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Editorial

Death on the streets is cruel, premature and preventable

Street Roots editorial

Last year, 56 people died while experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. In 2011, the figure was 47. In addition to these numbers, we know that even more people on the streets died in local hospitals that were not counted by the medical examiner.

Why should we care?

On its face, what does the number 56 even mean? In an age when we are overwhelmed with the number of people dying for any number of poverty-related issues, it’s hard to give context to what the numbers mean.

What we know:

Featured Article

Looking back from the ledge: Death on the streets

By Joanne Zuhl, Staff Writer

He was one of a kind — the man in the white tuxedo and Mickey Mouse ears, playing his trumpet from a corner perch on the Hawthorne Bridge.

But on Nov. 6, “Working” Kirk Reeves became one in a list of Multnomah County’s “domicile unknowns.”

Current issue on the streets

Hungry for Justice: Guantanamo Prison

By Martha Gies, Contributing Writer

On Sunday, March 24, in response to an email I’d received the day before, I quit eating. Witness Against Torture (WAT) had proposed a Holy Week fast in solidarity with the detainees at Guantánamo, some of whom had been on a hunger strike for six weeks.

I gave away the organic produce I’d just brought home from the market, checked the date stamps on the dairy products, and began the fast on Passion Sunday.

De-bugging the bed

By Jake Thomas, Staff Writer

Richard Klosterman had heard about them. The lady across the hallway from his apartment had them. And then he had them.

Several years ago, Klosterman remembers waking in the middle of the night and feeling something crawling on his head. Whatever it was would fall into his hands and sometimes burst, leaving blood on his hands – his own blood.

Vendor Profile: All optimism, no regrets, keep vendor’s sales pitch genuine

By Ann-Derrick Gaillot, Contributing Writer

Glen Hansen sees himself as somewhat of a nomadic person, having lived all over the US, Canada and Europe (he is fluent in Danish) before settling in Portland last August.

“I don’t grow roots well, so I migrate a lot,” says Glen, whose travels have taken him far from his hometown of Detroit.

“I grew up listening to Motown, disco and KISS,” he says. Glen admits he has found it hard to settle in one place, but he regrets nothing.

Small step for our bill, giant leap for our human rights

By Eric Ares, Dilara Yarbrough and Paul Boden, Contributing Columnists

On April 23, the California State Assembly Judiciary Committee passed Assembly Bill 5, also known as the Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights and Fairness Act, out of committee with a 7-2 vote. More than just a legislative procedure, the vote was the latest victory for a growing national movement of people and organizations committed to ending the criminalization of homelessness and poverty in cities and regions across the country.

Rebuilding Oregon’s housing policy

By Joanne Zuhl, Staff writer

Oregon’s Housing and Community Services department is arguably not the most glamorous in state government. But it’s definitely an eye catcher: 49 separate programs and 64 funding sources, with myriad compliance and reporting systems that, in essence, are driving the state’s policies around poverty and housing.

May Archives

Street Roots wins first place for investigative, social issues and arts reporting

Why are the district attorneys opposing public safety reform?

Directors Desk: Team Street Roots is working on many fronts

Waxing Americana: Corb Lund

County chair: Community can’t afford cuts to crisis center

Looking back from the ledge: Death on the streets

Needle exchange program loses valuable city dollars

Death on the streets is cruel, premature and preventable

Thom Hartmann wants you to put corporations back in their place

Feeling OK, even when you’re sure you’re doing it wrong

Vendor Profile: Finding a new path, and partner in life

HUD’s hatchet job

ACT network works to change police, ICE collusion policy

Little Sue, shining in a whole new light

Soup Can Sam: April 26-May 9, 2013

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