Is There Hope For Portland's Homeless Community?

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A sense of hopelessness can be felt around the topic of Portland's homeless population as one may feel nothing is being done to mediate the issues homeless people face. As the winter weather approaches and colder than usual temperatures appear due to La Niña, the concern for those on the street only grows. Although Portland's housing crisis can't be fixed overnight there are programs and services that are in place to help alleviate the strains of homelessness. These services are often provided at the hands of volunteers from the community. Said services are often made to meet people where they're at. This aid can range from personal care to veterinary care to housing!

Every Thursday underneath the Hawthorn bridge an organization called "Night Strike" operates and offers a plethora of services for homeless people for a limited time. According to their website Night Strike has been an ongoing organization for 20 years serving the city's homeless people. During this time people are able to access hot meals, clothing mending, and more. Organizations like night strike show the resilience of Portland’s community and the care people have for one another. 

Perhaps an overlooked aspect of the homeless community are their pets. Pet owners know how cherished their furry friends are, however, taking care of them can be costly. A service thats available three times a year is a free vet clinic provided by the Oregon Humane Society meant to help lower income and homeless people care for their pets. Needs are met on the spot with food, vaccines, and medical advice. This service takes care of the large burden of costly veterinary care.

Housing is an incredibly important need to be met especially for those on the streets as the aforementioned weather begins to change for the season. Thankfully Rent Well is a program that matches landlords with well informed renters through classes. With the help of funding, homeless people can take classes provided by this program and learn the fundamentals of renting, this top down approach of housing sets people up for life rather than offering just a temporary solution. 

Of course there's always more that can be done. These services don't pop out over night, each program mentioned above relies heavily on donations. Consider contributing to these organizations and find out more information about them below:

https://www.cityteam.org/get-involved/nightstrike

https://www.oregonhumane.org/blanchet-house-partnership/

https://technicalfta24.wixsite.com/rent-well-li


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