Vulnerable People and Places Blog

 Have you ever walked through downtown Portland and noticed rows of tents lining the streets? Often, we might just glance at them and keep walking. In Portland, this scene is becoming increasingly common. But what’s more concerning isn’t the sight itself, but the growing problem behind it. When you walk through downtown and see people pushing shopping carts or wrapped in blankets, have you ever wondered what if, one day, that person were you? Homelessness may seem like something far removed from our lives, but in reality, it can happen to anyone. A single job loss, an unexpected medical bill, or a rent hike can suddenly strip a person with a stable life of everything they have. Today, more and more people are being pushed out of their lives and onto the streets, yet we habitually turn a blind eye. The question isn’t why they’re there, but, why is this becoming increasingly common? The issue of homelessness is not merely about “people without homes”; behind it lie rising housing cos...

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash When Portland's 2021 heat dome killed 69 people in a single week, most of us pictured the same thing: someone unhoused, caught outside with nowhere to go. It's a reasonable assumption. People sleeping on pavement during a 116-degree afternoon should be in the most danger, and they are at risk. But the medical examiner's data tells a different story, and it's one worth sitting with. Of those 69 deaths during the heat dome, four were homeless . The other 65 were people who lived in houses and apartments. The 2022 heat wave was similar: of five confirmed heat deaths, only one person was unhoused. In summer 2024, Multnomah County recorded 14 heat-associated deaths, and again, just one of those people was without a home. Two out of every three people who have died from extreme heat in Multnomah County since 2021 were men over 50. Most lived alone. Most did not have working air conditioning, or did not turn it on. That desc...

 Beyond the Stereotypes: Understanding the Real Causes of Homelessness in Portland                                                        Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press Homelessness in Portland is often talked about in very simple terms. Many people assume it is mainly caused by addiction or poor personal choices. While those factors can play a role, the reality is much more complicated. Homelessness is usually the result of several challenges happening at the same time, including rising housing costs, mental health struggles, and limited access to support services. One of the biggest contributors is the cost of housing. Over the past decade, rent in Portland has increased significantly, making it difficult for many working individuals and families to afford stable housing. Even people with steady jobs ...

Per their website, Rose Haven is a day shelter that aids women & children who are experiencing abuse, loss of their home or other major, disruptive life events. Rose Haven aims to be equitable and inclusive, providing meals, an  on-site wellness clinic , clothing, mailing addresses, hygiene services such as showers, laundry services and restrooms, as well as educational programs which focus on guiding participants through social and medical services in Portland. On Wednesdays, Rose Haven offers primary care with a focus on herbal and nutritional counseling, provided by student physicians supervised by a licensed provider from National University of Natural Medicine. Rose Haven's guest calendar  shows a full schedule through March, including resources such as meetings with Department of Health Services coordinations, family law clinics, acupuncture & natural medicine, as well as haircuts and social activities such as beading, yarn group, collage art & sewing. ...

  Music is one of the most universal languages in the world. Everyone in this world listen at least once a day hears a piece of music whether that is on their drive to work or school, while shopping, walking past a restaurant. Music is everywhere. It is the one thing that connects all.  Music serves as a way to express thoughts or feeling, also a way to relax. It makes you feel good, it cheers you up when you're down. The benefit of music is a lot for humans.  While music can be performed as a solo act, it is a so much funner when it's done as group. Social connections are built when working with other musician and great community is created.  AMP(Artist Mentorship Program) is a non-profit that supports Youth that are currently homeless. They provide a safe space and a community where they can connect musically. They believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to express theirselves. This is important because the it provides the chance and experience for these kid...

  In cities like Portland homelessness is often caused by the rising cost of housing, placing a financial barrier between a human and shelter. To make matters worse legal barriers exist that compound with financial barriers to increase the struggle of regaining stability. For individuals, living on the streets can lead to citations for camping violations, or loitering. With no way to pay, these citations eventually accumulate as legal debt, creating an unbreakable cycle that is nearly impossible to escape. This accumulation of legal debt not only widens the financial barrier but also affects someone's credit, employment opportunities and access to housing.  The Oregon Law Center is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that serves low income or houseless individuals and families. One of the organizations most impactful service is providing legal assistance to individuals facing fines that are caused directly or indirectly from living unhoused.  Through legal representat...

    In Portland, pets are often one of the only companions and forms of stability that people experiencing homelessness have. In Portland it is estimated that 5%-10% of people experiencing homelessness are pet owners with some specific areas reporting 20%-25% of houseless individuals owning pets.   Portland Animal Welfare Team or PAW Team began their work in the early 1990s as just a group of volunteer veterinarians before officially founding the nonprofit in 2003. The goal of this nonprofit organization is to provide free or low cost veterinarian care for pets and animals that belong to people experiencing extreme poverty and homelessness.  PAW Team offers their services through outreach and pop up veterinary clinics to make pet treatment more accessible. Their mobile outreach technique allows individuals to gain access to pet treatment by meeting the pet owners where they are, such as shelters, camps, and community resource centers, instead of making pet owner...