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Stories from Others

Portland’s Homeless Camp Gets Extension

From OregonLive.com:  Dignity Village started in 2000 as homeless campers under a Portland bridge who were then forced to move around town. In 2001, they landed at what was supposed to be a temporary home at the city-owned Sunderland Yard, next to a leaf composting facility between a state prison and Portland International Airport. The…

58 June 17th, 2011 0
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Homelessness Takes To The River

Faced with no place to live, some of Portland’s homeless men and women are taking a unique approach to survival — life on the river.   KGW video and report:  PORTLAND – Some of the city’s homeless have left the streets to sleep on the Willamette River in boats. “It’s what you would see on…

71 June 13th, 2011 0
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All In Their Head: Brain Injuries And Homelessness

From Street Roots contributing writer, Kate Cox: It all ended with the smack of a crowbar. Nick was 32 and alone on the night he was attacked, and there were no witnesses. With no memory of the assault, he has few clues to the story except for the scar on his forehead where the crowbar cracked…

67 June 10th, 2011 0
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Homeless Advocate Has Walked More Than A Mile In Their Shoes

Lynn McPherson, formerly homeless herself, is a homelessness advocacy champion and volunteer at Portland Rescue Mission.  Lynn provided cupcakes for our Birthday Party for the Homeless and walked last summer to raise awareness about homelessness.  She was recently interviewed by Second Act to talk about her passion for helping people in need. From Second Act:…

66 May 25th, 2011 0
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Homeless and addicted: On the street or off?

In a two-part series, the Portland Tribune looks at the new Bud Clark Commons, a $47-million government-funded building that will provide housing for 130 of Portland’s most vulnerable homeless men and women.  The first article provides an overview of the project and raises certain concerns. In the second article, the Tribune tackles the question of “wet”…

68 May 14th, 2011 0
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Life and Death Lottery

Portland’s most vulnerable homeless men and women have a shot a free housing.  The new Bud Clark Center will house 130 people — but will it work? From the Portland Tribune: Tribune Photo: Christopher Onstott  John hasn’t had a place to live in four years. Being in and out of jail is the closest he’s…

62 May 11th, 2011 0
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When A Pet’s Love Is All You Have Left

When a pet owner becomes homeless, what happens to their beloved animal?  Portland Rescue Mission, like most shelters, can accept only service animals due to health and safety concerns.  The choice of keeping a pet while homeless can be a difficult one. From CNN: James has an unlikely reaction when he watches his gangly black…

64 May 11th, 2011 0
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Artist Draws Portraits of Homeless Youth

From OregonLive.com: Every Wednesday for the past two years, [N. Scrantz] Lersch, a trained artist, has come to p:ear to draw for and teach art to the young adults who go there. “I just come in and start drawing,” Lersch said. “I’m trying to give them a voice.” P:ear, now in its ninth year, offers…

72 May 10th, 2011 0
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Jobless Woman Works To Help Homeless

From the Las Vegas Sun: Not long ago, [Shay] Kelley was just like any other 20-something. She was “living the life of luxury” with running water, a roof over her head and a job paying the bills as a sales representative for AT&T.  She moved from Illinois to Jackson, Miss., when the company relocated her…

64 April 28th, 2011 0
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When Anka Handed Out Birthday Cards

From the Flying Thoughts blog:Anka volunteered at our recent Birthday Party for the Homeless.  I’ve drove [sic] past the Portland Rescue Mission many times and saw the long line at it’s entry door, only I never dared to stop by and say ‘hi’ to any of the people waiting in line, mostly because I never…

63 April 11th, 2011 0
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