I just recieved this via email… I encourage all my Portland readers – and, heck, anyone else who is interested – to email Mayor Potter and Erik Sten. And if you have a blog, please consider giving this post a link, because it might help. Unlike many politicians, Tom Potter and Erik Sten actually do have better sides that can be appealed to, so a deluge of emails might do some real good.
(And yes, obviously this email is a couple of days old. But the issue – the need for Portland to convert some of the existing unused shelters to emergency space for homeless women, as immediately as possible – has not gone away).
HOMELESS WOMEN’S ACTION ALERT!
TELL MAYOR POTTER AND ERIK STEN IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO DUMP MORE HOMELESS WOMEN ON THE STREETS THIS WEEKEND!
With the city pulling its funding from the Salvation Army’s Harbor Lights Program, beginning tomorrow night, October 1, an additional fourteen homeless women will be dumped on Portland’s streets. As of tomorrow, the city will be providing an unbelievably low THIRTY shelter spaces for homeless women (and this figure includes the twenty remaining cots at Harbor Lights, where women are provided with neither meals, nor showers and must leave each morning at 6:30 a.m.). Compared to the number of homeless women on the streets, this is a drop in the bucket. In addition, there are currently FAR fewer emergency beds for single women than for men!
PHONE, E-MAIL AND TEXT MESSAGE Mayor Tom Potter and Erik Sten TODAY and tell them it is unacceptable for more homeless women to be dumped on the streets of this city. While the ultimate goal is affordable housing for all, until that goal is achieved, the City must provide adequate emergency housing. If Portland can open its heart to the recent Katrina evacuees (as well it should) why not to displaced persons in our own city?
Mayor Tom Potter
Phone: 503-823-4120
E-Mail: mayorpotter@ci.portland.or.usErik Sten
Phone: 503-823-3589
E-mail: erik@ci.portland.or.us
UPDATE: Check out this excellent related post (including the text of an email sent to Potter and Sten) over at Malice Aforethought.
While I think Pdx can do better by its homeless population, I’d prefer that in the long term no city funds go to any “faith based charity”, and especially not to the homophobic Salvation Army.
Actually, I went looking around for information and went by Chuck Currie’s website, which reminded me that I’m not so sure about that “no funds to faith based organizations” comment. CC has done more for the homeless in the last week, probably, than I’ll ever do.
I also found a story about the Canadian Salvation Army taking a much more progressive stance on gay rights, so a sunshine policy might be a good idea there too.
In other words, just ignore me. :-(
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The Harbor Lights are a great asset in the communities they operate in. Downtown LA has one that not only houses a men’s and women’s program but also has a large food ministry down on skid row. We are deeply concerned about the reductions in funding for the marginalized. Hard decisions have to be made in the service to the homeless, HIV, addicted, single parents, seniors, children’s programs, Adult Ed, etc. While I do not know what is homophobic about the Army, I do know that non faith based organizations have yet to step up and do what needs to be done. Catholic Charities and TSA alone do far more than any sectarian associations that I am aware of, it is our calling. (There are many more.) Often when a site is jeopardized or closes it does not reopen. The need gets bigger and the solution is at hand, unfortunately the poor have never been that popular a cause.
FYI, just on Katrina victims through the 22 of last month:
The Salvation Army responded immediately following Hurricane Katrina and is serving the immediate needs of survivors by providing shelter, food, water, ice, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products. Over 500,000 people have been served in at least 30 states. The following information represents the Southern Territory’s fifteen states and the District of Columbia.
The Salvation Army has served 1,503,071 hot meals.
2,753,976 sandwiches, snacks & drinks.
The Salvation Army has 89 Mobile Feeding Units (Canteens) in the many areas affected. 10 Field Kitchens, capable of producing 20,000 hot meals per day (each). ( Incl. 7 Southern Baptist Kitchens.)
The Salvation Army has distributed 31,030 Cleaning Kits. (Broom, bucket, mop & detergent.) 51,812 Food Boxes (groceries.)
The Salvation Army has ministered through Pastoral Care to 140,114 individuals. Has registered and begun helping with 146,937 Social Services Cases.
The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) has received over 60,000 inquiries and has found 8,400 survivors.
There are currently *2,346 Salvation Army Officers serving in the affected area.
There are currently *5,000 Salvation Army Employees serving in the affected area.
There are currently *24,091 volunteers serving in the affected area.
Salvation Army officers, employees and volunteers have served a total of 286,076 hours.
The Salvation Army has assisted a total of 461,172 individuals.
Blessings
Hello,
My name is Emilie Boyles. I am a candidate for Portland City Commission Seat 2…the incumbent is Sten.
Providing both long-term and short-term housing for displaced individuals and families is a priority of mine. Years ago, I was a consultant for Salvation Army’s Harbor Light programs. I believe that new people are constantly joining the homeless population and while we do need to provide long-term solutions to enable them to get on their feet again we also need to provide immediate shelter especially for vulnerable populations and women.
As far as the issue of funding faith-based charities goes, it is acceptable for faith-based programs to accept government funding as long as the services received by consumers are not contingent on acceptance of that group’s faith. Having worked for many faith-based organizations, I have learned that living one’s faith is a much louder testimony than proclaiming one’s fait.
If you have questions about my perspectives on affordable housing, homeless transition, or nomadic rights, you can visit my website at http://www.emilieboyles.com , email me at: emilieboyles.com or call the campaign office at 503-760-1783.
For the Good of Portland!
Emilie Boyles
Yes, the shelter will be staying open thanks to hard work of many advocates.
This is a “crisis” that had the 10-year plan been properly crafted with realistic short-term as well as ng-term goals in mind never would have occurred. Come to think of it, was’t Sten instrumental in the last 10-year plan in the 90’s that failed?
Short-sightedness costs dollars and bad experiences our city can not afford!
Please help keep issues like this from reoccurring by electing me, Emilie Boyles to Portland City Commission Seat 2.
No offense, but I first read this to say “homeless women in space”
So – is the city having problems finding an NFP to their liking? If so, at what point do they decide that giving money to the Salvation Army so that they can give people shelter is better than having people freeze to death on the streets?
How many homeless women will have been left out on the streets because of the City of Portland’s concern over same-sex benefits?
When I teach cold-weather camping, I tell the kids that temperatures in the 30’s and wet is actually more dangerous than temps in the high 20’s. In the 20’s, everything is frozen and stays that way. You stay dry. In the 30’s, snow melts, you get wet, and wet clothing and skin loses heat much more rapidly than dry clothing and skin. People die of hypothermia in the 50’s if they’re wet.
It is unacceptable the manner in which the homeless are disrespected. Oregon as a whole does not have any kind of a safety net other then long govt lines and poor attitudes.
Does anyone Know of any programs that help pregnant women get into housing?
If so please email me at lmwwasim@yahoo.com
I was a crime victim 17 months ago and lost everything. I’ve been physically ill until recently but am 32, able-bodied and willing to work. I ended up living in a very bad situation I need to leave NOW. I would like to work for my housing, and have my dogs with me.
I have plenty of references, and one months rent. Where I am, I have no transportation or phone. If you can help, please let me know. I will dedicate my life to helping women once I help myself.