Opinion | The order lacks constructive measures. Where are people expected to go? Mayor Ted Wheeler invoked an emergency declaration to prohibit people from living along many major streets where people camp often seeking visibility as a form of safety. It ...
9 Feb 2022 - Kaia Sand
Opinion | Knowledge from the unhoused provides critical insight The Street Roots ambassadors grew animated discussing the topic of ranked-choice voting. They considered how this method of voting could motivate people to vote because they might feel like t ...
2 Feb 2022 - Kaia Sand
OPINION | Pay attention to local government responses, homelessness in 2022 I hear a sense of despair from so many of you over the humanitarian crisis of homelessness. While many community members volunteer with community organizations and through mutual ...
5 Jan 2022 - Kaia Sand
OPINION | How should Portland and Multnomah County funding be spent for what is, in fact, a diversity of needs? How could the city of Portland possibly sweep unhoused people when there’s nowhere to go? And about those places to go — where and what should ...
26 May 2021 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | Metro’s proposed ballot measure would fund homeless services through a tax on the Portland area's wealthiest residents After a month when it seemed unlikely, Metro Council is now indicating that it will refer a homeless services bal ...
7 Feb 2020 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | If there's no funding for a compassionate response to crises on the streets, then support of the plan goes nowhere We’ve heard a tremendous response to the Portland Street Response plan published in our March 15 edition. The grounds ...
29 Mar 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | Learning from Eugene's CAHOOTS program, Portland must make it clear that a non-police response is available Just under three hours south by train and I was in Eugene, there to witness their mobile crisis support program, CAHOOTS. I ...
15 Mar 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | Plan includes some gains for homeless The Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve the Central Eastside Enhanced Services District Wednesday after an all hands-on-deck effort by the staffs of Commissioners Jo Ann Hardesty, Ch ...
6 Feb 2019 - Kaia Sand
Israel Bayer delivers some real talk about his experience fighting for people in poverty In the coming months, as I gear up for my departure from Street Roots, I’ll be writing about some reflections and lessons learned over the years. Some real talk. Isra ...
15 Sep 2017 - Israel Bayer
Oregon lawmakers have never prioritized housing in a substantial way On the same day Multnomah County announced a 10 percent increase in people experiencing homelessness, Oregon announced cuts to emergency rent assistance. If that didn’t add enough insul ...
23 Jun 2017 - Israel Bayer