Israel Bayer | Street Roots

Director’s Desk: Journalism is alive and well, and worthy of support

by Israel Bayer | 18 Aug 2016

Street Roots is proud of the work we produce in an effort to better the community and the world

Quality journalism matters, especially in a time when the media industry is being turned upside down. Some will tell you that journalism is dead. That’s the furthest thing from the truth. Possibly the traditional model or platform for quality journalism is suffering, but dead? Journalism? No way. It’s simply evolving.
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Director’s Desk: The murky future of Terminal 1

by Israel Bayer | 11 Aug 2016

Proposal for massive Portland homeless shelter is half-baked at best

In June, I wrote about a new proposal by developers Homer Williams and Dike Dame. The original idea was a $100 million plan to build space for 700 new shelter beds and create 700 beds in dormitory-style housing — $60 million of which they had agreed to raise. The other $40 million would need to be raised by government.

The location that was identified by the developers is Terminal 1, an industrial warehouse in Northwest Portland next to the Willamette River.
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Director's Desk: Homelessness isn’t a media event. It’s real life.

by Israel Bayer | 4 Aug 2016

If I were currently homeless I would choose living outdoors over living in shelter. Hands down. That doesn’t mean I would be choosing to be homeless.

The mayor recently declared an end to his “Safe Sleep” policy in our city. The policy allowed for people experiencing homelessness to sleep in tents, during nighttime hours, undisturbed.

Unfortunately, that’s assuming that nearly 2,000 individuals and families had a safe place to sleep to begin with. Living under a freeway underpass, in a doorway, in our public parks or in a mass shelter is no way to live — especially when the majority of those fellow humans are our elders, children, the sick and disabled.
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Director’s Desk: Springwater Corridor challenges community’s will

by Israel Bayer | 21 Jul 2016

What I've been asked about homelessness and this East Portland corridor

The Springwater Corridor is a 21-mile multiuse path and trail that runs through both Clackamas and Multnomah County, traveling through both Gresham and Portland.

The path follows the beautiful Johnson Creek watershed, a critical drainage basin for the region. Its paved trail provides a healthy transportation option for thousands of pedestrians and bikers on a daily basis. It’s a shining example of how to maintain a natural setting within urban America.
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Director’s Desk: With no housing and another trip to the E.R. How will Simon’s story end?

by Israel Bayer | 14 Jul 2016

Homelessness is anything but normal

Standing in line waiting for dinner after a long day, a day after returning from vacation, I checked my email. It was a hospital social worker. Simon was in the emergency room again. The fourth time this week.

It was at least the seventh time Simon had been admitted to the emergency room in the past six weeks after having a heart attack on the streets. The list was long. Possible stroke. Severe seizures related to alcohol withdrawal. Head trauma. Now, Simon was hardly responsive, lying in the E.R. with what they were calling altered mental status.
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Director’s Desk: Yes for affordable homes!

by Israel Bayer | 30 Jun 2016

A $258 million city bond will provide housing for thousands of people

With the endorsement of the City Council, Portland will see a $258 million affordable housing bond on the ballot in November. It’s a historic moment. The campaign is called Yes for Affordable Homes!

The council also voted to support a 1 percent construction excise tax on all new residential and commercial development, giving Portland millions of revenue annually to support affordable housing. It’s about time.
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Director's Desk: Businesses key to Portland's success with housing

by Israel Bayer | 16 Jun 2016

The narrative in some circles that the business community is against the homeless is false

Street Roots was honored to receive the Portland Pearl Rotary Club’s Community Vision Award last week.

Speaking to a room full of business representatives and Pearl residents, I was reminded that we all have a role in providing people with a safe place to call home.
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Ten ways you can support Street Roots vendors | DIRECTOR’S DESK

by Israel Bayer | 2 Jun 2016

No. 4: Blast out Street Roots on social media

Street Roots vendors work hard in the summer. It’s not easy.

Being homeless in the summertime isn’t any fun. Longer periods of daylight are a welcome sign for many Portlanders, but for many people on the streets, it can mean going long stretches of time without adequate sleep. Typical locations for people to sleep in the winter are often off-limits due to summer events or simply a more vibrant city atmosphere. The dangers of heat stroke and dehydration are real for people on the streets.
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Director’s Desk: The complexity of homeless encampments in urban America

by Israel Bayer | 26 May 2016

Community is limited by debating why things can’t be achieved instead of how they can

I have witnessed people suffering on the streets every day — all day, year after year, for the past 15 years. They are traumatized. I am traumatized.

People tell me on the streets that they are desperate to find housing. It’s one tragic story after another. They also tell me how tent cities or encampments are keeping them safe, especially for women. Folks describe to me just how important it is to have a small moment of calm in the middle of a raging storm or the hell that is homelessness. They tell me these encampments save their lives.
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Director’s Desk: Together, we are stronger!

by Israel Bayer | 19 May 2016

It’s that love that carries us through

Nearly 18 months ago, Street Roots set out to go from a biweekly to a weekly publication schedule. No easy task.

The goal was twofold: One was to give vendors selling the newspaper a stable income to support their quality of life every week. The second was to maintain a quality newspaper that gives readers a way to educate themselves and engage in social justice issues in our community.
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