To Mayor Ted Wheeler,
I am writing to ask you to allow the self-managed houseless community in Northeast Portland, Village of Hope, to remain in place. Please listen to the advocates attempting to save lives among the homeless: Steve Kimes, Ibrahim Mubarak and Lisa Lake. They’re out helping those without housing every day and have better ideas for solutions than anyone else.
Maybe the current solutions aren’t ideal, but ideal solutions are often either too expensive or allow undue suffering while being developed.
I grew up one block from Peninsula Park and enjoyed the pool there every summer. In 1957, it transformed into a temporary home for Portland Zoo’s penguins while a new home was built for them at the zoo.
Was it ideal? Not to my childhood mind, but it was a sacrifice necessary to make our city a better place. I think it was the right choice.
In my opinion, today’s homeless are more valuable than penguins.
Village of Hope is a step toward reclaiming the area for all of us by providing the homeless a safe space to receive the help they need for now.
I am a 63-year-old woman who has never been homeless. I’ve had no fear walking the trails of the Big Four Corners natural area since the Village of Hope was established. I drive by the area every week, and I’ve never seen it used by anyone but homeless folks.
Trying to keep the homeless out is a losing battle. I know many homeless people trying very hard to meet the expectations of the housed in order to qualify for help. When they are not allowed to live anywhere, they can’t make progress.
Without support they do put stress on the environment, but with an organized village, crime will be minimized and damage will be reduced. Why not preserve the area by allowing advocates to assist?
We can overcome this crisis if we are willing to live with less-than-perfect solutions for a season.
Village of Hope should remain in place.
Thank you for your ear,
Elsie Frani Grover
Homeless advocate; lifelong Portland Metro area resident
Read Vanguard’s two-part coverage of Village of Hope: Keeping hope alive: The Celebration and Keeping hope alive: The Eviction.
While you sound like you have a big heart, which many of us do, you’re not quite connected to the reality of what’s going on with the homeless in Portland.
I interact, ask questions and treat mostly all homeless with dignity. That said, most of the homeless on the streets, are CHOOSING to be there and to DENY services. Most I’ve interacted with, have a series of drug addiction issues.
As you know, you cannot help an addict before they hit rock bottom. So let’s not try to pretend or group these homeless into a “mentally ill” group that excuses their addiction and actions. Let’s focus on helping the TRUE homeless, those down on their luck or struggling. We have to separate the two of them. Several of those in this area, were drug users, not legitimate homeless. Their living impacts land that’s paid by the taxpayers.
Did anyone bother to ask those that were setting up their homes there, for over a week, what they did in the last week to try and get a job?