Comments

1
I don't think they're making the point they think they are. That photo is a great reminder of why we don't allow camping all year. There would be semi-permanent tent encampments all over the place.
2
I disagree. The city should open up city-owned land to camping, not sidewalks. That could be regulated more easily than what we have now--stealth camps under bridges and alongside bike paths that are either unknown or ignored by police. Because no matter what you think about whether or not people should be sleeping on the sidewalks or under bridges, they're not all going to magically obtain housing and go away. We don't offer the resources for the demand.
3
Give me some really high grade heroin and I can put a dent in the number of people sleeping on the street too. Most of these folks are drug addicts who spend their free time stealing to support their habits, they won't stop til they OD. Just because something reduces the number of people sleeping on the street doesn't automatically make it a good idea. I am fine with needle exchange, but do not want the city giving this guy a building and a bunch of land so that it can smell like the open sewer that is the west end of the burnside bridge.
4
Looks like an REI sidewalk sale, to me.
5
LoL, Blabby misses the point yet again.
6
the question here isn't homeless rights. the question is why are these people content with living literally on the streets, err sidewalks? i don't want to sweep them under the carpet. i just don't want to smell their shit bucket when i'm walking to the store. good luck holding your breath walking by that long line of tents. if you want to camp go to the woods. if you enjoy the nomadic lifestyle keep yourself on the move, go hop a train or buy an RV. There are some homeless that are a great addition to the culture of the city. They add to its character in various ways like entertaining. But the difference is they play by the rules, whereas sidewalk sleeping is an outright safety concern, eyesore, and embarasment. Sleeping out there will not increase your likelihood of survival, in fact, i'm fairly certain it will hurt it.

To those considering this there are shelters at your disposal. You're not going any where in life sitting in a tent on sw 4th. Don't listen to the people that say this is okay. If they really wanted to help you they would make you start fending for yourself, like a real man or woman. only you can turn your life around. don't let yourself become a lost cause
7
If we find some more land it will fill up and more people will arrive to get in line. We have two permanent homeless camps in this city. Somehow there are still people all over the streets.
8
Blabby, do you have some evidence to support that assertion? Because it's the same tired canard trotted out against any sort of social program. They used it to oppose the Oregon Health Plan, they used it to oppose easing drug criminalization, etc.
9
We have Dignity Village in North Portland and Right2Dream2 downtown. Do you think that if we add another, that it will solve homelessness, or even make a dent? If we add another one, do you think that advocates won't be back the next year saying "we just need someone to give us free land"? If desperate people hear that Portland hands over big peices of land for homless people to settle down that some of them won't come to Portland?

In answer to your question, I am waiting for the data from latest Multnomah County Homelessness Count which will show how much homelessness has risen from 2011 to now. I'm guessing it will be significant, but I may be wrong. In anticipation of your next argument: the economy has been improving since 2011 and the foreclosure situation stabilized before 2011, so that wouldn't explain a large jump in homelessness.
10
I am 26. I was on and off again homeless for 7 years (between the ages of 14 and 21). I ran away from home because I was being sexually abused by a family member's boyfriend. I drink a few beers a month, have never done hard drugs, I have smoked pot maybe five times in my life, and I have never smoked a cigarette. I also have NEVER been unemployed since I was 14 years old. I regularly work 50+ hours a week, and have for years. Most of my money when I was homeless went to the University of Vermont to earn my B.S., and the other portion bought food and diapers for my little brothers. I would encourage folks responding to this article to actually talk to folks on the streets before jumping to conclusions as to why they are there. Yes...many people have addictions and some are not taking care of themselves...same as people in houses. How many of you know an alcoholic who lives in a house? And for those of you espousing that houseless people need to take care of themselves and not rely on aid...lucky for you, Right 2 Dream Too is doing just that! They pay rent for that lot each month to the property owner, they have their own security, their own honey bucket contract, and their own kitchen. Without Right 2 Dream Too, each person would be somewhere unprotected on the streets of Old Town- especially because there are far fewer shelter beds/ SROs available than there are houseless people. Someone said something to the contrary in an earlier post. Why do you think shelters are so accessible? I disagree with you--> source 211 and Portland Women's Crisis Line...they have the most up to date info on who has beds and where.

On another note, the only time I received aid (food stamps) not as a small child was when I worked for one of Portland's beloved organic CSA farms during the height of the recession. I was paid far below minimum wage and worked too many hours (on average 75/week) to have tons of energy to immediately find a different job. Since I mostly had kale to eat then and no family support (and I am not the type to ask for favors), I did rely on foodstamps to buy staples like rice and beans (and hell, even some cheese occassionally). Without those food stamps, it would have been costly for the city to pay for the removal of my corpse since heavy labor and a strict leafy green diet are not a sustainable combo.
11
Jesus Jess, for someone with a BA, you sure ain't doing something right, or smart anyway.
75 hours a week? Less than minimum wage, and with a BA?
You must not be telling us something here.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, how long do people really expect to have 'Right to Dream' around? Prime real-estate, and the only reason they are there in the first place is because the owner of the property wanted to stick a thumb in Randy Leonards eye.
I'm with Blabby here, we already have 2 homeless camps, and I'd love to see the stats on 'Dignity' Village... is it really being used as a transitory place to get on ones feet, or are people managing just to find a way to live rent free?
Are we actually attracting more homeless to our city when word gets around about Bud Clark Commons and 'Dignity' Village?
I believe so. Could be wrong, but I doubt it.
12
If wanna camp check out the Spring Water Corridor across from Ross Island. Prime.
13
you know, these comments are really funny to me. I was down there with Right 2 Survive and Right 2 Dream Too at Pitch a Tent from beginning to end and didn't notice any smell or bad behavior that wasn't immediate quashed by the security team and the organizers. They did an amazing job! They had all the tents down before the parade. They kept in complete compliance with the ordinance the whole time, which is more than I can say for some of the housed people that set up tents. There was one tent that was left up and abandoned by someone who wasn't with this group after the parade ended! And as for Right 2 Dream Too and Dignity Village and the comment that was made about there still being homeless people being on the street, they have never claimed that they could get everyone off the street. They do what they can. There are over 3,000 people that are homeless in the greater Portland area. There are only a few hundred shelter beds. Right 2 Dream Too only holds about 50 overnighters a night. Dignity Village holds about a dozen in addition to their membership. The point is, at least they are doing something!! And they are doing it without city support. In fact, Right 2 Dream Too is being fined for helping their fellow homeless people. And no, there are not two "permanent camp sites" in Portland. But Right 2 Dream to is working on being the second. As far as stats go, I think 50 people transitioning into and keeping housing, 48 finding and keeping jobs, and 4 going to school isn't too shabby. And Jess, you are awesome. Keep it up. Props to our fearless leader Ibrahim Mubarak and the rest of Right 2 Survive as well as the dreamers of Right 2 Dream Too and their supporters for making Pitch a Tent awesome again this year.
14
@Amber - 'membership' in 'Dignity' Village? How does that happen, and how long have these folks been living there anyway?
What is the average turn-around there?
15
Wow, I can't No I don't want to add insult to injury. The ignorance of some of these comments is unreal. I am formerly houseless and it had nothing to do with drugs! Jess and Amber, I applaud you for speaking up and out against small closed minded ignorant of reality people like Blabby. I wonder how long he could last out on the streets in all kinds of weather and conditions that housed people close their eyes and run from. If given a choice I would put money down he would RUN in fear to the nearest door and pound till someone opened it or his fist bled! Blabby your ignorance screams volumes to your character!
16
“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed.”

― Herman Melville

Keep on doing what you're doing, Right 2 Survive! This is about human rights. You are creative, persistent, and loving. As the rich continue to get richer and the poor get poorer we will need many, many more places like Right 2 Dream Too.
17
what is the point of internet trolling? i definitely don't get it. anonymous, hateful posts with no citations for extreme statements are one of many signs that human kind is in trouble. :-/
18
Jess, there is no point. Just hurt ,angry people. I respect what you have done by the way, it is not easy and most people cannot relate. You make some good points as well
19
people that are afraid make not so wise commits. They just don't know reality. maybe we should invite them on the streets for a week end . then they will really see who are the ones that are disorderly

Please wait...

Comments are closed.

Commenting on this item is available only to members of the site. You can sign in here or create an account here.


Add a comment
Preview

By posting this comment, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.