Vulnerable People and Places Blog

                                    Volunteer for Project Homeless Connect: Washington County            The issue of homelessness in the Portland Metropolitan Area has been increasing lately.  Project Homeless Connect: Washington county could really use your help as a volunteer to work for their organization either as a volunteer at one of their events or as a volunteer behind closed doors working with their organization.  There are many options, even if you wish to just be a one-time volunteer at one of their events, I believe it would be  a very rewarding experience.  Since 2006 “Project Homeless Connect: Washington County” has been providing homeless American citizens with access to critical resources (hot food and water), services, shelter and housing.  Highly powered by volunteers, Project Home...

Going for Broke with Ray Suarez is a podcast by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project and The Nation which, in its host’s words, shares “Stories of people living tough times and conversations about solutions that give us hope.” Suarez interviews individuals who have gained valuable insights from their hardships in order to derive possible solutions for the struggles experienced daily by Americans “on the edge.” Two of the podcast's episodes, those from October 18 and November 15, highlight homelessness in America as experienced by women who have previously lost their housing security and employment. Such episodes—and such real-life accounts of homelessness from everyday people—can destigmatize homelessness for those who are quick to presume the dishonesty, laziness, and unworthiness of those they observe on the streets. I will be alluding to and connecting the following accounts with a few articles centered on Portland, Oregon's houselessness crisis in particular as well. In...

  Photo by Jonathan Kho Ming Jun on Unsplash This isn't a problem subject to one place. This is a problem that grows in areas unknown. They hide in caves. The hide in forests. They hide in areas they know no one will go.  While yes, they're safer here, And no, we don't have many here- They're still here. They come out in the daylight and stand on the corner. They ask politely, "may I have a quarter?" No. No.  Yes. Here's a dollar. No. Get a job. They make so little,  It's their innocence that's robbed. Nobody listens. Not to us, at least. We're too far from the source. "They're better off there–I'm sure they can work." Maybe this is why everyone goes. Maybe they're tired of feeling alone. Maybe. We shouldn't leave them alone.

  When people think about homelessness in Oregon, many tend to associate the word with Portland. While it is true that Portland is one of the most prominent homeless hotspots in the state, let us not forget those who live in rural areas. Homelessness is an issue in many parts of the state, and we must also recognize small regions. According to  Housing and homelessness are issues in rural Oregon, too   by Eric Mortenson for The Other Oregon, housing is difficult to come by due to wealthier out-of-state individuals who create a competitive housing market with their high bid victories. Many locals looking to start a family can not afford it because of the lack of housing or the high prices. To make matters worse, the minimum wage in rural areas is too low to live sustainably. For instance, the minimum wage in non-urban areas like Douglas, Klamath, Malheur, and others is $12.50. These people can not rely on community resources because there are not enough to pass around; Mor...

          Have you ever been wandering through the grocery store and wondered "what do they do with all the leftover food in the display cases?" Sadly, the truth in most cases is that the food gets discarded and, in some cases doused with chemicals to prevent those who are in need from digging through dumpsters in hopes to put food in their bellies.  The people at Urban Gleaners are here to give a helping hand and prevent waste. In 2017, the organization of the Urban Gleaners came to be by a group of locals in Portland, Oregon who found grocers, restaurants, corporate campuses, event sites, colleges, farms, and food wholesalers who are willing to donate their "leftovers" to those in need.  At their website (link below), you can find the distribution schedules that details where they will be in the city and at what times. Urban Gleaners do not discriminate against anyone in need of food and do not require proof of anything. https://urbangleaners.or...

  LGBTQ persons facing homelessness additionally face further hardships when seeking resources. LGBTQ youth often face discriminated and targeting when compared to heteronormative individuals. Further transgender persons are often targets of abuse and are often turned away by shelters. A study conducted by UCLA Williams Institute found that 40% of homeless youth assisted by agencies identify as “LGBTQ”. Without adequate support, LGBTQ persons facing homelessness are more likely to remain unhoused. Unhoused LGBTQ youth consistently cite discrimination from families or school as the primary factor contributing to being unhoused. Advocating for LGBTQ persons is the first step in taking action against queer youth homelessness. Creating safer environments at school allowsLGBTQ  persons to continue education, making chronic homelessness less likely. Additionally schools and institutions must make the effort to look for youths facing discrimination at home or experiencing hidden home...

Shelter and safe housing should be human rights however it continues as a global problem, leaving an estimated 1.6 billion people (2020, UN-Habitat) under inadequate housing conditions and 15 million facing forced evictions. Homelessness could happen to anyone, but the reasons for losing housing and experience living differ for each person. Generally in the United States the un housed populated exists in 4 groups. 1 Transitional Homelessness Transitional homelessness is usually due to sudden life changes or events such as a fire or flood. Those who face this type of homelessness often still have jobs but are unable to afford other housing and living costs.  This type of homelessness is often faced by younger populations, who may be more vulnerable under this condition. Additionally those in the LGBTQ community face further challenges as they are vulnerable to discrimination. One of the most common factors contributing to LGBTQ homeless is family harassment and discrimination based ...