Low-income residents of the Arthur Hotel on SW 11th were told
last Thursday, May 22, that they’re likely to face eviction this
Sunday. It’s disturbing news for resident Daniel Roscoe, who has
been there just over four months and pays $500 a month. Before that,
Roscoe lived and worked at the Blanchet House for three months, and
before that, he was homeless for four months, after returning to
Portland from Virginia. Under Oregon law, biweekly residents like
Roscoe are supposed to get at least 30-days notice. When the
Mercury met Roscoe at his apartment on Tuesday, May 27, there
were contractors downstairs doing a walk-through, and Roscoe had yet to
be given anything more than a verbal eviction notice from the apartment
complex’s manager.
“It’s lame when they say all of a sudden we have to move out,” says
Roscoe. “This is totally unfair. Once you get your life on track, it’s
difficult to be thrown a curve ball like this. At the moment, we don’t
know what’s going to happen. I don’t know whether to keep paying my
rent if I’m going to be out of here.” MD
***
Homeless nonprofits Sisters of the Road and Street
Roots have launched a postcard campaign to repeal the
controversial sit-lie ordinance and anti-camping law, following
Sisters’ resignation from the mayor’s Street Access for Everyone
committee two weeks ago [“Swing Out, Sister,” News, May 15]. The
postcard asks the mayor and city commissioners to repeal the laws, with
a space at the bottom for people to sign and print their name. Within
two to three weeks, Sisters wants to have collected enough to assemble
them in a way that creates “a powerful visual image, and march the
cards from Sisters to city hall.” You can download a copy of the
postcard at
blogtown.portlandmercury.com.
MD