The green and yellow tent backs up to a concrete piling on Naito Parkway. Behind the piling, more tents are equally spaced, an archipelago of brightly colored dwellings, all positioned under a bridge — a dry space in a frequently wet city. Cars rush by on either side.
Above the tent someone has painted the word “Hope” in red bubble letters on the piling, featured in the way a painting might hang over a fireplace. But in this case, it’s the home that’s mobile, and the artwork is there to stay.
Hope. It’s at least a glimmer of a future. For one Street Roots vendor, hope is the fact that, despite her campsite being swept this week, housing might come through next month. For another, it’s that he found indoor shelter on a friend’s couch, and his thoughts are racing a little less frequently. It’s the upbeat antics of a dog, and determination to care for that dog. It’s finally being treated for scabies that last week ravaged one man’s skin and spirit. It’s the blue sky and clear air that makes outdoor survival a little easier.
But this I know clearly: We owe unhoused people our collective will toward a more equal society. And this week has been notable in this regard.
There’s dimming hope of the Oregon Legislature passing a bill declaring a state of emergency around homelessness. With the session set to end March 8, it grows less likely the longer Republican legislators continue their walkout. Among the many casualties of this political gamesmanship are the tens of thousands of unhoused people around the state, many who survive in regions with no shelters. The state of emergency proposed by House Speaker Tina Kotek would make it easier to site shelters while funding shelters and housing statewide.
DIRECTOR'S DESK: Yes to declaring a statewide emergency on homelessness
But in the Metro region? This week was a game-changer. Metro councilors voted unanimously Tuesday to refer a homeless-services funding measure to voters. Last week, this looked less likely, but the Here Together Coalition (of which Street Roots is a member) stood firm on its goal that funding not be piecemeal. The result? Two taxes on the wealthiest residents and businesses that will bring in $250 million annually for 10 years.
This will be a 1% marginal tax rate on taxable income over $200,000 a year for households (or $125,000 a year on individuals), which means that the tax is levied after deductions and only on the income that’s above that mark. The rest of the revenue comes from a 1% business tax on net profits (not income) for businesses with sales over $5 million.
EDITORIAL: To fight homelessness, Metro asks the wealthy to pay their fair share
This means ongoing funding so people living on the streets can get into housing and people on the precipice of homelessness can stay housed — supported by rent assistance, addiction, mental health, case management and employment services. It’s about real solutions, and on a grand scale, this really does look like hope.
We are going to need to turn out in droves come May to get this passed.
I’ll cast my ballot for the people who navigate muddy ravines where they live in wheelchairs. I’ll cast my vote for people who suffer the flu sleeping on pavement, and the people who catch the flu sleeping in shelters. I’ll cast my votes for the thousands of elders who never earned enough to save and are trapped in the gulf that is trying to live on Social Security payments lower than rent in this city. I’ll cast my ballot for the man who could really use addiction support with housing, because it’s absurdly difficult to handle recovery on the streets. I’ll cast my ballot for the man whose mental health recently took a plunge when he lost his housing.
DIRECTOR'S DESK: Our homeless neighbors need more than affordable housing; they need support
So please, make sure to spread the word, turn people out to vote in May, and when the time comes, cast your ballot for the tens of thousands of people who struggle with homelessness and housing insecurity in Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties. In the meantime, you can endorse the measure at www.surveymonkey.com/r/htendorsement.
Metro just came through, big time, for people struggling with homelessness. This week was a turning point. Now it’s our turn to finish what they started.
Director's Desk is written by Kaia Sand, the executive director of Street Roots. You can reach her at kaia@streetroots.org. Follow her on Twitter @mkaiasand.