Hundreds of people sleep on the streets of Portland every night. Often shelters fill up and turn people away and it can take months, even years, to find transitional or permanent affordable housing. Right 2 Dream Too provides a safe space to rest or sleep undisturbed for 50 - 70 people every night at no cost to the city.

The City of Portland's Bureau of Development Services (BDS) says R2DToo must comply with Oregon’s Recreational Camping Ordinances or pay monthly fines. The initial fine is $641.30, and doubles every two months after that.

BACKGROUND

Right 2 Dream Too is a rest area for people who are houseless on Fourth and Burnside, founded on National Homeless Day October 10, 2011. It is on leased land with permission of the owner. Since its inception R2DToo has provided safe shelter, food, referrals and community for 50-70 people nightly at no cost to the city.

On January 1, 2012 R2DToo received notice that they would be fined $641.30 a month because they did not comply with city code relating to recreational camping. The first payment was due February 1. The group's leaders filed an appeal pointing out the obvious; R2DToo is not a recreational camping ground: "There is a wide gulf between operating a recreational facility with the goal of sheltering people on vacation and operating a facility with the goal of sheltering people who would otherwise be on the street. It is illogical to lump them under the same set of administrative rules. We strongly object to language that suggests anything we are doing is in any way related to recreational activities."

R2DToo has consistently offered work with BDS and has asked the City to waive penalties due to hardship. In a reply letter BDS denied the appeal and informing R2DToo that they must file an Administrative Review Appeal along with another fee of $1,215 by January 16, 2012 if they wanted to appeal further. People experiencing homelessness can’t afford these fines.

‘We have a lot of supporters and everyone is asking: Why is the city fining Right 2 Dream Too?’ says Ibrahim Mubarak, one of the organizers. ‘We are not a recreational campground; we provide a safe place to sleep for people who cannot find shelter.’

According to the city's ‘Point in Time Count of Homelessness’ over 1700 people are unable to access shelter in Portland nightly. According to the Department of Education’s definition, Portland has 15,563 citizens who do not have housing.

R2DToo will continue to fight for a safe place 2 sleep. Community support is growing. Rally endorsers included: Sisters of the Road, Jobs with Justice and Portland Central America Solidarity Committee. Everyone has the Right 2 Survive; we believe people have the Right 2 Dream Too.

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Right 2 Survive is a group of houseless and formerly houseless individuals dedicated to teaching about and defending the human, civil and constitutional rights of people experiencing homelessness.

Right 2 Dream Too provides refuge and a safe space to rest or sleep undisturbed for people who cannot access affordable housing or shelter. R2DToo was established on World Homeless Action Day, October 10, 2011.