reason, I am thankful the United States at least has term limits for the President because it's evident that with enough money and resources, you won't be impeached, or convicted when you've committed several felonies. Don't become homeless in the U.S. though, you'll go to jail for it, and the U.S. Supreme Court will have to step in to decide if these laws are even constitutional. 

With this lens on, I started my Google search of articles that discuss the housing crisis in my hometown, beautiful and vibrant, Portland Oregon. I drill even further down specifically to the folks experiencing homelessness, and what they have to say about the state of Portland since the Pandemic began in 2020.

I strongly believe that if anyone is going to come up with solutions that actually help those folks experiencing houselessness, or, are on the verge of this, we need to ask them what their take is on the subjects. They are after all the ones living with these circumstances that have not only been the topic of heated debates all over the world, but, there are laws made for folks who fall on hard times and lose stable housing. In many parts of the World, even still in the U.S., being poor and houseless is a crime punishable by civil penalties and jail time, through various avenues, some of which are discussed in the article 5 ways being poor is a crime. As a solution, many (housed) folks echo statements similar to "If only they would just go get a job, pull themselves up by their bootstraps like I did, then they'd all have McMansions like I do!" If only. 

The OPB article sought to document perspectives straight from the front line of this crisis, those living in wet tents and other make shift shelters in Portland's (old/historic) Downtown area. While it's true that many unhoused folks struggle with things like addiction and mental health, some interviewed were unhoused by choice. Many of them wanted to simply be left alone. 

Daniel Toole is one person OPB interviewed and his statement is that he often gets frustrated with what he sees as a lack of willpower on the part of city officials who could be working towards solutions. Daniel also disclosed to OPB during his interview that he struggles with his own mental health and he gets upset when he hears people say things like "just get a job". 

The trick here is, how do the voices of so many people experiencing these circumstances become so amplified that neither end of the political party spectrum can continue to deny what's going on, as well as continue to ignore the lived experiences of folks on the streets? That's where organizations like Transitions Projects come in, who work diligently to provide every resource available to these folks. Their work not only helps to rehouse people experiencing homelessness, but, they also provide the foundation for overall stabilization by connecting them to the wraparound services available in the Portland Metro area. Without help from organizations like theirs, and others like Blanchet House of Hospitality, the data for lives lost to factors related to homelessness would be even more voluminous. 

Except that these are people, not just data points to put into a fancy graph so those sitting at home in their comfortable, warm abodes can comprehend what homelessness actually looks like from a quantifiable perspective, and give their opinions to any social platform that allows it. Every human deserves a safe, stable place to call home from which they can grow and reach new potential in their lives, and this fact should not be a constant card for political games, anymore than it should be social media content for anyone to consume, then spew out their opinions online like the mental vomit so much of these discussions are. 

Not everyone starts from the same place, or has the same opportunities in life and this has become more evident as we allow ourselves to have these difficult discussions. Why then, would we expect everyone to be able to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps", if not everyone even owns a pair of boots? I urge anyone who reads my thoughts here to also read the articles I've shared, and think deeply about how you would feel, and what would become of you, if you lost your job, or got sick and couldn't take care of your life as usual? What if we didn't have family, friends or savings accounts (resources) to fall back on? What if the people in this article were you? You can't simply say "that would never be me" because that statement is just as complicated as the solutions to this very real crisis of being homeless. Listening to the words of the people living this, must be part of our discussions. We will not find solutions without seeing this crisis for what is, a societal ill, not simply the moral failing of each person experiencing houselessness that many in positions of power would like the general public to believe, and reiterate. 

Sources cited in this post:

Homeless in the U.S.: The Supreme Court will decide whether local anti-homeless laws are “cruel and unusual” | AP News. (2024, January 12). AP News. https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-homelessness-encampment-sweeps-cities-92ee954dfe2e32d892e9a73e25f16ae3

5 ways being poor is a crime: 5 Ways Being Poor is a Crime - Inequality.org. (2017, May 30). Inequality.org. https://inequality.org/research/5-ways-poor-crime/

People experiencing homelessness in Portland weigh in on solutions: Miller, J. S. |. C. G. |. D. (2022, April 20). People experiencing homelessness in Portland weigh in on solutions. Opb. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/04/20/conversations-with-people-experiencing-homelessness-in-portland-oregon/

Transitions Project: Transition projects. (n.d.). Transition Projects. https://www.tprojects.org/

Blanchet House of Hospitality: Webadmin. (n.d.). Blanchet House. https://blanchethouse.org/

Header Photo credit: Miller, J. S. |. C. G. |. D. (2022b, April 20). People experiencing homelessness in Portland weigh in on solutions. Opb. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/04/20/conversations-with-people-experiencing-homelessness-in-portland-oregon/

Footer Photo credit: Sabatier, J. (2021, May 24). New rules aimed at homeless encampments in Portland could undermine trust, according to researcher. Opb. https://www.opb.org/article/2021/05/21/new-rules-aimed-at-homeless-encampments-in-portland-could-undermine-trust-according-to-researcher/