Vulnerable People and Places Blog

This November, the Portland City Council started a major project in regard to houselessness in Portland. The solution to this well-known problem? Government-regulated mass housing while banning street camping. Worries about lack of community input, essentially criminalizing houseless individuals living on the streets, and a variety of other issues are highlighted as this multi-million dollar project ensues. It is truly worrying when a project that affects so many people has no, or very little, input in the production and execution of the final result. It will be important to see how this project concludes, or if changes are made due to public opinion. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/11/17/portland-oregon-camping-ban-housing-homeless-homelessness-shelters/

In terms of the impact homelessness can have on a person, it’s common knowledge that it is not a pleasant state. However, while most people think about this in terms of not having access to shelter, there are several other impacts of being homeless that can have just as bad an effect. Additionally, the way these issues connect with and compound each other further shows some of the other problems homelessness creates; demonstrating both why it is so difficult, and why the homeless deserve help.   One effect of being homeless that is important to mention is the lack of modern appliances. While this sounds bad and of itself, more specifically, it means the homeless are unable to store food, regularly ensure they’re as sanitary as possible, or securely store their belongings; to name a few of the problems this creates. This emphasizes just how big a deal this is, and it is an aspect of homeless not often fully or comprehensively discussed or portrayed.  Another effect of being hom...

The issue of homelessness is universally understood to be an important one. However, efforts aiming to come up with an effective solution for solving it are hampered by several factors. An example of this, and one with the highest levels of impact in this regard, is a series of widespread misconceptions that impact how people go about designing such solutions, as well as how they view the homeless in general. This not only makes it more difficult to aid the homeless, but in some instances also causes them to be unfairly portrayed in such a way that denigrates them for factors that were beyond their control.   One of the most prevalent examples of a misconception about the homeless is the idea that they are homeless through some fault of their own, whether that be financial irresponsibility, or substance abuse. However, there are other reasons people can become homeless. For example, through unfair economic practices by financial institutions they use, that result in people losing t...

          Since 1949, the Portland Rescue mission has been dedicated to making a difference by serving the community by ministering to men, women and children who suffer from addiction, hunger and homelessness in the Portland Metro Area. The Portland rescue mission has very humble beginnings. In 1949, John Van Diest, Sr., a Portland resident began the Portland Rescue Mission's legacy by serving soup and sandwiches out of his family car to hungry homeless individuals on the streets. These acts of compassion and kindness by John Van Diest, a Portland native and Christian man of faith had eventually blossomed and evolved into a modest soup kitchen on Burnside Street. John and his wife Tress would purchase the groceries and food supplies themselves to help feed the community. By 1954, the Portland Rescue Mission had officially been established and had moved to its current location at 111 Burnside Street, Portland Oregon. According to the Portland Rescue Mission...

       Every year we notice an increase in rent that we can't do anything about. A lot of the time, most middle-class people are already struggling to find good-paying jobs, and now we have to deal with rent that is skyrocketing every year. According to the State of Oregon's Office of Economic Analysis , next year's rent increase should not exceed 14.6%, which is a jump from 2022, which was 9.9%. As we expect that much increase, we can also expect more people to lose their homes.      In the  Supportive Housing Services Annual Report , the number of people experiencing homelessness rose during the covid time. And now that we are anticipating a much higher increase in rent cap, we will need to make sure that people know where to find help when they need it before it is too late. Prevention is always best for every situation and issue in the world.       With that being said, the Joint Office of Homeless Services has been establ...

A sweep of a homeless camp underway.  Source: Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian With homelessness becoming an increasingly visible problem within the Portland Metro, the Pacific Northwest, and the United States as a whole, communities hope for solutions to come forward quickly as the amount of homeless camps grows. Not all of these observers are particularly sympathetic: many find them to be unsightly, dirty, or concerning for their local safety. Instead of expanding support services to assist the people living in these camps, the city police conduct sweeps to clear them out of the area they have set up in. Police sweeps on homeless camps are not a new phenomenon, but with such a large and growing homeless population, they have increased the practice. During a police sweep, homeless individuals are forced to leave the area that they have created shelter for themselves and their personal belongings, often losing much, most, or all of their property in the process. Homeless people are some...

A short song for reflection on our blog's topic A few years ago, in 2017, a previous contributor to this blog composed and released an original piece of music that both encapsulated the author's emotions in regards to vulnerable people, and offered a moment of respite from the emotionally potent topic surrounding this blog. Inspired by that post, I decided to do the same -- compose an original piece of music that can accompany a moment of calm reflection.  The somewhat somber piano lead reflects the oftentimes somber discussions revolving around vulnerable people and places. The prominent, stripped back beat drives us, at a steady pace, through our short reflection on this blog, the work we aim to do, and the problems we seek to help solve. The woodwinds near the latter half of the song add some airy beauty to the situation, reminding us of the positive effects our emotionally demanding work can have. I hope, within the next few years, another contributor can carry on this trad...

  Did you know that between November 12 - November 20 each year,  there is something  called Hunger and Homelessness Awareness?  There’s various ways one can help whether it’s locally, on a state level or even nationally. At more than 700 locations, one  can participate in events such as packing meals. As a PSU student, the university has  their own page for events that help out this organization. Essentially one can volunteer, donate and educate themselves on the subject surrounding  Homelessness and how it inevitably is entwined with hunger. In addition,  those who go on to participate in groups will also get the opportunity  to fundraise for local service providers. It can be traced back to Villanova University, where it was founded in 1975. Participating in a Hunger & Homelessness Awareness is quite easy, and if your school isn’t already doing one, you can register for it here .  Something that also drew me to learn more about ...

As reported by April Ehrlich for OPG , a controversial plan crafted by Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Dan Ryan that will ban street camping and enforce the houseless to move into city-run and government-funded encampments was approved by the city council on November 3rd. The city council is moving forward with the $27 million package for the plan and will begin by building "at least six campsites" while moving toward a camping ban over the next 18 months. Those opposed to the plan view Wheeler and Ryan’s concoction as a “thinly veiled way of criminalizing homelessness,” some going as far as to refer to the planned mass shelters as “concentration camps for unhoused people.”  According to Ehrlich’s article, Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was the only city council member to vote no on the spending package, stating:  “I am concerned that there is no transparency into what’s being built, and very concerned there is no public community oversight…I am very concerned that the peo...

  For many of us, sitting in front of a TV screen, and just watching some mindless tv show is good fun. It helps decompress from a long day at school, and/or work. A guilty pleasure of mine is Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. However, on the fourteenth episode of the twelfth season titled: "Shameless Not Ruthless", I could not believe the level of delusion and lack of self-awareness these affluent women showed. To summarize, Dorit Kemsley, one of the housewives featured in the show spoke about a charity that she had been working on called Homeless Not Toothless . Their mission statement states that this “501c3 nonprofit has provided free dental care to disadvantaged populations including Veterans, the homeless, poor, mentally ill, physically disabled, foster youth, domestic violence survivors, and the elderly, in the greater Los Angeles and surrounding areas since 1991. A particular focus is on veterans with disabilities including PTSD. Patients receive denta...

From John Galliano’s spring 2000 couture collection for Christian Dior, to N. Hoolywood's fall show in 2017, to Kanye West’s streetwear brand Yeezy, it seems that one man’s trash really is another man’s treasure. But at what expense? Kanye West’s tattered and overpriced  clothes may be the most recent example of the fashion industry exploiting the homeless, but he certainly won’t be the last. When confronted, many will claim that what they are doing is  simply raising awareness. But in reality, what all these people and fashion brands are doing is simply reaping the benefits of the situation that they are exploiting. Furthermore, many of these designers will point out how homelessness is hidden in our culture. Thus, they naively assume that by putting on these “homeless-chic” fashion shows, that it is a form of activism because they are supposedly raising awareness. My counterpoint to this sentiment would be that if raising awareness was the goal, for one they would raise mone...

Mexico, whose official name is  the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. It is the 10th-most-populous country and has the most Spanish-speakers. In many ways, the Covid-19 pandemic only heightened the homeless crisis, which has been an ongoing issue for this Latin American country. In early 2020,  according to France24 , approximately 12 million Mexicans stopped working in April after quarantine measures were introduced by the government to curtail the spread of Covid-19. Unfortunately, this led to an estimated 2.8 million people to be out of work in June. According to Mexico's National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy, it was expected that the number of people living in poverty could climb to 62.2 million in 2020. Which i...

 Original Artwork by Ryan Fahlman-Katler As winter months rapidly approach, and many people think of the holidays, family, and warm food and drinks, it is important to remember the homeless population. Individuals without a warm or safe place to stay or a warm meal to fill their stomachs. This original artwork is meant to strike a feeling of loneliness, cold, and hopefully, a feeling of motivation for action towards affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing for those in need. 

           While there are many reasons why a lot of people's  unfortunate fate has led to homelessness, one of the major reasons are unemployment-where some of those results from being previously incarcerated. While there are many reasons why a lot of people's unfortunate fate has led to homelessness, one of the major reasons is unemployment—where some of those results from being previously incarcerated. Most businesses may know the benefits of hiring former inmates, but do they actually hire them? According to Out of Prison & Out of Work , 2008 data shows that former inmates are unemployed at a rate of more than 27%. This data shows that most businesses still have doubts about hiring former inmates.       Today we can change that together—if you are a business owner or hiring manager, consider hiring former inmates because:   Prior training – most inmates will more than likely have prior experiences during their...

Walking around Portland, Oregon and many, many other metropolitan cities we are often left with the image of someone living on the street as we pass by living our daily lives.  The issue of homelessness has left us desensitized to the atrocities that happen under our own noses. Tackling homelessness in a society like that of the United States often feels impossible to many yet countries like Denmark prove to us every day that it can be possible, if only we implement the correct strategies. For years now the Danish people have excelled in helping their people to the extent that only 1%(about 10,000 people) of the population struggles with housing issues. Although not totally eradicated we can use Denmark's strategies as a blueprint for a better future for all citizens around the world. So what exactly works and how can we put that to use in a country Like the United States who struggles with this issue?  Since 2009 Denmark's Ministry of Internal & Social Affairs has impleme...

Being homeless as a young and/or marginalized person brings much more challenges than there would be as an adult- while they may be able to stay at school for the day, during breaks or otherwise, it becomes a source of insecurity and fear for where they may be able to stay next. Some shelters, if any are near, may also only be catered to for adults, or any job opportunities they could have are next to none, certainly not a livable wage either. But some organizations, like Outside In- are here to help those youth.  Outside In is an organization that assists homeless youth and other marginalized people with breaking the cycle of homelessness while also being a valuable provider of health care and other health services. Though a lot of what they do spans beyond that, like helping young people find stable housing, providing services for the LGBTQ+, behavioral health, employment services, substance abuse help- and more. Their success stories are definitely something to be looked at, as ...