Vulnerable People and Places Blog

Winter in a number of cities and regions brings in a number of hazards, hypothermia and frostbite being the most lethal and abundant in said season. During the summer, exposure to the elements also brings many dangers like extreme dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Warming centers are temporary and for daytime visits in which anyone can take refuge from the cold and harsh conditions of winter, whereas warming shelters are equipped for overnight stays. On the other hand, cooling centers serve virtually the same purpose but to alleviate discomfort and reduce danger during hot temperatures. These centers also often provide other services like free food and beverages for anyone who requires aid.  All forms of these protection centers are deeply needed in cities that are likely to experience drastic ranges in temperature on either side of the spectrum. The immense level of socioeconomic inequality, among a number of other reasons, leaves populations like the homeless, low i...

  At 22 years old my uncle’s world crumbled. At the time he and his 13-year-old brother had been living with their aunt. Their mother was in Mexico and they had never met their dad. Imagine having only one person as your support and then suddenly losing it all. Their aunt had kicked them out of their home and they had nowhere else to go. With no family support or resources, they ended up having to live in my uncle's car — a beat-up sedan that was their only source of safety. Life was tough for both of them, but it was more so for my uncle’s brother who had a disability and depended on my uncle for almost everything. The car was more than just a shelter; it was where my uncle took the dual role of a caregiver and guardian. At night they would park the car in quiet areas, hoping to stay out of sight. My uncle would let his brother sleep in the back seat so he'd have a little more room to lie down but the tight space made it difficult to feel comfortable. Meanwhile, my uncle ...

By: Ian McMeekan There are many people in Portland who have just been denied their only source of shelter. Imagine yourself in this scenario,  you don’t have a house and different problems from your past are keeping you from getting an apartment. Now imagine your only source of shelter is your tent and all of the sudden the city is making it illegal for you to set up this last source of sanctuary. This is the reality for so many people in the houseless community in Portland as of July first 2024. This is because of a new law passed early last summer. This is problematic because it forces the houseless to find some other way to have shelter in the cold wet climate of the pacific northwest and more specifically in the city of Portland. Yet there are laws that assist the houseless in serarios like this. One such law is the “ Martin v. Boise decision, which ruled cities cannot outlaw camping unless they have enough shelter beds available for the homeless population.” reports Sophie Pee...

With temperatures dropping, it is important to care for our homeless population as they are most vulnerable to the severe weather conditions. Oregon winters can be dangerous with temperatures dropping below freezing at night. These low temperatures can put those outside at risk of health conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite.  Last year shelters in Multnomah County closed due to “severe weather” which put many people without stable housing at risk. While warming shelters were still accessible during the day, having safe shelter at night is essential during these harsh weather conditions. Many houseless individuals were kicked out of the shelters and forced to sleep outside on the ice covered streets following the freezing rain. The county has “thresholds” that must be reached in order for them to open their severe weather shelters. These thresholds include temperatures of 25 ℉ or below, snow accumulation of one inch or more, and temperatures of 32 ℉ or below with one inch of...

  Mental Health and Homelessness: The Effects, Obstacles in overcoming, and Potential of Stability Society’s view of the homeless has historically been filled with blame and short on compassion with true understanding. The many obstacles in achieving financial security are not unknown, but it seems that when some achieve stability it becomes harder to understand why others can not. Many different factors are in play leading a person to homelessness and the challenges can seem to feed off of one another, creating cyclical homelessness. In working towards eliminating as much homelessness as possible it will be necessary to reshape the way the houseless are perceived. One of the most important matters to consider in understanding what leads to and contributes to homelessness is the effect of such instability on mental health. PREVALENCE of mental health issues among homeless community Not only have people with mental health disorders been found disproportionately more likely to st...