Book Review: HILLBILLY ELEGY, J. D. Vance - by George Johnson, Rose City Presbyterian Church

HILLBILLY ELEGY is a book about an ignored component of American life – white, working poor. The author was reared in Middletown, OH after his family migrated from a “holler” in KY in search of a better life. Hillbilly culture was foreign to the family’s new environment causing difficulties in adjustment. His greater family, however, was largely successful in achieving financial gain until the “rust belt” phenomenon destroyed the economy of the city. Vance’s immediate family was dysfunctional. His mother was incapable of motherhood, and he was essentially reared by a “crotchety” grandmother who had the most influence is his life.

Vance has been successful in leaving his life of generational poverty and overcoming childhood “demons” that still haunt him. He now is a successful lawyer with a law degree from Yale. How did he succeed when many friends are dead or in Jail - questions he dwells on throughout the book as he describes the story of his life? While reading HILLBILLY ELEGY one feels how he escaped hopelessness and lack of direction through hard work and strength from his grandmother and sister. The reader understands how the social capital of his hillbilly and poverty culture was inadequate to aid his advancement, especially when he entered law school at Yale.

Why read the book? The value of the book is not to learn the history of an interesting man or a culture strange to us. It explains much about life in an environment about which most of us are completely ignorant. Vance provides, importantly from a personal perspective, an eloquent and coherent description of life’s challenges in overcoming poverty. Why has the white, poor, working class turned away from the Democratic Party and why does a person like Donald Trump appeal to them? These are questions we all need to consider and explore as we work to overcome poverty. His insights are invaluable.

Thoughtful analysis of his book (and his interviews in the media available on the internet) are necessary for all to understand the complexities of our life today.

George S. Johnson, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church

HISTORY OF STREET ROOTS

In 1999 Street Roots replaced the  “Burnside Cadillac” newspaper to become Portland's flagship publication addressing homelessness and poverty.

In 2000 Street Roots supported the creation of Dignity Village, Portland's only city-sanctioned homeless community that provides open-air alternative to shelters.  .

In 2005   Managing Editor Joanne Zuhl was awarded the Steve Lowenstein Award, and Director Israel Bayer receives the Cecil M. Shumway Fund award for service to the poor and underprivileged in Portland. A feature in the Society for News Design calls Street Roots "one of the best, if not the best, street papers in the country."

In 2006, Street Roots and the North American Street Newspaper Association joined the International Network of Street Papers, a network  that spans the globe with more than 70 newspapers and a combined circulation of 55 million.

In 2008, Street Roots Executive Director Israel bayer became the North American Street Newspaper Association Chairperson, helping build a network of strong papers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten said "Street Roots has changed the face of homelessness in Portland."

In 2009, Street Roots   launched the Rose City Resource, a 104-page booklet that offers the most comprehensive list of services in the Portland region for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Street Roots was awarded one of the best volunteer organizations by the Portland Trail Blazers.

In 2010: Street Roots joined the Society of Professional Journalists, earning three first place prizes in its first year.   Israel Bayer was awarded the Skidmore Prize for being one of the best non-profit leaders in the city under the age of 35.

In 2011   Street Roots initiated an in-depth series' on Traumatic Brain Injuries and Asperger's Syndrome, respectively. It received the Veterans for Peace award for the newspaper's on-going coverage of veterans

In 2015 Streets Roots began “weekly”  publication, after many years as a bi-weekly publication

FAREWELL LETTER FROM ISRAEL BAYER, STREET ROOTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Street Rooters, I almost can’t believe I’m writing this, but I’m announcing today that I’ll be departing Street Roots at the end of this year. I’ve lived and breathed Street Roots and homeless advocacy for the past 15 years of my life. I’ll be taking six months off to write a book and to take a breather before deciding what’s next in my life. Concerning Street Roots, the organization has never been in a better place. Under the leadership of Executive Editor Joanne Zuhl, the newspaper is thriving and will continue to do so. The organization itself is in the best financial standing it’s ever been, and we have a great team of dedicated staff, a strong board of directors and an amazing readership that will lead Street Roots into the next era. Street Roots is currently working with our board of directors on a transition plan.

How to give context to the past 15 years at Street Roots? It’s hard to describe. I’m letting go of something I’ve loved with all of my heart for most of my adult life. My love for Street Roots, the neighborhood I’ve worked in for years, and the city I live in is bigger than anything I could describe. First and foremost, the hundreds upon hundreds of hours I’ve spent with people on the streets has been by far the most rewarding. It’s also been the most heartbreaking. Being able to take part in seeing so many people rise above the trauma of homelessness and go on to do great things is inspiring. Witnessing the power of the human spirit when faced with some of the harshest living conditions in the modern world is both daunting and hopeful. It’s the reason that regardless of any of the hardships we face at Street Roots, we always remain optimistic. I’ve also witnessed more people die on the streets that I can count. Their ghosts haunt me at times, and I will also have a place in my heart for those who didn’t make it out of the hell that is homelessness.

Things I’m the most proud of are that together, as a team, we have inserted ourselves into the local media landscape, while becoming a fixture of hope and dignity for both people on the streets and readers a like. Street Roots has become an award-winning weekly publication, helping change the face of homelessness in Portland.  

 i’d argue pound for pound we are one of the best street newspapers in the world and one of the best newspapers in the Pacific Northwest. Street Roots has worked with Multnomah County and the medical examiner’s office to create an annual count of people who have died on the streets. We helped deliver Portland’s first affordable housing public ballot initiative. We continue to fight for the civil rights of people on the streets. We’ve helped maintain housing for hundreds of individuals and families. The list goes on. Street Roots isn’t afraid to think big, to plan thoughtfully and to execute. That couldn’t be done without the amazing team we have at Street Roots.

Personally, I’ve always tried to lead the organization in a way that wasn’t geared toward doing the popular thing, but the right thing — for both the organization and people on the streets. It has meant giving my blood, sweat and tears, while also experiencing some of the most traumatic and joyful times of my life. It has not always been easy to navigate the small world of Portland politics. It has meant speaking truth to power and trying – to the best of my ability – to always think about moving the issue homelessness forward, regardless of the consequences. I’ve always tried to do so with integrity, sometimes getting it right and sometimes not.

When I first started at Street Roots, there was a World War II vet named George who was sleeping on the streets near the office. I’d always go and talk with him about everything from life to Street Roots to times long gone. The most important advice he gave me when I was starting was that there are going to be times in this job when it feels like the whole world is bearing down on you — simply breath and think about who you’re here to serve. “It’s the people,” he would say. “If that’s the only thing you accomplish, than you’ve done your job.” George has long since passed on, but I still think of him and those words, especially today as I write this column and reflect. I hope it’s the people that I’ve ultimately served.

Honestly, there are so many mentors and friends I’d like to thank for helping me along my journey at Street Roots. When I took over Street Roots I had no nonprofit training or political lens in which to look at the world. It was with the help of many friends and Street Roots supporters that I owe my gratitude. I love and appreciate all of you dearly, wherever we might find ourselves on the long road.

Lastly, over the next six months I will be working with the organization to make sure that Street Roots remains strong and vibrant throughout the transition. Ultimately, from a reader perspective, you’re not going to see much of a change. The organization will march on through the good times and bad, just like it always has. The reality is Street Roots is so much bigger than any one person. I can’t say how thankful I am to have been able to take part of leading this organization and being a part of such a beautiful story. Let’s continue to make it so.

 Big love! Israel Bayer

OCTOBER 5 INTERFAITH ALLIANCE MEETING - SPEAKER: REV. MARK KNUTSON

Rev.  Mark Knutson, Pastor Augustana Lutheran Church The October 5th  Interfaith Alliance meeting will be held in Room 27,  at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Street, from 12:00 - 2:00 PM.

Rev. Mark Knutson, will reflect on  "Poverty in Portland”, as he has experienced it through his 22 years as pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church.

He advises that  he came to Augustana  in 1995 in response to "God’s call and the possibility of growing a multicultural congregation that is unafraid to step out in faith on the important issues of our day for the well being of all."

 He says that the biggest challenge now is "Discerning what the cutting edge issues of justice, peace, diversity, equity, reconciliation and inclusion are going to be and helping to position the church to be ready and relevant to be proactive with others as a voice of conscience and a move in action always ready to step out in faith to do what is right."

Following Rev. Knutson’s remarks, Interfaith Alliance Co-Chair, Carol Turner, will lead a discussion of ways the Alliance may work to improve poverty awareness and assist those in poverty during coming months.  All are welcome!

Mark Knutson, Pastor Augustana Lutheran Church

  Rev. W. J. Mark Knutson,   will reflect on "Poverty in Portland"  at  the October 5th Interfaith Alliance meeting to be held in Room 23,  at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Street, from 12:00 - 2:00 PM.   Rev Knutson came to Augustana  in 1995 in  what he calls a response to "God’s call and the possibility of growing a multicultural congregation that is unafraid to step out in faith on the important issues of our day for the well being of all."  He says that the biggest challenge is "Discerning what the cutting edge issues of justice, peace, diversity, equity, reconciliation and inclusion are going to be and helping to position the church to be ready and relevant to be proactive with others as a voice of conscience and a move in action always ready to step out in  faith to do what is right."

The Augustana website reveals that under Rev Knutson's leadership. "Augustana has grown from 243 members in 1995 to an 800-member congregation that is also home to several non-profits including the Community Alliance of Tenants, Familias en Accion, the Society for Haitian Arts, Culture and Social Support, Irvington Cooperative Preschool, the Well Arts Institute, and the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice.

"Over the past 30 years, Rev.r Knutson has served on many local and national boards and committees, and has keynoted and conducted workshops in a variety of settings. Mark completed in 2015 his term as Chair of the Northwest Health Foundation Board, and is past Chair of the Board of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and of Familias en Accion. He is on the Steering Committee for the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform. He was one of three statewide petitioners for the Freedom to Marry Ballot Initiative, and is an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow.

"In the January 2012 issue of Portland Monthly magazine, Mark was named one of the 50 Most Influential Portlanders. The issue noted his “vigorous activism” against war and in favor of immigration reform and gay rights. His congregation shares his dedication to these and other social causes that put our Christian faith into action in our world.

"Rev. Knutson was given the Heart of Sanctuary Award by the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice in 2015; named Ecumenist of the Year in 2009 by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon; Distinguished Pastor by Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley in 2009; the Fortenza Award by Desarrollo Integral de la Familia for service in the Latino community in 2014; the Drum Major for Justice Award in 2015 as a member of the AMA Police Reform Steering Committee; and one of the 50 Most Influential Portlanders by Portland Magazine in 2012. Prior to coming to Augustana he served as the National Director of Youth Ministries in Chicago for the 5.3 million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and has a M. Div. from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley. He is currently enrolled in the doctor of Ministry Program at Wesley Seminary in Washington, D. C."

CULLY NEIGHBORHOOD WALK

You are invited to accompany groups led by Malia Jimanex of Verde and/or Taren Evans of Habitat Walks on excursions around the Cully Neighborhood.  Not only will you improve your fitness,, you will get acquainted with your Cully neighbors and help them keep an eye  on  safety and livability issues.  Once in a while you may help them  pick up some trash.    . Walks start at Living Cully Plaza, 6723 NE Killingsworth.  Ample parking is  available.  

For more information, contact Marilyn Mauch at _mauch@comcast.net or Taren Evans at taren@habitatportlandmetro.org

CENTRAL CITY CONCERNS DIRECTOR, ED BLACKBURN RETIRES

Based on interview by  Molly Harbarger, the Oregonian/Oregon Live In 2008, after serving more than 10 years running Central City Concerns’ health and addiction services, Ed Blackburn became executive director of   homeless service organizations.

“In that time, he helped the organization grow from about 80 employees to 800. He has overseen $200 million in real estate development for housing and centers to provide a wide range of mental health, addiction recovery and other health services, as well as career training and employment programs. Blackburn switched from city planning to working with the city's homeless population as he was searching for spiritual clarity. In a few months, he found a place where the staff literally washed the feet of the poor and sick – in this case, because of bad cases of athlete's foot – and he found his calling.”

Although he is now stepping down, he remains involved   in the development of 380 housing units, built with $21.5 million donated from six Portland health systems. He'll move to emeritus status at the end of September.

In his interview with Molly Harbarger  Ed reflected on how the. homeless population has grown and changed, and how Central City Concern and the city have adapted to the fluctuations.

Is the current level of homelessness is a new phenomenon?   “When we thought of homelessness when I started in 1992, it was mostly what we refer to as "Skid Row," and Old Town and parts of downtown and parts of the Central Eastside. By early afternoon on most days, you'd have a hundred people just in this area of Old Town, passed out in doorways from drinking, mostly from alcohol use, some other drugs.

“Modern homelessness as we think about it today really started increasing in the 1980s when the federal government began de-investing in the building of low-income housing and switched mostly to a voucher system, tapping into the private landlord market, which had some efficacy and worked to some degree.  But now we find ourselves decades later with a huge shortage of housing for those who are 30 percent below the median income. And the marketplace doesn't build a lot of housing for those low-income levels.

Also during that time, in the wake of Vietnam, we saw a big upsurge in homeless veterans. We saw the de-institutionalization of large mental health hospitals, which was supposed to be followed by a lot of community investment in housing and community services, but that investment was never made proportionally to the de-investment in hospitals.

 The Great Recession was really a great depression for a lot of low-income people. I think we had a lot of young people here who didn't get attached to the mainstream economy and a lot of other people who lost their jobs and detached.

The opiate addiction has added a new twist, especially with the migratory population. The presence of heroin addiction is something I haven't seen before in the homeless population. So we have a swarm of things happening.

Was there ever a moment or a decision point that was a turning point?   A part of what's happening is a result of a good economy. You've got all these people moving here because it's a desirable place to live.  I think gentrification in Northeast Portland has resulted in homelessness as families have been broken up. Some of those were efforts to actually improve the neighborhoods, provide mass transportation, make the neighborhoods more desirable. But what happened is higher-income people moved in and bought the property. So a lot of lower-income people were gentrified out to East County and, for some people, they lost family connections, they lost a sense of community.

I don't think anyone anticipated the incredible rise in home prices and the housing market here 10 years ago. When we were building a new clinic in Old Town There were vacancies all over the place.  I think not investing in land banking for the future and the building of affordable housing at the lower income levels was a mistake.

We also lost a lot of single-room occupancy hotels.    Starting around 2003, the city focused on chronic homelessness. Central City Concern helped bring about $9 million in federal money and we did see that population go down. There were nights I'd go out with CHIERS, our outreach program that picks up inebriated people on the streets, and count people. Over time, there were nights when they weren't counting anybody sleeping on the streets  .We were able to get several hundred people off the streets in probably about a year. The idea was the cities were going to demonstrate success and then there'd be a big investment. The investment didn't follow the success.  It was right before the invasion of Iraq and so when those wars really got underway, all that funding stopped.

Did you see this influx of homelessness coming?

When I think of all the tens of thousands of people moving here, it seems unrealistic to expect you're not going to have homeless people among that migration

How has Central City Concern changed over the tie you've been here?  When I got here in 1992, it was like a $4 million organization with maybe 80 employees -- a lot of those were part time. Many of them making minimum wage, which was pretty minimum back then. We had a few buildings and outpatient drug treatment programs using acupuncture, which was very innovative at the time. But now we're multi-dimensional organization that does really robust health care services. We did addictions treatment back then, but now we also do really comprehensive health care services at our Old Town clinic. It's recognized as one of the best health care of the homeless clinics in the country.

We do specialty mental health services there as well. We have many more units of housing. We had no housing on the Eastside when I came here in 1992. Now, on any given night, we're housing about 2,700 people at our kids and family housing on the Eastside. And we have different types of housing -- for people in recovery, people with special needs, physical health care problems.

We added employment services and, in the last 12 months, we've placed well over 600 people in jobs, working with about 350 employers.   We're probably housing 2,000 more a year .Currently we have $87 million worth of real estate investments.

How did you shape your vision for the organization as the city changed?   When I came here, I didn't come with a vision of ending homelessness. It was more of a spiritual move. I was working on neighborhood crime issues at City Hall. So when I was hired here as the director of the Hooper Detoxification Center, I knew very little about it and I had a lot to learn

We got into health care services  Old Town Clinic, which was run by Ecumencial Ministries of Oregon – were losing so much money  they came to us and asked us to keep it open. Our board chair said we can't let it shut down so  we got into the health care business.

Are there any exciting ideas out there the city is working on now or you like as an effective way to deal with the city's level of homelessness?

Multnomah County and the city significantly upgraded their collaboration in addressing the problem with the creation of the Joint Office of Homeless Services. I think their collaboration on this issue has produced results in the short term. . Shelters ultimately don't help homelessness. It's housing that is going to solve the problem.

As you near the end of your tenure at Central City Concern, are there any people or moments you are reflecting on?  When I first came, I was asked by the executive director then how long I would be staying and I said 18 months. I was going to do a turnaround thing.

But a few incidents really got me. I think the final capping incident was a guy there who was a heroin addict and he had both of his legs amputated below his knees from abscesses that went out of control from shooting up in his lower legs. He was in there almost every day at the sobering station.

I came to work one day and the paramedics were there. He had hypothermia, and they were trying to get an IV needle into his jugular vein. But, the paramedic said these guys become so sensitive to pain and needles that their bodies can sense it.

I went over and, literally, I felt pulled to the ground and I just whispered in his ear and I said, "God loves you, but if we can't get you off the streets and we can't get you clean you're going to die in a few weeks."  He kind of looked at me and a tear rolled out of his eye. Then I left. But the staff got him into a hospital into the suburbs, because quite frankly, no one would take him here. I think they made up an identity for him. He then got out of the hospital and the staff got him into a Transition Projects homeless shelter.

A few weeks later, I get a call. It was probably about 11 o'clock at night. A staff member says, "Ed, you really need to come down." And I say, "Oh geez, what happened?"  So I walk in and I see this guy sitting in a wheelchair in the back. He looked like he was 15 years younger. He stayed sober and just wanted to thank me.

It was not just what happened with him, but the kind of angel trickery the staff were able to pull. I was very impressed. I can see them now excited to tell me they got him into the hospital.  Then I was locked in. It turned into 25

SEPTEMBER 2017 INTERFAITH ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer. Helen Hunt Jackson

Labor Day Reflections

There is a lot of talk about “jobs” these days,--jobs lost overseas, factories closed,  stagnating wages, racial discrimination, disparity in pay,  unequal distribution of wealth, etc. Consumed by today’s concerns,  we forget how far we have come from the problems of the past.

.In the late 1800s, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country.  People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.   In protest, workers banded together to demand a ban of childbor, and lobby for worker benefits including a 40-hour week, minimum wage, workplace safety,  workman’s compensation, unemployment benefits, employer provided health care, pension plans, unpaid family leave, whistleblower protections  and social security.

The struggle was not easy. The first strike broke out in 1892 at Carnegie Steel in Homestead, Pennsylvania.  The following year, a 4-day Pullman strike caused riots in  Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St.  Louis.  Over 50 lives were lost.     President Grover Cleveland called out Federal Troops.  But labor had made it’s point.  The engines of industry could not run without labor, so by the beginning of the 20^th century,  laborers were able to negotiate changes and congress began to enact legislation to improve the lives of American workers. On June 25, 1941, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, which banned “discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin.” 

 A Nationwide Holiday

The idea of a “workingmen’s holiday,” celebrated on the first Monday in September, caught on in industrial centers across the country.  In 1887, Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday, with Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York quickly following. However, it wasn’t until June 1894 that   President Grover Cleveland declared it a national holiday.  B. Gregg

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE CLERGY & MEMBERS JOIN  “MARCH FOR JUSTICE”

In our nation’s capital, on August 28^th, the anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech,  clergy   of all faiths from Protestant preachers to Jewish cantors to Catholic nuns,   demonstrated   for racial justice.  Wearing stoles, robes and yarmulkes, about 3,000 participants proceeded  on a 1.7-mile route from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to the Justice Department. The turnout was larger than anticipated, the event having been titled    “One Thousand Ministers March for Justice.”

In Portland, Oregon clergy and members of the faith community  marched as well, saying: “The Department of Justice and the current Administration are undermining Dr. King's Dream.

We are marching to reaffirm that religious leaders will recommit to being at the forefront of social justice and civil rights. As Dr. King marched for 54 years ago, we are still marching for voting rights, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and economic justice.”

Alliance leader, Tom Hering, Rose City Park Presbyterian, in above photo, observed that

 “About 400 (my guesstimate) attended the March this a.m. in downtown Portland. It was powerful to be a part of the MLK march for justice with so many faith communities!

“People I recognized from IAOP were Pastor Lynne Smouse Lopez, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, (one of the organizers of the March), Erik and Diane Anderson, Ainsworth United Church of Christ; Marie Langenes, St.Andrews Catholic Church; Beth Neal, Pastor Westminster Presbyterian; Jim Moiso, Rose City Park Presbyterian, Katie Larsell, Executive Director Unitarian Voices for Justice; David Dornack, Pastor Rose City Presbyterian; and few of the young ministers from Portsmouth Union and Salt and Light Lutheran Church, with whom Marilyn Mauch and I have been working in regard to affordable housing advocacy housing.”

CENTRAL CITY CONCERNS DIRECTOR, ED BLACKBURN RETIRES

Based on interview by  Molly Harbarger, the Oregonian/Oregon Live

In 2008, after serving more than 10 years running Central City Concerns’ health and addiction services, Ed Blackburn became executive director of   homeless service organizations.

“In that time, he helped the organization grow from about 80 employees to 800. He has overseen $200 million in real estate development for housing and centers to provide a wide range of mental health, addiction recovery and other health services, as well as career training and employment programs. Blackburn switched from city planning to working with the city's homeless population as he was searching for spiritual clarity. In a few months, he found a place where the staff literally washed the feet of the poor and sick – in this case, because of bad cases of athlete's foot – and he found his calling.”

Although he is now stepping down, he remains involved   in the development of 380 housing units, built with $21.5 million donated from six Portland health systems. He'll move to emeritus status at the end of September.

In his interview with Molly Harbarger  Ed reflected on how the. homeless population has grown and changed, and how Central City Concern and the city have adapted to the fluctuations.

Is the current level of homelessness is a new phenomenon?   “When we thought of homelessness when I started in 1992, it was mostly what we refer to as "Skid Row," and Old Town and parts of downtown and parts of the Central Eastside. By early afternoon on most days, you'd have a hundred people just in this area of Old Town, passed out in doorways from drinking, mostly from alcohol use, some other drugs.

“Modern homelessness as we think about it today really started increasing in the 1980s when the federal government began de-investing in the building of low-income housing and switched mostly to a voucher system, tapping into the private landlord market, which had some efficacy and worked to some degree.  But now we find ourselves decades later with a huge shortage of housing for those who are 30 percent below the median income. And the marketplace doesn't build a lot of housing for those low-income levels.

Also during that time, in the wake of Vietnam, we saw a big upsurge in homeless veterans. We saw the de-institutionalization of large mental health hospitals, which was supposed to be followed by a lot of community investment in housing and community services, but that investment was never made proportionally to the de-investment in hospitals.

 The Great Recession was really a great depression for a lot of low-income people. I think we had a lot of young people here who didn't get attached to the mainstream economy and a lot of other people who lost their jobs and detached.

The opiate addiction has added a new twist, especially with the migratory population. The presence of heroin addiction is something I haven't seen before in the homeless population. So we have a swarm of things happening.

Was there ever a moment or a decision point that was a turning point?   A part of what's happening is a result of a good economy. You've got all these people moving here because it's a desirable place to live.  I think gentrification in Northeast Portland has resulted in homelessness as families have been broken up. Some of those were efforts to actually improve the neighborhoods, provide mass transportation, make the neighborhoods more desirable. But what happened is higher-income people moved in and bought the property. So a lot of lower-income people were gentrified out to East County and, for some people, they lost family connections, they lost a sense of community.

I don't think anyone anticipated the incredible rise in home prices and the housing market here 10 years ago. When we were building a new clinic in Old Town There were vacancies all over the place.  I think not investing in land banking for the future and the building of affordable housing at the lower income levels was a mistake.

We also lost a lot of single-room occupancy hotels.    Starting around 2003, the city focused on chronic homelessness. Central City Concern helped bring about $9 million in federal money and we did see that population go down. There were nights I'd go out with CHIERS, our outreach program that picks up inebriated people on the streets, and count people. Over time, there were nights when they weren't counting anybody sleeping on the streets  .We were able to get several hundred people off the streets in probably about a year. The idea was the cities were going to demonstrate success and then there'd be a big investment. The investment didn't follow the success.  It was right before the invasion of Iraq and so when those wars really got underway, all that funding stopped.

 Did you see this influx of homelessness coming?

When I think of all the tens of thousands of people moving here, it seems unrealistic to expect you're not going to have homeless people among that migration

How has Central City Concern changed over the tie you've been here?  When I got here in 1992, it was like a $4 million organization with maybe 80 employees -- a lot of those were part time. Many of them making minimum wage, which was pretty minimum back then. We had a few buildings and outpatient drug treatment programs using acupuncture, which was very innovative at the time. But now we're multi-dimensional organization that does really robust health care services. We did addictions treatment back then, but now we also do really comprehensive health care services at our Old Town clinic. It's recognized as one of the best health care of the homeless clinics in the country.

We do specialty mental health services there as well. We have many more units of housing. We had no housing on the Eastside when I came here in 1992. Now, on any given night, we're housing about 2,700 people at our kids and family housing on the Eastside. And we have different types of housing -- for people in recovery, people with special needs, physical health care problems.

We added employment services and, in the last 12 months, we've placed well over 600 people in jobs, working with about 350 employers.   We're probably housing 2,000 more a year .Currently we have $87 million worth of real estate investments.

How did you shape your vision for the organization as the city changed?   When I came here, I didn't come with a vision of ending homelessness. It was more of a spiritual move. I was working on neighborhood crime issues at City Hall. So when I was hired here as the director of the Hooper Detoxification Center, I knew very little about it and I had a lot to learn

We got into health care services  Old Town Clinic, which was run by Ecumencial Ministries of Oregon – were losing so much money  they came to us and asked us to keep it open. Our board chair said we can't let it shut down so  we got into the health care business.

Are there any exciting ideas out there the city is working on now or you like as an effective way to deal with the city's level of homelessness?

Multnomah County and the city significantly upgraded their collaboration in addressing the problem with the creation of the Joint Office of Homeless Services. I think their collaboration on this issue has produced results in the short term. . Shelters ultimately don't help homelessness. It's housing that is going to solve the problem.

As you near the end of your tenure at Central City Concern, are there any people or moments you are reflecting on?  When I first came, I was asked by the executive director then how long I would be staying and I said 18 months. I was going to do a turnaround thing.

But a few incidents really got me. I think the final capping incident was a guy there who was a heroin addict and he had both of his legs amputated below his knees from abscesses that went out of control from shooting up in his lower legs. He was in there almost every day at the sobering station.

I came to work one day and the paramedics were there. He had hypothermia, and they were trying to get an IV needle into his jugular vein. But, the paramedic said these guys become so sensitive to pain and needles that their bodies can sense it.

I went over and, literally, I felt pulled to the ground and I just whispered in his ear and I said, "God loves you, but if we can't get you off the streets and we can't get you clean you're going to die in a few weeks."  He kind of looked at me and a tear rolled out of his eye. Then I left. But the staff got him into a hospital into the suburbs, because quite frankly, no one would take him here. I think they made up an identity for him. He then got out of the hospital and the staff got him into a Transition Projects homeless shelter.

A few weeks later, I get a call. It was probably about 11 o'clock at night. A staff member says, "Ed, you really need to come down." And I say, "Oh geez, what happened?"  So I walk in and I see this guy sitting in a wheelchair in the back. He looked like he was 15 years younger. He stayed sober and just wanted to thank me.

It was not just what happened with him, but the kind of angel trickery the staff were able to pull. I was very impressed. I can see them now excited to tell me they got him into the hospital.  Then I was locked in. It turned into 25 years.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

CULLY NEIGHBORHOOD WALK

You are invited to accompany groups led by Malia Jimanex of Verde and/or Taren Evans of Habitat Walks on excursions around the Cully Neighborhood.  Not only will you improve your fitness,, you will get acquainted with your Cully neighbors and help them keep an eye  on  safety and livability issues.  Once in a while you may help them  pick up some trash.    . Walks start at Living Cully Plaza, 6723 NE Killingsworth.  Ample parking is  available.

For more information, contact Marilyn Mauch at _mauch@comcast.net or Taren Evans at taren@habitatportlandmetro.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

ALLIANCE MEETING – October 5

Next meeting of the Interfaith Alliance will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church, Room 27, from 12:00-2:00 PM.

AUGUST 2017 INTERFAITH ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. Frederick Douglass  The Interfaith Alliance newsletter is produced by the Poverty Awareness & Communication Workgroup. Website:  :allianceonpoverty.org                                  Contact:   Bonniejgregg@msn.com 2017 HOMELESS REPORT FOR MULTNOMAH COUNTY Reported by David Groff and John Elizalde Every year Multnomah  County and the City of Portland  volunteers and outreach  workers combine efforts to do a comprehensive “point in time” count of children and adults experiencing homelessness. This year the count occurred on February 22, 2017, and revealed that “11.6% fewer people” were sleeping without shelter.  It is believed that this is the result of the community’s “investment in rent assistance, housing placements and more than 600 new shelter beds.” “In the Portland area, the average one-bedroom apartment now rents for more than $1,100 a month.“ Rents have grown 20 times faster than the median income since 2015, leaving minimum wage earners with little to cover other expenses. In addition, more than 18,000 people in Multnomah County rely on federal disability checks that top out at $735 a month. For more information, email ahomeforeveryone.net MARK YOUR CALENDAR –      AUGUST 31 YOU are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Interfaith Alliance which will be held at   the Madeleine Parish Fireside Room, 3123 NE 24,  from 12:00 - 2:00 PM,  Featured speakers will be: Israel Bayer, Street Roots Executive Director and Lori Lematta, Street Roots Vendor Street Roots provides income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty by producing a newspaper and other media that are catalysts for individual and social change. Israel Bayer has been working at Street Roots, founded in 1998, for the past 15 years.  In Jessica Pollard’s article in the Willamette Week, she says  he has “become one of Portland's leading moral authorities on homelessness." "Personally”  Israel says, “ I've always tried to lead the organization in a way that wasn't geared toward doing the popular thing, but the right thing — for both the organization and people on the streets,"   Lori Lematta has been selling Street Roots for three years. She will share her personal story.  "MAN WITH MANY HATS"- Excerpts from article written by Robin Schauffler ,   STREET ROOTS,  Sept 17, 2016 “Tom Lechner is an art teacher, IT expert, photographer, facilities manager and role model. He’s also the one who makes sure dozens of homeless children get to school each day. "Tom Lechner is also the transportation coordinator at Community Transition School in Portland.  The private, non-profit school for children experiencing homelessness serves about 80 students per day - this year 221 students total, from 121 families.  He sits at a schoolroom-style desk in one corner of a busy office, a computer screen in front of him, folders of paperwork on the desk, pen in hand, phone at the ready. He’s a tall, slim guy with tightly curling black hair showing wisps of gray, and frameless glasses perched on his nose. It’s his job to get 80 elementary school children to school every day, no matter where they may have spent the night. ”All of the CTS students are homeless. They live in cheap motels or doubled-up in the apartments of relatives or friends; they sleep in shelters or in family cars or outside on the street. Some students might be in the school for just a day; others have stayed for years. The average length of stay is 13 weeks. “CTS takes care of these complexities one family at a time, wherever they are. How do they do it? Size and intimacy explain a lot. It’s a small, close-knit school; everyone knows everyone. They don’t have to follow each federal guideline. They can be in touch with every family, answer every call. “ Once a week, Tom teaches a drawing class for a group of lucky students. There are other regular art classes, with all kinds of materials, but in Tom’s class, he said, “we usually just use paper and pencil.” Tom calls it observational drawing, but the kids simply call it Art with Tom. The application process is “astonishingly simple:   no birth certificate, no proof of immunization, no paperwork. And no tuition. Families learn of CTS through word of mouth, and the shelters and other support organizations post signs and help spread the word. CTS maintains a close relationship with those in social services; the school depends on these people to help homeless families learn about CTS. A parent calls,  gives the child’s name and birth date, and most recent grade level, and “in five minutes,”  they’re on Tom’s list for the next morning. “Tom may have to figure out where a family has moved. Once, when parents didn’t call in, Juli Osa told the child, “Find an envelope that has an address on it, and tell us what it says, and then we’ll figure out where to go.” Every day, that second grader read out a new address, and called in to say where she was. She moved 22 times that year. This past year, one student moved 13 times in 110 days, and missed only two days of school. “If a child doesn’t show up at the morning bus stop, Tom or someone in the office will call to find out what’s going on – but if they can’t get through and the child doesn’t show up for a couple of days, they stop sending the bus. It’s a painful part of the job: “You get to know the kids, and then they’re gone.” “A lot depends on the kids’ initiative,” he said. “They have to figure it out. Somehow, magically, they find a way to get here.” It’s a remarkable place, and magic doesn’t seem too strong a word. What would Tom most want others to know about the Community Transitional School? He answers slowly, pausing to think, and finally decides: “That it exists.” NOTES FROM THE CULLY MOBILE PARK WORK CREW “Several of us from the Interfaith Alliance on the Poverty Advocacy group were at the Arbor Mobile Home Park last Friday, July 28,  as part of a Living Cully project.  David Groff, Westminster Presbyterian Church, helped build  a stairway and Les Wardenaar, Fremont Methodist Church helped with window caulking. Marilyn Mauch, Fremont Methodist Church, myself, another Central Lutheran member and a friend of mine prepared a dinner meal for the group.” Sarah Carolus, Central Lutheran Church  “David Groff built the stairs at Cedar Shade Mobile Home Park.  The rest of us were at Arbor Mobile Home Park.”  Marilyn Mauch Fremont Methodist Church  “Thank you for bringing food to the Living Cully work project last night. You probably saw Les who was doing some caulking at the first of two mobile homes we worked on.  “ I worked with a group that built steps for a recently rebuilt porch on the other mobile home.  We managed to finish both sets of steps, which was much appreciated by the owners of the mobile home.  “I enjoyed working with the Living Cully folks.  Cameron is an impressive organizer with excellent Spanish language skills.” David Groff, Westminster Presbyterian Church INTERFAITH ALLIANCE  YEAR-END MEETING Alliance Co-Chair, Carol Turner, Tallies  2016-2017 Achievements On June 29, 2017 members and friends of the Interfaith Alliance gathered to enjoy a potluck and review accomplishments of the past year. Tom Hering, Co-Leader, with Sally Fraser, of the Advocacy Work Group described actions taken to support tenants’ rights,  protest no-cause evictions,   promote  affordable housing and recommend legislation. Working with groups within the community including Living Cully and St. Charles Church, the Advocacy group has been active participating in efforts to produce positive change,  joining a number of  rallies at both the City Hall and the  State Capitol as well as supporting renters  throughout Northeast Portland. Rae Richen, Co-Leader, with Dave Albertine, of the Transition to Stability Work Group, reported that working with the Village Support Network, a number of Alliance churches have been able to assist homeless families   in finding stable housing.  Since the Village Support Network was forced to close on May 1, 2017, the Transition to Stability work group is now exploring other options for helping families out of homelessness. John  Elizalde, Co-Leader, with Bonnie Gregg,  of the Becoming Poverty Aware & Communication Work Group,  reported on activities staged this year. Poverty Curriculum seminars were presented at  Fremont Methodist by Love, Inc.,  and  at Westminster Presbyterian and First Unitarian churches by Rev. Connie Yost. In cooperation with the 15th annual “Everybody Reads Program” sponsored by the Multnomah County Library, the Alliance promoted reading of   “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond. Rae Richen obtained a grant   to enable the Alliance to provide ten Evicted books to each of the Alliance congregations    to share with their members and the community, Holly Schmidt and Claudia Roberts organized a number of events to promote the Everybody Reads program. On May 10, 2017,  Dr. Mandy Davis, of  Trauma Informed Care, presented a 4-hour seminar at the Madeleine Parish which was attended by about 60 people. The Alliance newsletter is beginning its second year of monthly publication, the Alliance website allianceonpoverty.org was launched in March 2017, and the Alliance Facebook page will be available soon. Jessica Rojas,  NE Coalition of Neighbors Program Manager,  shared her personal story. Jessica’s family was poor.  They endured the challenges confronted by poor people everywhere, struggling to find work, food, and shelter.  She also learned that real wealth is found not in accumulation of possessions, but in the relationships we forge within our families and  communities. College educated, Jessica has become a leader among those advocating both for those in poverty and the health of our environment. She observed that we tend to think of poverty in relation to lack of money, but Jessica directed our attention to other factors. When the land, rivers, oceans and air become polluted, other kinds of poverty result.  No longer is there clean water to drink, fresh air to breathe, bees to pollinate our plants, soil to produce healthy crops, seas abundant with life, and forests to cleanse the atmosphere.        Jessica commented that if we do not address   threats to our environment, one day we may see the number of “climate refugees”   rival the number of  refugees now struggling to escape war zones.   When seas rise and crops fail, people will flee. Other types of human experiences reflect poverty as well.     Immigrants  and refugees experience “poverty of homeland” living in daily fear of deportation and broken families.    People of color and different religions  experience the “poverty of discrimination.”   The elderly, the mentally ill, the addicted, the homeless—those who find themselves no longer connected with family or friends who have become strangers in their own communities,  experience  the “poverty of loneliness.”  Mother Teresa has said, “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” Jessica observed that faith communities have traditionally responded to those in need. Working together, she is hopeful we can address all issues of poverty and create a healthy, caring community in Portland. df To contact:  Email Bonniejgregg@msn.com The Interfaith Alliance newsletter is produced by the Poverty Awareness & Communication Workgroup. To contact:  Email Bonniejgregg@msn.com

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2017 HOMELESS REPORT FOR MULTNOMAH COUNTY

Reported by David Groff and John Elizalde

Every year Multnomah  County and the City of Portland  volunteers and outreach  workers combine efforts to do a comprehensive “point in time” count of children and adults experiencing homelessness.

This year the count occurred on February 22, 2017, and revealed that “11.6% fewer people” were sleeping without shelter.  It is believed that this is the result of the community’s “investment in rent assistance, housing placements and more than 600 new shelter beds.”

“In the Portland area, the average one-bedroom apartment now rents for more than $1,100 a month.“ Rents have grown 20 times faster than the median income since 2015, leaving minimum wage earners with little to cover other expenses.

In addition, more than 18,000 people in Multnomah County rely on federal disability checks that top out at $735 a month.

For more information, email ahomeforeveryone.net

MARK YOUR CALENDAR –      AUGUST 31

YOU are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Interfaith Alliance which will be held at   the Madeleine Parish Fireside Room, 3123 NE 24,  from 12:00 - 2:00 PM,

Featured Speakers will be:

Juli Osa, Developmental Director of the Community Transition School

Juli will share the mission and operation of the Community Transition School.  CTS was  founded in 1990 to provide a haven of learning for homeless children aged 4-14 in Multnomah, and sections of Clackamas and Washington counties. Key to the CTS Education is the CTS Bus. Once referred to the Community Transition School, a student can depend that a CTS Bus will show up promptly every school day morning to take him or her to school. It doesn’t matter whether his or her home is a shelter or the back of a car.

Lori Lematta, Street Roots Newspaper

Lori has been selling Street Roots for three years. She will share her personal story. We learn from the web that Street Roots “creates income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty by producing a newspaper and other media that are catalysts for individual and social change.

  “A MAN WITH MANY HATS”,  Excerpts from article written by Robin Schauffler ,   STREET ROOTS,  Sept 17, 2016

“Tom Lechner is an art teacher, IT expert, photographer, facilities manager and role model. He’s also the one who makes sure dozens of homeless children get to school each day. C

“Tom Lechner is also the transportation coordinator at Community Transitional School in Portland. The private, nonprofit school for children experiencing homelessness serves about 80 students per day – this year 221 students total from 121 families.

“Tom Lechner sits at a schoolroom-style desk in one corner of a busy office, a computer screen in front of him, folders of paperwork on the desk, pen in hand, phone at the ready. He’s a tall, slim guy with tightly curling black hair showing wisps of gray, and frameless glasses perched on his nose. It’s his job to get 80 elementary school children to school every day, no matter where they may have spent the night.

”All of the CTS students are homeless. They live in cheap motels or doubled-up in the apartments of relatives or friends; they sleep in shelters or in family cars or outside on the street. Some students might be in the school for just a day; others have stayed for years. The average length of stay is 13 weeks.

“CTS takes care of these complexities one family at a time, wherever they are. How do they do it? Size and intimacy explain a lot. It’s a small, close-knit school; everyone knows everyone. They don’t have to follow each federal guideline. They can be in touch with every family, answer every call.

“ Once a week, Tom teaches a drawing class for a group of lucky students. There are other regular art classes, with all kinds of materials, but in Tom’s class, he said, “we usually just use paper and pencil.” Tom calls it observational drawing, but the kids simply call it Art with Tom.

The application process is “astonishingly simple:   no birth certificate, no proof of immunization, no paperwork. And no tuition. Families learn of CTS through word of mouth, and the shelters and other support organizations post signs and help spread the word. CTS maintains a close relationship with those in social services; the school depends on these people to help homeless families learn about CTS.

A parent calls,  gives the child’s name and birth date, and most recent grade level, and “in five minutes,”  they’re on Tom’s list for the next morning.

“Tom may have to figure out where a family has moved. Once, when parents didn’t call in, Juli Osa told the child, “Find an envelope that has an address on it, and tell us what it says, and then we’ll figure out where to go.” Every day, that second grader read out a new address, and called in to say where she was. She moved 22 times that year. This past year, one student moved 13 times in 110 days, and missed only two days of school.

“If a child doesn’t show up at the morning bus stop, Tom or someone in the office will call to find out what’s going on – but if they can’t get through and the child doesn’t show up for a couple of days, they stop sending the bus. It’s a painful part of the job: “You get to know the kids, and then they’re gone.”

“A lot depends on the kids’ initiative,” he said. “They have to figure it out. Somehow, magically, they find a way to get here.” It’s a remarkable place, and magic doesn’t seem too strong a word.

What would Tom most want others to know about the Community Transitional School? He answers slowly, pausing to think, and finally decides: “That it exists.”

NOTES FROM THE CULLY MOBILE PARK WORK CREW

“Several of us from the Interfaith Alliance on the Poverty Advocacy group were at the Arbor Mobile Home Park last Friday, July 28,  as part of a Living Cully project.

David Groff, Westminster Presbyterian Church, helped build  a stairway and Les Wardenaar, Fremont Methodist Church helped with window caulking. Marilyn Mauch, Fremont Methodist Church, myself, another Central Lutheran member and a friend of mine prepared a dinner meal for the group.” Sarah Carolus, Central Lutheran Church

“David Groff built the stairs at Cedar Shade Mobile Home Park.  The rest of us were at Arbor Mobile Home Park.”  Marilyn Mauch Fremont Methodist Church

“Thank you for bringing food to the Living Cully work project last night. You probably saw Les who was doing some caulking at the first of two mobile homes we worked on.

“ I worked with a group that built steps for a recently rebuilt porch on the other mobile home.  We managed to finish both sets of steps, which was much appreciated by the owners of the mobile home.

“I enjoyed working with the Living Cully folks.  Cameron is an impressive organizer with excellent Spanish language skills.” David Groff, Westminster Presbyterian Church

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE  YEAR-END MEETING

Alliance Co-Chair, Carol Turner, Tallies  2016-2017 Achievements

On June 29, 2017 members and friends of the Interfaith Alliance gathered to enjoy a potluck and review accomplishments of the past year.

Tom Hering, Co-Leader, with Sally Fraser, of the Advocacy Work Group described actions taken to support tenants’ rights,  protest no-cause evictions,   promote  affordable housing and recommend legislation.

Working with groups within the community including Living Cully and St. Charles Church, the Advocacy group has been active participating in efforts to produce positive change,  joining a number of  rallies at both the City Hall and the  State Capitol as well as supporting renters  throughout Northeast Portland.

Rae Richen, Co-Leader, with Dave Albertine, of the Transition to Stability Work Group, reported that working with the Village Support Network, a number of Alliance churches have been able to assist homeless families   in finding stable housing. 

Since the Village Support Network was forced to close on May 1, 2017, the Transition to Stability work group is now exploring other options for helping families out of homelessness.

John  Elizalde, Co-Leader, with Bonnie Gregg,  of the Becoming Poverty Aware & Communication Work Group,  reported on activities staged this year.

Poverty Curriculum seminars were presented at  Fremont Methodist by Love, Inc.,  and  at Westminster Presbyterian and First Unitarian churches by Rev. Connie Yost.

In cooperation with the 15th annual “Everybody Reads Program” sponsored by the Multnomah County Library, the Alliance promoted reading of   “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond.

Rae Richen obtained a grant   to enable the Alliance to provide ten Evicted books to each of the Alliance congregations    to share with their members and the community,

Holly Schmidt and Claudia Roberts organized a number of events to promote the Everybody Reads program.

On May 10, 2017,  Dr. Mandy Davis, of  Trauma Informed Care, presented a 4-hour seminar at the Madeleine Parish which was attended by about 60 people.

The Alliance newsletter is beginning its second year of monthly publication, the Alliance website allianceonpoverty.org was launched in March 2017, and the Alliance Facebook page will be available soon.

Jessica Rojas,  NE Coalition of Neighbors Program Manager,  shared her personal story.

Jessica’s family was poor.  They endured the challenges confronted by poor people everywhere, struggling to find work, food, and shelter.  She also learned that real wealth is found not in accumulation of possessions, but in the relationships we forge within our families and  communities.

College educated, Jessica has become a leader among those advocating both for those in poverty and the health of our environment.

She observed that we tend to think of poverty in relation to lack of money, but Jessica directed our attention to other factors.

When the land, rivers, oceans and air become polluted, other kinds of poverty result.  No longer is there clean water to drink, fresh air to breathe, bees to pollinate our plants, soil to produce healthy crops, seas abundant with life, and forests to cleanse the atmosphere.        Jessica commented that if we do not address   threats to our environment, one day we may see the number of “climate refugees”   rival the number of  refugees now struggling to escape war zones.   When seas rise and crops fail, people will flee.

Other types of human experiences reflect poverty as well.     Immigrants  and refugees experience “poverty of homeland” living in daily fear of deportation and broken families.    People of color and different religions  experience the “poverty of discrimination.”   The elderly, the mentally ill, the addicted, the homeless—those who find themselves no longer connected with family or friends who have become strangers in their own communities,  experience  the “poverty of loneliness.”

 Mother Teresa has said, “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

Jessica observed that faith communities have traditionally responded to those in need. Working together, she is hopeful we can address all issues of poverty and create a healthy, caring community in Portland.

Jessica Rojas, NE Coalition of Neighbors Program Manager, shared her personal story.

Jessica’s family was poor.  They endured the challenges confronted by poor people around the world, struggling to find work, food, and shelter.  She also learned that real wealth is found not in accumulation of possessions, but in the relationships we forge within our families and  communities.

College educated, Jessica has become a leader among those advocating both for those in poverty and the health of our environment.

We tend to think of poverty in relation to lack of money, but Jessica directed our attention to other factors.  When the land, rivers, oceans and air become polluted, other kinds of poverty result.  No longer is there clean water to drink, fresh air to breathe, bees to pollinate our plants, soil to produce healthy crops, seas abundant with life, and forests to cleanse the atmosphere.        Jessica commented that if we do not address   threats to our environment, one day we may see the number of “climate refugees”   rival the number of  refugees now struggling to escape war zones.   When seas rise and crops fail, people will flee.

Other types of human experiences reflect poverty as well.     Immigrants  and refugees experience “poverty of homeland” living in daily fear of deportation and broken families.    People of color and different religions  experience the “poverty of discrimination.”   The elderly, the mentally ill, the addicted, the homeless—those who find themselves no longer connected with family or friends who have become strangers in their own communities,  experience  the “poverty of loneliness.”

 Mother Teresa has said, “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

Jessica observed that faith communities have traditionally responded to those in need. Working together, she is hopeful we can address all issues of poverty and create a healthy, caring community in Portland. 

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE YEAR-END MEETING

Alliance Co-Chair, Carol Turner Tallies 2016-2017 Achievements

On June 29, 2017 members and friends of the Interfaith Alliance gathered to enjoy a potluck and review accomplishments of the last year.

Tom Hering, Co-Leader, with Sally Fraser, of the Advocacy Work Group described actions taken to support tenants’ rights,  protest no-cause evictions,   promote  affordable housing and recommend legislation.

Working with groups within the community including Living Cully and St. Charles Church, the Advocacy group has been active participating in efforts to produce positive change,   joining a number of  rallies at both the City Hall and the  State Capitol.

Rae Richen, Co-Leader, with Dave Albertine, of the Transition to Stability Work Group, reported that working with the Village Support Network, a number of Alliance churches have been able to assist homeless families   in finding stable housing. 

Since the Village Support Network was forced to close on May 1, 2017, the Transition to Stability work group is now exploring other options for helping families out of homelessness.

John  Elizalde, Co-Leader, with Bonnie Gregg,  of the Becoming Poverty Aware & Communication Work Group,  reported on activities staged this year.

Poverty Curriculum seminars were presented at Westminster Presbyterian and First Unitarian churches by Rev. Connie Yost.

In cooperation with the 15th annual “Everybody Reads Program” sponsored by the Multnomah County Library, the Alliance promoted reading of   “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond.

Rae Richen obtained a grant   to enable the Alliance to provide “Evicted” books to each of the Alliance congregations    to share with their members and the community,

Holly Schmidt and Claudia Roberts organized a number of events to promote the Everybody Reads program.

On May 10, 2017,  Dr. Mandy Davis, of  Trauma Informed Care, presented a 4-hour seminar at the Madeleine Parish which was attended by about 60 people.

The Alliance newsletter is beginning itssecond year of monthly publication, the Alliance website allianceonpoverty.org was launched in March 2017, and the Alliance Facebook page will be available soon.

EXCERPTS FROM: “A MAN WITH MANY HATS”, by Robin Schauffler , STREET ROOTS, Sept 17, 2016

Tom Lechner is an art teacher, IT expert, photographer, facilities manager and role model. He’s also the one who makes sure dozens of homeless children get to school each day. C Tom Lechner is also the transportation coordinator at Community Transitional School in Portland. The private, nonprofit school for children experiencing homelessness serves about 80 students per day – this year 221 students total from 121 families.

Tom Lechner sits at a schoolroom-style desk in one corner of a busy office, a computer screen in front of him, folders of paperwork on the desk, pen in hand, phone at the ready. He’s a tall, slim guy with tightly curling black hair showing wisps of gray, and frameless glasses perched on his nose. It’s his job to get 80 elementary school children to school every day, no matter where they may have spent the night.

As transportation coordinator, Tom is crucial to the Community Transitional School on Northeast Killingsworth Street. The CTS serves one special sector of the metro area’s population of school-age children: All of the students are homeless. They live in cheap motels or doubled-up in the apartments of relatives or friends; they sleep in shelters or in family cars or outside, on the street. Some students might be in the school for just a day; others have stayed for years. The average length of stay is 13 weeks.

CTS takes care of these complexities one family at a time, wherever they are. How do they do it? Size and intimacy explain a lot. It’s a small, close-knit school; everyone knows everyone. They don’t have to follow each federal guideline. They can be in touch with every family, answer every call.

And they have Tom.  He had no experience with homeless people before coming to CTS. But, he said, “I always had this urge to do something that had some sort of good mission to it.”

He’s been touched by seeing the things these kids deal with on a daily basis.

“Sometimes there are circumstances that just stick with you through the evening, and that’s hard.” He looked down and turned his palms up, a small gesture, matter-of-fact.

“I’m a newcomer here,” Tom said, downplaying his role in a way I came to learn was typical. In fact, he’s been running the school’s transportation system for about 10 years.

Before getting the transportation job, Tom was the school’s night janitor. He had been studying physics and math, but at some point, he said, “I noticed I was spending all my time making art, so I dropped out and went off to be an artist.” He graduated from Pacific Northwest College of Art in 1998, and it was tough to find work.

He heard about the janitorial job through friends. “It sounded great, interesting. And part time, so I’d still have time to do art.”

One by one, he acquired other responsibilities. “Whenever they had a computer problem, I’d be just hovering in the background, and I think it was just kind of noticed.” He became – informally – the school’s entire tech department. Then in August 2006, the transportation job opened up, and there he was.

“Every single part of it was difficult,” he said of the early days. “Figuring out all the laws, and then the requirements of the parents. And getting the buses repaired. If it’s just changing lights or something simple, I do it.”

He still makes art, and he’s become the school’s main photographer. Once a week, he teaches a drawing class for a group of lucky students. There are other regular art classes, with all kinds of materials, but in Tom’s class, he said, “we usually just use paper and pencil.” Tom calls it observational drawing, but the kids simply call it Art with Tom.

Tom arrives each morning by bicycle before the buses and settles in at his desk. His first task of the day is to take out the kitchen trash.

He enjoys the diversity of people who come through the doors and interact in the busy, welcoming office: the homeless children and their parents; the dedicated staff and teachers; the many volunteers from all over town, coming in just to help out for a few hours; the neighbors dropping by to donate clothing or school supplies; the high school kids from Lake Oswego who collected breakfast cereal; the big donors bringing a check for a thousand dollars. Everyone becomes part of the team.

What holds this team together is the focus on children. Every CTS student shares the stresses that children with a stable home do not understand – even tease them for. They may be escaping domestic violence, or a parent has lost a job, or there’s been a medical crisis that left the family unable to pay rent. They are all equals in that one important way; no one’s going to put anyone down for where he or she lives. And there are new students every week. It’s one of the benefits, Tom points out: “You’re never the new kid for very long. That’s a great situation.”

Founded in 1990 as part of Portland Public Schools and originally housed at the YWCA downtown, CTS is today a registered private school, an independent nonprofit organization serving homeless children. It’s the only such school in the state. With about 80 students each day – this year 221 students from 121 families – it can reach only a tiny portion of the homeless children in the metropolitan area. But the school does what it can. It operates on a tight budget with a staff of three full-time teachers, one part-time Title I teacher, two teacher’s aides, three office staffers, one meal server, four bus drivers, and many loyal volunteers – all focused on the school’s mission of providing to these children “a place where they have room to learn, laugh with friends and build hope,” according to the school’s website.

Osa outlined the astonishingly simple application process: no birth certificate, no proof of immunization, no paperwork. And no tuition. Families learn of CTS through word of mouth, and the shelters and other support organizations post signs and help spread the word. CTS maintains a close relationship with those in social services; the school depends on these people to help homeless families learn about CTS. A parent calls and gives the child’s name and birth date and most recent grade level, and “in five minutes,” Osa said, “they’re on Tom’s list for the next morning.”

Tom may have to figure out where a family has moved. Once, when parents didn’t call in, Osa told the child, “Find an envelope that has an address on it, and tell us what it says, and then we’ll figure out where to go.” Every day, that second grader read out a new address, and called in to say where she was. She moved 22 times that year. This past year, one student moved 13 times in 110 days, and missed only two days of school.

“Usually I’ll figure out approximately which bus a child should go on and what route,” Tom said, “but that doesn’t always translate into a realistic picture of how things will actually work, and the drivers – sometimes they’ll have to decide what makes sense, which side of the street they can pick up on. If an apartment looks seedy, they might not want to let the kid off until they see a parent there. Or if the kid’s never been there before, he might say, ‘I’m not gettin’ off here!’”

If a child doesn’t show up at the morning bus stop, Tom or someone in the office will call to find out what’s going on – but if they can’t get through and the child doesn’t show up for a couple of days, they stop sending the bus. It’s a painful part of the job: “You get to know the kids, and then they’re gone.”

Osa described what these families deal with: “It’s chaotic, a brutal lifestyle. Outside of school, it’s near-constant instability.”

Once the children arrive at CTS each day, they’re safe, well-fed and cared for. For homeless families, that may seem more important than the education the kids are getting, she said; many of their parents didn’t finish school.

He said that what he should have is buses that never break down, and he’d like to be able to pay drivers better. But he makes do. When a bus does break down on the road and can’t be repaired right there, there’s no back-up bus waiting at school. Tom has to call on local taxi companies to rescue the kids. Yes, it’s expensive, but what else can he do? The kids are depending on him.

“Behind Tom’s desk, there’s a huge pink heart made from construction paper. It’s decorated with messages, in children’s practiced handwriting – a list of words to describe Tom: happy, clever, good artist

(“Without you, I wouldn’t have known what shading is”), good with computers, helpful, organized, brave, “helps us with our math problems,” “has a big job.” And thank-you notes: Thank you for the keys to the bathroom. Thank you for lifting the tables at lunchtime, for driving the bus, for bringing color into our lives. And one last note: The unsung hero of CTS.

Tom dismisses any talk of his own ccomplishments and puts it all on the children. He doesn’t get them to school, he insists; they do it.

“A lot depends on the kids’ initiative,” he said. “They have to figure it out. Somehow, magically, they find a way to get here.” It’s a remarkable place, and magic doesn’t seem too strong a word. What would Tom most want others to know about the Community Transitional

2017 HOMELESS REPORT FOR MULTNOMAH COUNTY Reported by David Groff and John Elizalde

Every year Multnomah  County and the City of Portland  volunteers and outreach  workers combine efforts to do a comprehensive “point in time” count of children and adults experiencing homelessness. This year the count occurred on February 22, 2017, and revealed that “11.6 fewer people” were sleeping without shelter.  It is believed that this is the result of the community’s “investment in rent assistance, housing placements and more than 600 new shelter beds.”

“In the Portland area, the average one-bedroom apartment now rents for more than $1,100 a month.“ Rents have grown 20 times faster than the median income since 2015, leaving minimum wage earners with little to cover other expenses.

In addition, more than 18,000 people in Multnomah County rely on federal disability checks that top out at $735 a month.

For more information, email ahomeforeveryone.net

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Cully Mobile Home Repair/Maintenance If you have a few hours to spare,   your help is needed to clean up and upgrade Cedar Shade and Arbor Mobile Home Parks.  Marilyn Mauch says, “I’m 83 going on 84 next year, so I can’t do any heavy lifting, but I can sure clean mold.  And,” she added, “It’s a great way to meet your neighbors!”  Whatever your skill level, your help would be appreciated.

Friday, July 6 and Friday, July 7 2-8 Miscellaneous/ General Repairs Cedar Shade Mobile Park, 7120 NE Killingsworth

Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15^{th -}  9 Am-1PM   - Roof Repair – Meet at Living Cully Plaza, 6723 NE Killingsworth

Thursday, July 27 and Friday July 28:  10AM-4PM – Miscellaneous/General Repairs – Arbor Mobile Home Park, 6415 NE  Killingsworth Street

Sunday, July 30, 2-8PM, Window Repair – Cedar Shade, 7120 NE Killingsworth, and Arbor Mobile Home Parks, 6415 NE Killingsworth.

To sign up:  Email Brenna Bailey:  bbailey@stcharlespdx.org

SAINT FRANCIS APARTMENTS

Home Forward is partnering with Catholic Charities and St. Francis of Assisi Parish to create an affordable housing community located in   inner Southeast Portland The plan for the St. Francis Apartments is to develop 102 apartment units that will include 73 studios, 28 one-bedroom units, one two bedroom unit and 33 parking spaces.

Ninety percent of the units will be for families earning less than 60 percent of the median income and ten percent will be units for those earning less than 30 percent of the median income. In addition 25 units will be reserved for victims of domestic or sexual violence.

The building will extend the full length of SE 12th Ave., along SE Stark St. and then continue halfway up SE 11th Ave. The apartment building will cover about fifty percent of the block. Most of the north half of the park will be landscaped as a semi-private open space

The project will replace a private park adjacent to St. Francis of Assisi Parish.  St Francis Dining Hall, located in the basement of the church, serves 150-300 hot meals   daily to the homeless of the area.    Ground breaking for the housing project is expected in December of this year.

Home Forward is now the largest provider of affordable housing in Oregon.  It has served all of Multnomah County, including the cities of Portland and Gresham, since 1992.  The agency owns 2,600 public housing  3,700 affordable housing and administers 8,200 Section 8 housing assistance vouchers.*

 NOTE: The Home Forward (HF) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently CLOSED. It was last open for five days in September 2016, and prior to that in November 2012. There is no notice of when the list will reopen and vouchers become available.    There are currently 3,000 on the waiting list.  

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CULLY

At the May Alliance Planning Meeting, Cameron Herrington, explained how Living Cully works to expand affordable housing and prevent the displacement of residents threatened by rapidly increasing housing costs.  Cully is the “the most diverse community in the state”, with 50% people of color, immigrants, and refugees.  Public transportation is limited; parks and libraries are lacking; sidewalks are few and streets have pot holes. Through its work in NE Portland’s Cully Neighborhood, Living Cully works to prevent displacement and assist low income residents in their fight against rising rents.

When residents of the Normandy Apartments,   received notice last December that their rents had more than  “doubled” from $630 to $1320  per month, Living Cully jumped in to help.  They assisted the tenants in organizing a march and   getting an attorney.   The owner agreed to postpone the rent  increase until July 1, enabling children to remain in their current school placement through the end of the school year.

This decision gave the tenants some breathing room, but they still needed to find affordable housing.  Living Cully posted a message on the social media site “Next Door.”  In response, Nancy  Hiss offered an ADU “accessory dwelling unit” that she had built in her backyard to accommodate her parents, who are now deceased.  At $900 a month, it was the answer to  Normandy apartment tenant, Michelle Labra’s prayers.

The Interfaith Alliance has participated with Living Cully in supporting   the Normandy apartment tenants and   Oak Leaf mobile home park residents to achieve affordable housing.  Living Cully partners include  Habitat for Humanity Portland Metro East, Haciendas Community Development Corporation, NAYA  (Native American Youth and Family Center) and Verde.

STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS NOW DECIDING WHERE ”OUR MONEY” WILL GO

While members of the Interfaith Alliance rallied in  Salem, in  Washington, D.C., our representatives are gathering to consider the budget which has been proposed by our President.  

ON THE CUTTING BLOCK:

----Health and Human Service  cut 12.6 billion - .

$4.2 billion will be  eliminated from community services programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.   National Institutes of Health will be cut by $5.8 billion.

----Education - cut 9.2 billion   -     After school and summer programs will be eliminated. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant for college students will be eliminated.

----Housing and Urban Development -  cut 4.3 billion  by eliminating Community Block Development Block Grant to fund anti-poverty programs, rental assistance, home ownership programs, and housing initiatives.

----Labor – cut 9.6 billion, scaling back job training programs including those aimed at helping seniors, disadvantaged young people and unemployed Americans.  Training grants for occupational safety and health administration would be eliminated.

----Diplomacy and development would be severely cut, impacting: the United Nations. Climate-change initiatives at the United Nations would lose all their U.S. funding. The government would cut back its regular contribution to the U.N. and would pay no more than 25 percent of the cost of U.N. peacekeeping operations.

----The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s grants and programs for coastal and marine management, research and education would be eliminated and the Minority Business Development Agency, which supports minority-owned businesses would be reduced..

----The E.P.A. is among the hardest-hit agencies. The budget calls for the elimination of about 3,200 staff positions — over 20 percent of the department.

It would also eliminate all funding for enactment of the Clean Power Plan, the regulations designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions from power plants  Funding for climate change research and international climate change programs would be eliminated.

----Programs to support research of breakthrough clean energy technology, including the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program   would be eliminated.

----Nearly 20 smaller independent agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Legal Services Corporation, which finances legal aid groups would be eliminated.

BIG WINNER:    Defense Budget Increase by $574 billion.

NEWSLETTER – JULY 2017

As we celebrate another 4^th of July, we take a moment to reflect on the beginning of our  U.S. democracy  --     On July 4, 1776, 56 men (average age 44), representing 13 former British colonies, assembled as the 2^nd Continental Congress  in Philadelphia to adopt the Declaration of Independence.

When news of the Declaration of Independence reached New York City, it started a riot. On July 9, 1776,  with hundreds of British naval ships occupying New York Harbor,   George Washington, commander of the  Continental Army, read the document aloud in front of City Hall. A raucous crowd cheered   and later that day tore down a nearby statue of George III. The statue was subsequently melted down and shaped into more than 42,000 musket balls for the fledgling American army.  Americans  had had enough of tyranny, and set out to establish a new kind of government which would be ruled not  on the whim of a tyrant, but by  the will of the of the people, where  freedom of speech  was guaranteed, and all men were treated equally,  entitled to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

World War II General, and President of the U.S., Dwight D. Eisenhower advised, “Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men, and so it must be daily earned and refreshed, - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”

On a lighter note, American humorist, Erma Bombeck writes, “You have to love a nation that celebrates  its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets  “iffy”, and flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism “

 SALEM RALLY

David Groth, Marilyn Mauch, Claudia Roberts, Bonnie Gregg , Sara Chan, Les Wardenaar,  Sarabelle Hitchner, Rev. Mark Knudson, Carol Turner, and  Sarah Carolus

On June 6, 2017 Interfaith Alliance members representing Westminster Presbyterian, Augustana Lutheran, Madeleine Catholic, Fremont Methodist, First Unitarian, and Central Lutheran Churches together with  Jessica Rojas of the NE Coalition joined a rally on the steps of the state  house, sponsored by the Better Oregon Coalition.  The coalition included parents, students, teachers, nurses, small business owners, unions, social workers, the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, economists, and other community advocates from every region in Oregon.

Their message was simple, Oregon is in crisis and our children, our schools and colleges, small businesses, health care programs, the elderly and people in poverty need help now.

According to studies by the Tax Foundation   Oklahoma, Oregon, and North Carolina have the lowest corporate tax burdens in the nation.  More Oregon corporations are finding a way to avoid being subject to the state's corporate income tax,  In 2004, 35,880 Oregon corporations filed income tax returns. By 2014, that number had dropped to 29,376.   With major cuts on the table due to the state’s $1.4 billion deficit  speakers at the rally  demanded that  legislators take immediate action to address  the need to make corporations pay their fair share.

WE CAN’T WAIT! the crowds shouted!   INVEST IN   PEOPLE, NOT CORPORATIONS!

"When we better fund education, health care and other critical services we improve the productivity and vitality of the our state," said Hanna Vaandering, the president of the Oregon Education Association. "We as a coalition refuse to accept cuts to services for students and those in need as long as corporations in Oregon are paying lower taxes here than anywhere else in the country."

Rev Mark Knudson, pastor of  Augustana Lutheran Church  in Portland declared that our budget expresses the values of the people of Oregon and noted that a society is judged by the way in which they treat the most vulnerable among them, the children, the elderly, the poor, the sick, etc.  Also educated, healthy people are good for our state’s economy.

He quoted from Martin Luther King, Jr. speech in which Dr. King said,  “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture of their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up.   I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.”    B. Gregg

URGENT: STOP LEGISLATION FROM PUTTING 1,800 KIDS AT RISK OF LOSING TANF      

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon  advise that on Monday, June 26, 2017, as part of the Human Services Budget (SB 5526)—an Oregon legislative committee passed a cut which  would disqualify 1,800 kids who participate in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) who are being cared for by low-income relatives.

“If this cut passes, Oregon would enact the harshest policy in the country. In fact, only three other states have similar policies. This would likely result in decreased benefits for kids, more kids in foster care and more money spent on administrative costs.

“Not only would this budget proposal cut important benefits for kids, it would make it harder for families to stay together. Currently, when a non-parent relative—grandparent, uncle, cousin, older sibling—cares for a child and earns less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, their income is not counted against their benefits. By design, this helps keep families together, encouraging relative care over foster care.”

Only two weeks are left in the legislative session to ensure this funding is restored.   Contact your representative to oppose this cut now. John Elizalde

STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS  NOW DECIDING  

WHERE ”OUR MONEY” WILL GO

While members of the Interfaith Alliance rallied in  Salem, in  Washington, D.C., our representatives are gathering to consider the budget which has been proposed by our President.

ON THE CUTTING BLOCK:

 ----Health and Human Service  cut 12.6 billion - .

$4.2 billion will be  eliminated from community services programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.   National Institutes of Health will be cut by $5.8 billion.

----Education - cut 9.2 billion   -     After school and summer programs will be eliminated. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant for college students will be eliminated.

----Housing and Urban Development -  cut 4.3 billion  by eliminating Community Block Development Block Grant to fund anti-poverty programs, rental assistance, home ownership programs, and housing initiatives.

 ----Labor – cut 9.6 billion, scaling back job training programs including those aimed at helping seniors, disadvantaged young people and unemployed Americans.  Training grants for occupational safety and health administration would be eliminated.

 ----Diplomacy and development would be severely cut, impacting: the United Nations. Climate-change initiatives at the United Nations would lose all their U.S. funding. The government would cut back its regular contribution to the U.N. and would pay no more than 25 percent of the cost of U.N. peacekeeping operations.

----The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s grants and programs for coastal and marine management, research and education would be eliminated and the Minority Business Development Agency, which supports minority-owned businesses would be reduced..

----The E.P.A. is among the hardest-hit agencies. The budget calls for the elimination of about 3,200 staff positions — over 20 percent of the department.

It would also eliminate all funding for enactment of the Clean Power Plan, the regulations designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions from power plants  Funding for climate change research and international climate change programs would be eliminated.

----Programs to support research of breakthrough clean energy technology, including the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program   would be eliminated.

----Nearly 20 smaller independent agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Legal Services Corporation, which finances legal aid groups would be eliminated.

BIG WINNER:    Defense Budget Increase by $574 billion.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CULLY

Cameron Herrington, Coordinator of Living Cully

At the May Alliance Planning Meeting, Cameron Herrington, explained how Living Cully works to expand affordable housing and prevent the displacement of residents threatened by rapidly increasing housing costs. 

Cully is the “the most diverse community in the state”, with 50% people of color, immigrants, and refugees.  Public transportation is limited; parks and libraries are lacking; sidewalks are few and streets have pot holes. Through its work in NE Portland’s Cully Neighborhood, Living Cully works to prevent displacement and assist low income residents in their fight against rising rents.

When residents of the Normandy Apartments,   received notice last December that their rents had more than  “doubled” from $630 to $1320  per month, Living Cully jumped in to help.  They assisted the tenants in organizing a march and   getting an attorney.   The owner agreed to postpone the rent  increase until July 1, enabling children to remain in their current school placement through the end of the school year.

This decision gave the tenants some breathing room, but they still needed to find affordable housing.  Living Cully posted a message on the social media site “Next Door.”  In response, Nancy  Hiss offered an ADU “accessory dwelling unit” that she had built in her backyard to accommodate her parents, who are now deceased.  At $900 a month, it was the answer to  Normandy apartment tenant, Michelle Labra’s prayers.

The Interfaith Alliance has participated with Living Cully in supporting   the Normandy apartment tenants and   Oak Leaf mobile home park residents to achieve affordable housing.  Living Cully partners include  Habitat for Humanity Portland Metro East, Haciendas Community Development Corporation, NAYA  (Native American Youth and Family Center) and Verde.

“KENTON VILLAGE HOME” Fourteen tiny  houses, about 8’ x 12’, have been constructed on a lot in the Kenton neighborhood to  shelter homeless women. Communal kitchen and bathrooms are also provided.  Catholic Charities will offer support services.

SAINT FRANCIS APARTMENTS

Home Forward is partnering with Catholic Charities and St. Francis of Assisi Parish to create an affordable housing community located in   inner Southeast Portland

The plan for the St. Francis Apartments is to develop 102 apartment units that will include 73 studios, 28 one-bedroom units, one two bedroom unit and 33 parking spaces.

Ninety percent of the units will be for families earning less than 60 percent of the median income and ten percent will be units for those earning less than 30 percent of the median income. In addition 25 units will be reserved for victims of domestic or sexual violence.

The building will extend the full length of SE 12th Ave., along SE Stark St. and then continue halfway up SE 11th Ave. The apartment building will cover about fifty percent of the block. Most of the north half of the park will be landscaped as a semi-private open space

The project will replace a private park adjacent to St. Francis of Assisi Parish.  St Francis Dining Hall, located in the basement of the church, serves 150-300 hot meals   daily to the homeless of the area.    Ground breaking for the housing project is expected in December of this year.

Home Forward is now the largest provider of affordable housing in Oregon.  It has served all of Multnomah County, including the cities of Portland and Gresham, since 1992.  The agency owns 2,600 public housing  3,700 affordable housing and administers 8,200 Section 8 housing assistance vouchers.*

NOTE: The Home Forward (HF) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently CLOSED. It was last open for five days in September 2016, and prior to that in November 2012. There is no notice of when the list will reopen and vouchers become available.    There are currently 3,000 on the waiting list.  

JESSE JACKSON SPEAKS OF  PORTLAND MARTYRS

In response to the recent hate crimes in Portland, at the invitation of Rev. Mark Knudsen, the Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke to a public press gathering at Augustana Lutheran Church on June 2, 2017.

Rev. Jackson said that we must prayerfully acknowledge the “martyrs among us” whose lives are sacrificed as were the two men  slain while trying to stop an “anti-Muslim” hate rant at the Max train station.  He noted that “we may not be able to stop their crucifixion but neither can they stop our resurrection.  We must become instruments of peace, not hate.”  He recommended that when they march, we stay home, “denying them fuel for their hate.”

He observed that “poverty is an annihilation” and that we must “leave the racial battlefield to seek the economic common ground that will enable us to achieve the moral high ground where all men are treated equally in a global community.”  We must “pull down the walls of ignorance to build bridges of understanding.”  We must “remember that regardless of our color or religion, we live in “one big tent.”  B. Gregg

PRAYER POWER WORKS

“Despite racist threats looming in the day leading up to the event, the 'Good in the Hood' parade went off without a hitch Saturday, June 24. “   (KGW News)

When Good in the Hood organizers received threats of “a blood bath”, they did not cancel their festival.  They contacted the FBI, but did not hire armed guards.  Instead they asked for PRAYERS from the faith-based communities of Portland.   Interfaith Alliance members joined in this effort.  Our thanks to all who participated.

1^ST WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

On June 13, 2017, Pope Francis issued a papal message for the 1st World Day of the Poor, which will be held November 19, 2017.

“Some”, he said, "may think of the poor simply as the beneficiaries of our occasional volunteer work, or of impromptu acts of generosity that appease our conscience.”   Instead he encouraged us  “to see the faces marked by suffering, marginalization, oppression, violence, torture and imprisonment, war, deprivation of freedom and dignity, ignorance and illiteracy, medical emergencies and shortage of work, trafficking and slavery, exile, extreme poverty and forced migration. … [those] exploited by base interests, crushed by the machinations of power and money. … [and] poverty born of social injustice, moral degeneration, the greed of a chosen few, and generalized indifference!"

Pope Francis says “Let us love, not with words but with deeds.”

VOLUNTARY POVERTY

Adapted from the “Art of Letting Go:  Living the Wisdom of St Francis”, by Fr. Richard Rohr

We all know Pope Francis, but are less familiar with his namesake, Francis of Assisi.  Like today, in 1204 the world was obsessed with war, fear, and security.   As a young man, Francis was imprisoned during the war between Perugia and Assisi. When finally released, he saw that greed at the expense of the poor, was causing great inequities and human suffering,

Walking away from a life of privilege, Francis chose to live in close proximity to and solidarity with the excluded ones in his society.  He moved down into the plain below Assisi where there was a leper colony.  “Lepers” did not always have the contagious disease of leprosy, but they were the people society deemed unacceptable, unworthy, or shameful for any number of reasons. Francis not only served the poor, he became one of them.

“Today”, Fr. Rohr says, “our planet is in grave peril largely due to greed, overconsumption, and reckless exploitation. While most of us are not like Francis, willing to dive into a life of voluntary poverty, we must all make choices and decisions to do our part to follow these wise words of an unknown speaker: “live simply so that others may simply live

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

CULLY STANDS TOGETHER

Community gathering to promote the multi-cultural diversity and resilience of the Cully neighborhood will be held Saturday, July 8 – ll:00AM – 3:00 PM,  at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5520 NE Killingsworth, Bus Line 72.  There will be food, performances and fun for kids

Sponsored by Living Cully, Haciendas, Northeast Emergency Food Bank, Cully Blvd, Naya Family Center,  42^nd Avenue, and Trinity Lutheran Church.  Please bring food to share with neighbors.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Cully Mobile Home Repair/Maintenance

If you have a few hours to spare,   your help is needed to clean up and upgrade Cedar Shade and Arbor Mobile Home Parks.  Marilyn Mauch says, “I’m 83 going on 84 next year, so I can’t do any heavy lifting, but I can sure clean mold.  And,” she added, “It’s a great way to meet your neighbors!”  Whatever your skill level, your help would be appreciated.

Friday, July 6 and Friday, July 7 2-8 Miscellaneous/ General Repairs Cedar Shade Mobile Park, 7120 NE Killingsworth

Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15^{th -}  9 Am-1PM   - Roof Repair – Meet at Living Cully Plaza, 6723 NE Killingsworth

Thursday, July 27 and Friday July 28:  10AM-4PM – Miscellaneous/General Repairs – Arbor Mobile Home Park, 6415 NE  Killingsworth Street

Sunday, July 30, 2-8PM, Window Repair – Cedar Shade, 7120 NE Killingsworth, and Arbor Mobile Home Parks, 6415 NE Killingsworth.

To sign up:  Email Brenna Bailey:  bbailey@stcharlespdx.org