Longtime vendor Mel Taylor is a familiar face around Street Roots and the Pearl District, where he has been selling Street Roots outside the REI store in Northwest Portland since 2014.
“I saw someone selling Street Roots and I was homeless so I came down to Street Roots and did the vendor training in 2014,” he said. “I needed work. I’ve been doing this ever since, in the same spot.”
Originally from the small town of Merlin outside of Grants Pass, he came to Portland for medical help and to look for work. Now housed since September, he is extremely grateful for the support he has received, especially through his behavioral health program.
“I’m in the Heart Program through Central City Concern,” Mel said. “It has really changed my life. I’ve been in it a couple of years and I’m getting the treatment I need. My life has changed dramatically. I have a lot of support and they also helped me with my housing.”
Now happily in his apartment, he feels relieved to no longer rely on shelters he was living in for the previous five years. He enjoys watching football at home — especially his beloved Green Bay Packers and Oregon State Beavers — and being able to wash his clothes. He loves reading and his favorite authors are Vince Flynn, David Baldacci and Joseph Campbell.
“Having a home of your own means you can really start living again,” Mel said.
In addition to being grateful for the support and resources he’s received through Central City Concern, Mel also has a deep appreciation for the work of Street Roots.
“Street Roots means everything to me — it’s my family,” he said. “I feel like I am part of the team. They know me — they know my name. Street Roots is always there for me. It can’t fix all your problems, but it can give you a cup of coffee.”
His customers and the staff at REI are like family to him as well.
“Getting resources is time-consuming,” Mel said. “It took a long time to get the help I needed. But going to REI every day has given me a home too. I’m well supported and well treated by the staff, and the customers are really great — they have seen me transition from where I was to where I am today. I consider that my home.”
He credits his behavioral health team, his customers and giving back to his community as providing him with the support he needed to be on the path to wellness and acknowledges he would not be doing as well without them.
“Behavioral health is so helpful and I appreciate all my customers who supported me when I was struggling,” Mel said. “I really just want to say thanks to all my customers. Going to work every day really brightens me up. My customers are so generous and loyal.”
Mel also makes the time to give back to his community and has about 10 people he regularly checks in on — taking them out to breakfast and serving as an example for the behavioral health program. He said he has never missed a behavioral health meeting either.
“Do you know how hard it is to do this when you’re homeless and in a tent?” Mel asked. “But I’d get up, get coffee, a new beanie and some emergency supplies from Street Roots, and go to my meetings. I was so tired of the way my life was going. It took a lot of determination to overcome. But I was determined to change my life.”
Mel Taylor sells Street Roots outside of REI at 1405 NW Johnson St. from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Mel can also be supported via @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (614) in the notes.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly investigative publication covering economic, environmental and social inequity. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
© 2023 Street Roots. All rights reserved. | To request permission to reuse content, email editor@streetroots.org or call 503-228-5657, ext. 404