DIRECTOR’S DESK | While Portland's wealthy make the city appear rich, hundreds of thousands in Multnomah County aren't able to meet basic needs The woman and a man – in their 20s, with big eyes and gentle smiles – stood next to a red sedan. Peop ...
6 Dec 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | Your generosity keeps Street Roots going, from your purchase of a newspaper and zine from a vendor to your #GivingTuesday donation It’s 7:30 a.m. Vendors are lined up at the Street Roots door. Many rise early to vacate shelters and door ...
29 Nov 2019 - Kaia Sand
COMMENTARY | Delaying acknowledgement of the monthlong celebration and giving priority to the nation's founders, the White House has once again demonstrated its disregard for Native people Since 1990, Native American Heritage Month (or a similar vari ...
22 Nov 2019 - Jacqueline Keeler and Desiree Kane
A compassionate approach to first response is popular, and we need that compassion to spill over to more areas The Portland Street Response pilot is a reality. This is a big opportunity, Portland. Now, let us take this will toward compassion, and extend i ...
22 Nov 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | Mark says that if you want to help him, you can support a just and compassionate system Mark Rodriguez’s plight with a TriMet citation struck a chord with readers. On Friday, Nov. 8, Mark told us how he’d been served a $175 citation for ...
15 Nov 2019 - Kaia Sand
We want to change the criminal justice system – and we want you to design a logo Street Roots’ office bustles with the leadership and talents of people on the streets. On one recent day, Street Roots vendors circled around Haven Wheelock of Outside In to ...
25 Oct 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | The yearly Domicile Unknown count underscores the urgent need for reliable health care At least 92 people died while experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. T hese are the highest numbers since Street Roots began releasing the an ...
16 Oct 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR'S DESK | The bigotry of the Trump administration’s immigration policy is on full display Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door These are the last lines of the poem at the Statue of Liberty, set ...
16 Aug 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | As the city explores how to pilot Portland Street Response, it’s reaching out to unhoused residents A snoring dog lay at the feet of Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty as she leaned back against a table, nodding. A woman described how when she ...
12 Jul 2019 - Kaia Sand
DIRECTOR’S DESK | Our president, who deplores the visibility of homelessness, doesn't understand the federal government’s role in the housing crisis On Monday, Trump free-associated about homelessness with Fox News’ right-wing provocateur Tucker Carl ...
3 Jul 2019 - Kaia Sand