PORTLAND, Oregon — On Tuesday, an Albina housing informational expo took over Dawson Park in North Portland to help connect folks with housing and shelter resources, hosted by the Portland Office of Violence Prevention's Safe Blocks Program.
“We bring the resources to the community and meet them where they’re at,” said Mary Tompkins, who is a Safe Locks Coordinator with the city of Portland. “What we’re trying to do is help bring back communities of color and give them an opportunity to thrive in a neighborhood where they’re used to.”
Several advocacy groups, including Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) and the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), were there to share what’s available in real-time.
“There are opportunities to move into affordable housing that was built specifically for people who have been displaced out of Northeast Portland,” said Leslie Goodlow with PHB. “We have 500 units already open, and we have another brand-new building opening up in May all one a two-bedrooms. They have washer and drier hookups in the units, which is unusual for affordable housing.”
Andrew Macthggart stopped by the expo because he said he was tired of waiting around for a call back from housing folks and said he wanted to advocate for himself in person.
“It’s needed. There are few and far between that we have access to resources,” said Macthggart.” “I entered myself into treatment with a housing component and I graduated that treatment six months ago and I haven’t been transitioned out. So, I’m still kind of sitting there in limbo.”
Macthggart said he was evicted following some issues with chemical substances and wants nothing more than a place he can call his own.
“I don’t want to relapse, so I want to make sure that I’m going to a safe environment,” said Macthggart. “And like I said, I got to take the initiative and reach out and dictate my own transition.”
Several advocacy groups connected with folks visiting the event, including Stacey Mingo with SEI, and she shared years ago, she was in a challenging position herself. She's now looking forward to helping others with a path forward.
“It should be somebody there who can help in some way to make them feel like they have somebody walking with them,” said Mingo. “I feel honored and humbled to be able to go back and help and let them know I’m not afraid to show the scar because if you see my scar that lets you know, ‘Oh, you made it through that?’ I did. And you can too.”
The Safe Blocks Program will hold these housing informational expos every three months. The next one will take place the third or fourth week of August.