Vulnerable People and Places Blog

 

  Beyond The Pages: How Portland’s Public Libraries Support Houseless and Low-Income Community Members Public libraries have always been one of cities greatest assets. They are quiet, welcoming spaces where anyone can walk through the doors without needing to buy anything. For many low-income or houseless Portlanders, libraries aren’t just community resources. They’re lifelines. At a time when the cost of living continues to climb and safe, reliable public spaces seem to shrink, public libraries serve as some of the last truly accessible, nonjudgmental places in the city. Their impact goes far beyond books on shelves. For people experiencing houselessness, simply finding a warm, dry place to rest can be a daily challenge. Portland’s public libraries provide something rare: a safe indoor environment that doesn’t require a purchase, or a reason to be there. The libraries offer comfortable seating, restrooms, a sense of calm, and a place to exist without policing. For many, this stabi...

  📸 Image from  GiveGuide.org  of Street Medicine Volunteers at a Forrest Encampment  Did you know that the average life expectancy of a homeless person is only 47 years (O’Connell, 2005)? This staggering disparity is driven by the relentless daily struggle to meet basic needs. From securing food to finding safe shelter, these barriers can interfere with their ability to attend medical appointments, receive preventive care, or manage chronic conditions. However, one innovative model has been  rolling through Portland  to bring care directly to people living outdoors:  Portland Street Medicine . 📸 Image from  BikePortand.org  of Street Medicine Volunteers Biking    Portland Street Medicine  is a coalition of volunteer social workers, medical providers, and care coordinators that are dedicated to bringing basic healthcare to our unhoused neighbors (Portland Street Medicine, n.d.). Volunteers travel on foot, by bike, or mobile v...

         Growing Roots: How Urban Green Spaces Are Protecting Community Health in Portland Cate Pocitari https://www.portland.gov/parks/community-gardens/volunteer-information    When we think about public health in Portland, most of us imagine clinics, ER visits, or long wait times for appointments. But what if one of the strongest tools we have for community well-being is something much simpler, something as ordinary as trees, gardens, and the green spaces that help us feel grounded? A recent report from the Oregon Health Authority, titled Climate, Health, and Oregon’s Urban Communities, explains how environmental changes like extreme heat and poor air quality are hitting some neighborhoods much harder than others. Areas with fewer parks and trees are facing higher temperatures, more asthma, and fewer safe places for kids to play (OHA, 2024). It shows how deeply connected our environment is to our health. The report points out something important. Ha...

  Portland has always been known for its independent, entrepreneurial spirit, with countless small businesses ranging from shops and service providers to food carts, restaurants, thrift stores, coffee shops, and corner stores that become central parts of their neighborhoods. It’s an ecosystem built on individuals, on community values, and on the idea of creating something of your own rather than serving distant corporate interests. All of this makes Portland the perfect place for a micro-income initiative that works directly with local communities and businesses. What makes this environment so powerful is that the money stays local. Every dollar spent at a small business recirculates into wages, local suppliers, and neighborhood development far more effectively than dollars spent at chain stores. Regional economic research shows that locally owned businesses return two to three times more money to the community than large corporations do. This means a micro income intuitive that pr...

Every morning looks completely different for someone who is unhoused, but the one thing that stays the same is how much effort it takes just to get their day started. Most people open their eyes and are comfortable in a warm bed, but many unhoused individuals wake up on a bench, in a doorway, or anywhere that felt safe enough to lie down the night before. Their first thought is usually about survival, like where they can clean up, where they can warm themselves, or where they can find breakfast. Some people spend their entire morning walking from place to place just trying to meet these basic needs. Even though homelessness is connected to bigger issues like high living costs, low wages, medical bills, and lack of support, those bigger ideas never fully capture what it feels like to wake up already tired and searching for somewhere safe to begin the day. As the day continues, the difficulties do not slow down. The afternoon can bring new obstacles because the streets are unpr...

         Just last week, on November 13, 2025, John Collins, a formerly unhoused individual, shared his testimony with the Portland City Council.         Six months ago, Collins was on the streets, living in a tent, getting swept off the block, only to move to the next street without any complications. One day, John was yet again swept off his street, but instead of just moving across the block, he was presented with an opportunity by an outreach worker to stay at the Multinoma safe rest village. This shelter not only allowed John to stay in a warm bed for months, but it also gave him access to amenities and help, allowing Collins to secure a full-time job and attend school as a result of this treatment.        Collin testified his approval of sweeps as long as there is an offer of help and recovery, which he says is possible because “every time I’ve called, there hasn’t been one day where they’ve said the...