Vulnerable People and Places Blog

Families and people experiencing homelessness sleep on couches in sheds, garages, abandoned buildings, and backyard tents in the Portland, Oregon, area. There are a couple of different lifestyles. Real-life examples are provided below.  Cardboard—Many people today compare Storage spaces to cardboard boxes. Although they're not perfect, they withstand the risks of the street and are dry and secure. Additionally, they provide a means for people to retain part of their possessions instead of giving them up or stealing them. Automobiles—It's hard to remain stationary when your house is mobile. You have to constantly move to avoid getting caught by the police and facing costly fines for sleeping in a car or parking illegally. You'll never feel completely comfortable. Most of the time the situation gets worse when the bad weather hits. Homeless individuals in Portland change course as the rain comes back. They relocate behind buildings and bridges or zip up their tent doors. Th...

  While summer is still in full swing, the promise of the fall and winter are not far behind, and with them bring different challenges for the homeless population. Extreme heat may be one of the deadliest of the severe weather types, but the colder temps  and wetter climate of autumn and winter can be just as deadly.  Each year, 700 people experiencing homelessness die from hypothermia. Symptoms to watch out for include: memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness, shivering, and potentially frostbite. It is imperative for anyone experiencing these symptoms and/or a body temperature below 95°F to seek immediate medical attention.  During times of severe cold weather, there are seasonal shelters open to provide aid, here’s a list of those available in multnomah county (2021-2022): Walnut Park Shelter, 5329 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd.; 80 beds, operated by Transition Projects  Downtown Winter Shelter (former Greyhound Station), 550 N.W. 6th Ave.; 96 beds, operated b...