Extra! Extra!

Even in difficult times, there’s so much to give thanks for — including the newest edition of Street Roots and your friendly neighborhood vendor who is working, rain or shine, to bring you the news. Here’s what’s in the new edition, hitting the streets bright and early Friday morning:

Dylan for the holidays: An exclusive interview for street papers with Bob Dylan about his new Christmas CD. He’s putting all of his income from the CD toward three programs that feed the homeless.

Portland housing advocates consider push for housing levy: Seattle has had a housing levy since 1981, funding thousands of new housing for low-income residents. Amanda Waldroupe pursues the answer to the question: Why doesn’t Portland do the same thing?

Activists mark 10 years since the Battle in Seattle: In 1999, the world convened in Seattle for a week of demonstrations against the policies of the World Trade Organization. A decade on, and activists remember what was remarkable about the event, and the work that lies ahead.

Single-payer advocate says keep the heat on those in power: Jay Thiemeyer talks with Peter Shapiro with Jobs with Justice about his own activism to keep single-payer the goal in health care reform.

Genny Nelson, Sisters’ co-founder, retires: Nelson reflects on 30 years with the organization that brought power to the streets and changed the dialogue around homelessness.

And much more is packed inside 16 pages, all for only $1. Get yours today, along with one for the office.

Thank you!

Editorial: Region must work for housing levy

Ever wonder why so many people are experiencing homelessness in Portland, or why the panhandling debate never seems to die? It most certainly has something to do with the economy, but it also has something to do with the lack of ongoing revenue and affordable housing units available to low-income working people.

Our sister city to the north, Seattle, just overwhelmingly passed (63 percent) a housing levy for $145 million over a seven year period. Most of the levy, $104 million, will go toward producing and preserving 1,670 apartments for low-income individuals, while another $4 million will go to more than 3,000 individuals and families in need of rent assistance.

It doesn’t stop there. More than $6 million will go towards purchasing land for affordable housing, with $14 million going toward operations and maintenance for affordable rental units and another $9 million going for homebuyer’s assistance.

The levy not only provides homes for people experiencing homelessness and poverty, it also goes to create an ongoing revenue stream for jobs and construction projects in the region.

All for $17 per $100,000 of assessed property value annually. That means for most Portland homeowners, they would be contributing $34 to $68. That might be the same amount you find yourself donating to a local non-profit to help feed, cloth or house an individual. Why not put that money toward something that will house thousands of people?

Street Roots realizes there are barriers both locally and at a state level concerning the tax structures and how money will be allocated. We also realize there are many competing interests, ranging from the schools to human services and the arts. At the end of the day, all of these things – schools, human services and the arts would benefit from a revenue stream dedicated to improving the quality of life by providing a warm and safe place for individuals and families to call home.

The region has excellent leadership at a government level when it comes to helping secure funding for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. In the past year, both city and county government have been engaged at one level or another in helping maintain our fragile safety net for the area’s poor. They’ve done more with less and should be commended for their efforts.

In a time when unemployment rates, hunger and homelessness are at an all-time high both locally and throughout Oregon – we have a responsibility to help maintain the basic needs of our citizens – not just this year, but for many years to come.

The recent passing of the housing levy in Seattle gives us hope. Hope that even in hard times people can pull together and find a way to do the right thing – even if that means paying $17 to $100 a year for the areas most vulnerable citizens.

Street Roots believes the political will exists to pass a levy or a tax locally for affordable housing. We’re hoping that together as a community, we can make that happen in 2010.

Editorial: Police tactics undermine city’s work

For years, St. Francis dining hall has been more than a place to gather for a meal. It is that rare plot of serenity and community for people dealing with poverty and homelessness. That was all shattered a few weeks ago when a team of police officers entered, through opposite doors, with a camera crew from the television show “Cops” and began filming as they looked for a suspect whom they were told by staffers was not there.

Recently, people waiting in line for a meal at Blanchet House were confronted by a plain-clothes officer who began asking them to identify a person in a picture. He also asked them for their identification, and ran them through the system. They were checked for criminal activity, and one person was arrested and then released after it was found he had a warrant for failure to appear in court. Staffers there say the questioning and ID check is not uncommon for their customers waiting outside for a warm meal.

And for months, the police have targeted Sisters of the Road Café as a nuisance area, compiling complaint calls from a two-block area, which includes bars, the bus mall, and an environment well documented for drug dealing unrelated to Sisters’ 30-year operation. Police are now in negotiations with Sisters to gain concessions for access to the café and its population.

Extra! Extra!

They say rain is headed our way, which means bring a plastic bag when you head out to pick up your new copy of Street Roots. These colors don’t run, but the paper gets sticky when wet. Here’s what’s fit to print this week:

Will success spoil Michael Franti? The hip hop/reggae rocker of Spearhead has his first megahit riding up the charts, but he’s keeping his (bare) feet on the ground with his grassroots activism. Joanne Zuhl spoke to Franti in advance of the band’s concert at the Roseland.

Healing lessons: How the U.S. can adopt a health care system that’s fairer and costs less. Adam Hyla interviews “Healing of America” author and researcher T.R. Reid.

Reuse, recycle, respect: Portland re-use artist Taylor Cass Stevenson reports on her travels and the obstacles for urban recyclers in the Third World.

Children of all ages: Portland photographer John Ryan Brubaker stopped by The Circus Project’s rehearsal in advance of their debut – a show o benefit the nonprofit’s work with at-risk and homeless youths.

All this and a crossword puzzle! Yes, you clamored and our vendors delivered the message loud and clear. Each edition of Street Roots will now feature a crossword puzzle on the back page, and we hope to hear from you as we work to put a Street Roots spin on each one. Thanks for your input and your support of our dynamic vendor team!

HUD hopes for the future with Secretary Shawn Donovan

From the August 21 edition of Street Roots

Shaun Donovan, named secretary of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development served as an intern at the National Coalition for the Homeless when his career in Washington was just getting started.

Here are his reflections of that time:

“As an undergraduate I was volunteering at a homeless shelter in Cambridge and went to hear Robert Hayes, founder of Coalition for the Homeless, speak. His powerful words moved me to ask if there was any work I could do with the coalition in Washington as I was moving there to intern for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.  Robert Hayes directed me to Maria Foscarinis  and the National Coalition for the Homeless. I interned for the Coalition at the same time as working in Senator Moynihan’s office and conducted research federal housing policy at both places. I remember staying up all night to set up an exhibition of photographs from Stephenie Hollyman’s book “We the Homeless” in the Senate Rotunda. “  – Shaun Donovan

Tony Taylor: At a recent news conference, President Obama was asked to comment on the growing crisis of family homelessness. The president responded by acknowledging that the homelessness problem in this country “was bad even when the economy was good,” and cited the importance of creating quality jobs to help homeless families and individuals afford shelter. While job creation is certainly an important component of a federal response to homelessness, it is only part of the solution. What would you add to the president’s response?

Shawn Donovan: For many Americans, the previous economic prosperity was largely fueled by the artificial growth in home values.  This put tremendous pressure on the rental marketplace as lower income families struggled to find a home or apartment they could afford.  They experienced none of the benefits of a booming housing market and all of the negative consequences.

President Obama and I are convinced that any recovery must be sustainable and based on real growth, not only on the jobs front, but in the housing market as well. And this absolutely must include a more concerted effort on the part of the federal government to encourage the production of more affordable rental housing.  

Only $1,500 to go –tell your friends about the great work of Street Roots!

Dear Street Rooters, 

Street Roots needs to raise $1,500 dollars in August to reach our summer goal of $15,000 to help the organization remain sustainable during these hard economic times.  

You all have already done so much -thank you!  We’re almost there.  What we need to reach our goal is $1,500 and we hope that can be from old and new friends to Street Roots.  Please forward this to your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family to tell them about the great work of Street Roots and help us meet our goal.  Plus, new friends to Street Roots helps build the movement year round!

 The Ganapati Fund “Remover Of Obstacles” in Portland is offering a matching grant challenge for five one-hundred dollar donations in support of Street Roots Vendor Program. A $100 donation could help leverage $1,000 for Street Roots.  We, of course, would love to match a $100 donation from you, but would also love to match $100 donations from people new to the Roots – Please spread the word!

If you are interested in giving to this matching fund, please e-mail Israel at streetroots@hotmail.com or call us at 503.228.5657 or give safely on-line today and forward this to your friends. You can also give through the mail at Street Roots, 211 NW Davis, Portland, Oregon 97209. 

More than 80 vendors experiencing homelessness and poverty work with local businesses and thousands of customer’s everyday. The relationships being built are invaluable. This year alone Street Roots has worked with hundreds of individuals on the streets to give people access to job training skills, a supplemental income, housing and most importantly, dignity.

In July and August the newspaper highlighted important stories on the African and Asian communities while also featuring Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler.

In the current edition of the newspaper we report on life for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Portland motels along with a hard look at affordable housing downtown and throughout the region. We also highlight the voices coming from the streets, giving all of us a unique perspective.

Over the summer we reported and led a campaign to save 100s of individuals from losing Section 8 vouchers in NW Oregon and throughout the country. We did it!  HUD recently fully funded the housing authority in NW Oregon and Street Roots coverage and advocacy helped save hundreds from losing their housing not only in Oregon, but around the country. 

A housing advocate recently sent this letter to us. ”Congratulations on the successful advocacy campaign spearheaded by Street Roots to save the homes of Section 8 tenants in Northwest Oregon and elsewhere around the country. It is inspiring to see the power of the press used to protect the most vulnerable among us.”

With your help we can continue to empower people and report and highlight stories that are not only real and meaningful, but that have an impact in our community. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, 

Israel Bayer, Executive Director

Also read Loaded Orygun piece on Street Roots.

Vendor corner: Home sweet home.

Extra! Extra!

Thanks to all of you who wrote in about our vendors lately. We’ve known how great they are for years, and it’s good to hear it from their customers, too. So, if you haven’t talked to your vendor lately, you’ve got a great reason to swing by tomorrow morning. The new edition of Street Roots hits the pavement around 9 a.m. Friday. Here’s what’s inside:

Motel limbo: Some of Portland’s motels hide a troubling side to homelessness. Becca Robinson reports.

Loss of low-cost housing routing poor from downtown: Amanda Waldroupe reports on the latest figures on housing in the city’s center, and how services are looking beyond for affordable options for the poor.

Who’s raking the muck? Joanne Zuhl interviews Harper’s editor Ken Silverstein, who lays out his brutal vision of modern-day journalism.

HUD’s hopes for the future: HUD Secretary Shawn Donovan cut his teeth on homeless issues with the National Coalition for the Homeless. Now, homeless advocates want to hear how he will apply what he’s learned.

Plus more news, a new column by vendor Leo Rhodes, letters to the editor, and lots of attitude in between. Let us know your thoughts, and as always, thanks for your support!

Posted by Joanne Zuhl

Street Roots editorial: We’re losing ground, time to charge

Street Roots editorial from the August 7, edition

In Portland the housing options for the poorest in our town has declined by 23 percent, while the same options for the more affluent gained nearly 12 percent. Statewide we have the dubious distinction of being, per capita, No. 1 in the nation for homelessness, No. 2 in unemployment, and No. 3 in hunger. As the largest metropolitan area in Oregon, Portland has a responsibility to push beyond and say this is not acceptable.

Judge’s ruling advances anti-camping lawsuit

A district judge has given the green light to a group of people experiencing homelessness to go forward with their class-action lawsuit against the city of Portland’s camping ordinance.

In a decision reached Friday, District Judge Ann Aiken ruled against the city in its effort to dismiss the grounds for the lawsuit, concluding, in laymen’s terms, that the suit  – which seeks to declare the city’s no camping ordinance unconstitutional – has the muster to go forward.

The group of four homeless individuals say that the city’s enforcement of no camping and temporary structures ordinances “criminalize the status of being homeless, singles out the homeless for disparate treatment, and prevents the homeless from traveling to or residing in the city of Portland.” Three of the four plaintiffs have disabilities.

Altogether, attorneys with the Oregon Law Center argued five reasons why the lawsuit should go forward. Judge Aiken supported two – that the ordinances violated their rights to be free from cruel and unusual punishment under the Eigth Amendment, and their rights to equal treatment under the law. The judge dismissed their claims to defend their rights to free travel, freedom of movement, and due process.

Monica Goracke with the Oregon Law Center says that  the judge’s ruling allows the case to proceed. “The next step is to exchange information in the discovery process,” Goracke says, which will mean several more months will pass before there is any further decision on the plaintiff’s claims.

The city prohibits camping or the construction of temporary structures on public property. However, those ordinances may be lifted by the city in “extraordinary circumstances.”

In a recent report from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Oregon now leads the nation in the precentage of homeless people per capita. Oregon’s homeless rate is 0.54 percent, according to HUD.

Read more in Friday’s Street Roots.

Posted by Joanne Zuhl

Central city’s housing for the poor declines

The Oregon Opportunity Network, or Oregon ON, says a new report by the Portland Development Commission illustrates how affordable housing units for the poorest are slipping out of grasp for many residents. We’re still above 2002 levels, when the benchmark of “No Net Loss” was created, but nearly 1,500 fewer than where we were just 4 years ago.

Between the lines, the report foretells of even tougher times ahead for Oregonians needing housing. They already live in the state that tops the national charts in homelessness (No. 1), unemployment (No. 2) and hunger No.3). It will also be a mighty stress test for our nationally heralded 10-year plan to end homelessness. Two years ago, the feds held it up as epitomizing their prescribed cure to a social cancer. We’ll see how well it ages now.

You can download the complete report from the PDC here.

Here’s the complete statement from Oregon ON:

A recently-released report from the Portland Development Commission shows that housing affordable to Portland’s wealthiest has increased in the central city since 2005, while housing for the poorest has decreased by almost a quarter.

“Despite the City’s well-intended policies, the number of affordable units downtown continues to drop,” said Bobby Weinstock, Housing  Consultant for NW Pilot Project. “The reality is, people who need housing can’t get it.”

The report, compiled by PDC to evaluate the city’s No Net Loss housing  policy, shows the percentage of total rental units in the 0-30% and  31-50% Median Family Income (MFI) categories decreased by almost 23% in the last three years.

NW Section 8 casualties get some relief

HUD: An estimated one out of every 200 Oregonians are homeless

Nearly 300 families in Northwest Oregon got some breathing room this month – a one-month extension on assistance to keep them in housing.

In late May, the Northwest Oregon Housing Authority, NOHA, notified 285 recipients of Section 8 housing assistance vouchers that they would be dropped from the program as of July 1. The cuts from the program were caused by a shortfall in funding for the housing authority from the federal Bureau of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, which funds the Section 8 program. In some cases, NOHA was paying 90 percent of the rent for recipients, who stretch across Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties.

In late June, NOHA’s board of directors voted to tap $145,000 in its reserves to pay for the month of July for the effected families. One of those families belongs to Jennifer Cherry, who had nearly all of her family’s rent paid for by NOHA. She and her partner, who are recovering from disabilities, have three children.
“HUD gave us July, so we’ll see what happens for next month,” said Cherry, who said her landlord has also been very helpful during the ordeal.

On Thursday, the OHCS received half of a $15 million relief package from HUD’s new Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program. As the name indicates, the money is to help prevent people from becoming homeless and to rapidly re-house those who have. The funding is part of the economic stimulus package, and includes allocations to Portland, Eugene, Salem and Clackamas and Washington counties. OHCS received nearly $8 million, and will distribute the money to Oregon’s smaller communities and rural areas, including the three-county region covered by NOHA.

“Our intention is to help those folks who had vouchers and were terminated,” says Lisa Joyce, legislative relations manager for OHCS. “We know that they were eligible for assistance.”

Out and down: After serving time, many former inmates find that the real trial begins upon release

(Art Rios, a member of the Civic Action Group at Sisters Of The Road Cafe, discusses his experiences in and out of prison.)

Matt Gollyhorn remembers it well: sitting uncomfortably on a bench and waiting for the bus — a ride that he had anticipated for almost eight years. The sun reflects off his shiny head, and he stares blankly in front of him. A half empty box of knickknacks sags beside the folds of his undersized sweat suit, and he kicks at gravel with shoes that are two sizes too big. “What am I gonna do now?” He asks aloud, fingering the $220 check in his pocket.

It was all he had to his name after seven and a half years in prison.

Homelessness in Oregon is on the rise

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Oregon has shot up dramatically since last year, according to the results of a statewide count released by the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.

In 2008, the state found 12,529 individuals on the streets, in shelters or in transitional housing. This year, the number grew to 17,122. Almost 60 percent of those people did not have shelter or services available to them, the report says.

“The numbers confirm what we already knew,” OHCS Deputy Director Rick Crager said in a statement. “Families and individuals can’t afford to pay for one of their most basic needs — a place to live.”

The count found that:

– There was a 150 percent increase in the number of people on the streets without transitional housing or shelter.

– The number of households living doubled-up with friends or family increased fourfold.

– The number of homeless veterans in the state doubled. That mirrors an increase in Portland at almost the same rate. For full coverage of the ballooning numbers of veterans on the streets, who they are and why they’re becoming homeless, pick up the current issue of Street Roots from your local vendor.

- Mara Grunbaum

Not so easy listening

Aug. 4, 2008

The National Coalition for the Homeless’ Faces of Homelessness panel will
be online tomorrow, Aug. 5, at 1pm EST. on onlinewithandrea with host Andrea R. Garrison. Along with the NCH panel, Judy Joy Jones will read selected poems from her book The Bones of the Homeless.

The show promises to be a stimulating discussion about homelessness in the U.S. from both a social and cultural perspective – and an opportunity to chime in on a national discussion. Let Andrea hear from you!

Posted by Joanne

Candidates talk street politics with Willamette Week

July 30, 2008

Amanda Fritz and Charles Lewis on affordable housing and homelessness

Posted by Israel Bayer