PORTLAND, Ore. — Community members brainstormed solutions to Portland’s homeless problem at a multi-panel platform Saturday.
“Unless you’re living in a cave, you cannot be unaware of the crisis that we have in our community,” forum attendee and Portland resident Mary Sipe said.
That crisis can be seen in nearly every corner of the city.
“This problem is not going away. It’s going to get bigger and we have to take every resource we have to stop it,” Sipe said.
That’s why on Saturday people from differing backgrounds filled downtown Portland's Unitarian Church to confront homelessness head on.
There to listen, Portland mayor Ted Wheeler. Last month he confirmed he will run for a second term next year. His campaign is already underway, and the housing crisis may be its biggest hurdle.
“Look, people are really angry, and they’re really frustrated by the homeless crisis. And I get that,” Wheeler said. “And as mayor it’s important for me, not only to cheer lead for the city and say how much I love the city and how great it is, but to acknowledge there’s some really big problems here and people are suffering as a result of those problems.”
Saturday's forum comes as the number of people sleeping on city streets sits at a record high. More than 2,000 people according to Multnomah County's last Point in Time Count released earlier this year.
New reports are shedding light on just how frustrated business owners are downtown. Many of them are worried about employee safety.
According to Willamette Week, some even suggested the city get rid of a service that gives the homeless free hot soup, because they believe it draws more homeless people to the area.
Also, with the holiday season in full swing there is concern from shoppers about downtown safety.
So, Saturday dozens grabbed a seat at the table.
They heard from experts on things like affordable housing and mental and physical health. Then they broke off into groups to brainstorm solutions.
“It allows us to understand that it really is all of those perspectives that allow us to find solutions, because we’re all impacted by all of those perspectives,” Executive Director of Northwest Pilot Project Lara Golino de Lovato said.
People from all walks of life participated, from business owners and their employees to homeowners and students and those who know first-hand what it’s like to experience homelessness.
People like Catherine Gavin. Born and raised in Portland, she found herself without a home for two years until she reached out for help.
I was really curious and interested to listen and learn about my hometown and how I could be of service to the community by participating and being present to those things,” Gavin said.
Those experiencing homelessness also shared their stories on the panel.
Pamela Ward lost her husband in a hit and run in 2011. After that she lived above a meth lab and had to leave to keep her family safe.
Ward says the first step in finding solutions is understanding that each person living on the street has a different story to tell.
“I think awareness is a big thing for Portland, the people of the city of Portland really, and understanding the root causes of why this is happening and why it’s gotten to this point,” Ward said. “Mental health and addiction, one follows the other. So, we’re going to try to see if we can’t solve some problems today.”
Wheeler hopes that some of the ideas generated at the forum will one day become action.
He pointed to other concepts that came from the community such as the Street Response Team that was just approved by the city council and a pilot program for hygiene, which provides mobile showers and other basic necessities.