Frost or Fever

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                                                                                                                                                                             (KATU photo – Tristan Fortsch – Jan. 11 2017)

            With 2020 bringing us a pandemic, fires burning left and right in the summer time, and a stressful presidential election, 2021 presents 6+ inches of snow in the Portland area (KOIN, 2021) and at least 80,000 people without power (Williams, 2021). This was yet another stressful week for Portlanders, as many had difficulty logging onto classes, getting to their jobs (if they had a job to go to at all), or even leaving their driveways. Still, with over 4,000 people homeless in Multnomah County and at least 2,000 of those people sleeping outside (Vespa, 2021), I can't help but think how blessed we are that a snow storm is, for the most of us, the least of our problems. But I'm happy to report that many of these individuals braving the winter from the streets were presented a few options. Some of you might have noticed the increasing amount of shelters and portable restrooms in the greater Portland area. Heating pods have also been installed in a handful of outdoor camps thanks to government funding. Problem is, we are still admits a major pandemic leaving homeless people a classic catch-22: go inside the shelters and risk contracting COVID-19, or stay outside and hope they don't freeze to death. A pretty morbid conservation to be having in the 21st century, especially in a country such as the United States, don't you think?

So, how can we help homeless people especially in the winter time? Portland Rescue Mission will tell you. Follow the link below:

https://portlandrescuemission.org/news/about-homelessness/5-ways-to-help-someone-homeless-this-winter/

#homeless #homelessness #covid #love #help #charity #community #poverty #donate #coronavirus #homelesslivesmatter #nonprofit #volunteer #streetphotography #helpingothers #support #photography #homelesspeople #giveback #homelessnessawareness #street #humanity #art #food #hope #endhomelessness #losangeles #helpthehomeless #life #bhfyp


Posted by Hanna Benson
Communication and Advertising major at Portland State University



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