Here's how many efforts help homelessness - Matthew Birdzell

By Matthew Birdzell   10/1918.

My campus job allows me to drive or walk around campus every shift. The exercise is nice. I've noticed, though, that our part of Portland - far downtown - seems quite clean. There's not a lot of trash on sidewalks; its maintained nicely by the hard working janitors and other staff. That, or I'm not seeing what others may see.

When you drift off campus grounds, it starts to become a little more messy. Some areas could be clean; just leaves from the fall trees pilling up. Make your way to the Safeway past the west end of campus, or even further - around the Pioneer Courthouse area. What do you see? People suffering from a common issue - nowhere to call home, a nice place to lay their head, and grub in their bellies. Portland has a big problem with homelessness, hunger, and addition. We may not directly see it everyday, but its out there. And not just downtown.

I would think by now some would attempt formulating ideas to combat the problems - come up with solutions and ways to fund and encourage them in the public. This would get seen by the wider city. Businesses would contribute, and the hard work would continue for creating affordable housing for those that need it. However, I think there's already been work done in all of these areas.

Volunteer non-profit organizations that depend solely off of contributions, or some that operate with that and government help, are stationed downtown, up north or to the east. Places that aid with mental health, life skills and guidance, or give meals and clothing. Many places have similar specialty's - clothing and feeding, creating potlucks in public spaces, helping low income families and children. They have specific skills they use for the greater good, such as housing, serving meals and aiding in life skills. From Transition Projects - Homelessness to Housing and Hands on Greater Portland, to Blanchet House and Portland Rescue Mission.

On another hand, housing is an altogether more difficult problem to attack. The city needs to finance renovation and find places not only for people to live once they're able to live on their own, but provide income opportunities. Any solutions? The upcoming Measures being voted on concerning housing can help in this area, but it could take quite some time. Voting, in this case, is extremely important and helpful. Doing so, as long as the measures are clear, honest and presenting a viable solution, will start this process of getting the homeless into homes, in which case employment would be next, as well as, for those that need it, mental health help, and other guidance.

 https://www.handsonportland.org/     https://www.tprojects.org/     https://www.portlandrescuemission.org/  https://blanchethouse.org/