Street Roots: Street Roots letter to Mayor and Commissioners

Monday, May 5, 2008

Street Roots letter to Mayor and Commissioners

May 5, 2008

Dear Mayor and City Commissioners,

The Bureau of Housing and Community Development has widely reported a massive reduction in people experiencing homelessness since the inception of the 10-year plan to end homelessness in December of 2004.

The 10-year plan to end homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County outlines nine action steps that will eliminate homelessness in our city by 2015. Those steps include:

- Move people into housing
- Stop discharging people into homelessness
- Improve outreach to homeless people
- Emphasize permanent solutions
- Increase supply of permanent supportive housing
- Create innovative new partnerships to end homelessness
- Make the rent assistance system more effective
- Increase economic opportunity for homeless people
- Implement new data collection technology throughout the homeless system

We ask that City Hall suspend the camping ordinance in designated regions of the City of Portland until all nine-action steps have been implemented, and the 10-year plan to end homelessness is complete.

Street Roots believes it is cruel and unusual punishment to continue to criminalize individuals experiencing homelessness from sleeping on public property when the City of Portland can’t offer any real, concrete solutions to the crisis until a projected 2015.

We recognize the difficulties law enforcement encounter due to circumstances beyond their control - individuals sleeping in regions of the city that include up and coming festivals, markets, etc.

But without offering any research, or fact-based data that sweeping individuals from one location to another without offering real time solutions help individuals end their homelessness – the city is essentially moving away from the core philosophies of the 10-year plan to end homelessness.

Denying individuals the right to sleep and constantly asking individuals to move from public sidewalks and public parks elevates the level of anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation and ultimately trauma to peoples lives forced to sleep outdoors.

Continued enforcement of the cities camping ordinance creates an atmosphere of distrust with outreach workers, non-profits, law enforcement and individuals on the streets – ultimately working against the idea of engaging individuals on the streets to work towards permanent housing and housing first.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Israel Bayer
Street Roots
211 NW Davis
Portland, Oregon 97209
503-228-5657
streetroots@hotmail.com
www.streetroots.org

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Where to buy Street Roots

Street Roots vendors can be found at busy crossroads throughout the Portland metropolitan area and at special events and farmers markets.

Look for a vendor at these locations:
Alberta Cooperative Grocery (1500 NE Alberta St.)
Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave.)
Daily Grind Natural Foods (4026 SE Hawthorne Blvd.)
5th & Morrison
Food Front (2375 NW Thurman St.)
Fred Meyer (various locations)
New Seasons (various locations)
Nordstrom (701 SW Broadway)
Peet’s Coffee & Tea (1114 NW Couch St.; 1441 NE Broadway)
People’s Food Co-op (3029 SE 21st Ave.)
Portland State University
Powell’s Books (W Burnside and 10th Ave.; SE 37th & Hawthorne)
Safeway (various locations)
Trader Joe’s (NE 42nd & Sandy; NW 22nd & Glisan)
Wild Oats (E Burnside and 28th Ave.)
Whole Foods (1210 NW Couch St.)
Stumptown (SW 3rd & Pine)
Peet's Coffee (SW 6th & Yamhill)

Our dedicated vendors are at the heart of Street Roots' mission

Our dedicated vendors are at the heart of Street Roots' mission.

Over 70 active vendors buy and resell street roots in the Portland metropolitan area and Vancouver. Since 1998 Street Roots has help put more than $1 million dollars directly into the hands of poor people.

Becoming a vendor

Vendor orientations take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1PM in the Street Roots office at 211 NW Davis. Vendor applicants must attend a one-hour training orientation to earn a badge certifying them as a street roots vendor. You won't be turned away as long as you are not under the influence during the orientation. As a new vendor you are given 10 papers to sell, on the house, to kickstart sales.

Vendors purchase papers for 30¢ each and sell them for $1 each. The high and continually improving quality of the paper makes street roots an easy sell in the community.

Benefits of becoming a vendor

Many street roots vendors are homeless and living on the street. Selling the paper enables them to look forward to another day. For quite a few of our vendors, selling street roots is the sole lifeline keeping them healthy and sane. Selling the paper has enabled scores of our vendors to put homelessness behind them.

When selling Street Roots for just a few hours can generate as much income as a full day of back-breaking day labor, it's no wonder that most of our vendors pursue this as a full-time endeavor. People who are unable to secure any other type of employment, whether due to chemical dependency, disability, a troubled history, or circumstance, welcome the opportunity to invest in themselves by selling street roots.

Our writers group helps vendors acquire the literary skills to compose and get published. Many street roots vendors regularly contribute poetry, art, and stories to the paper. A number of vendors have joined the staff as writers and columnists.

Vendors play a lead role in guiding the future of the organization. Vendors regularly hold meetings of a special council to resolve issues and disputes of key concern to those selling the paper.

In the planning stages are a micro-enterprise launcher, a small press publishing collective, and an arts & crafts workshop/gallery, among others—all engaging and employing impoverished people who are seeking to reclaim their lives.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Street Roots letter to Mayor and Commissioners

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Our dedicated vendors are at the heart of Street Roots' mission