Portland native enjoys vendor community Nathaniel’s friendly, booming voice has brightened the front desk vendor office almost daily since January. He sells Street Roots outside the Hillsdale Library. “Street Roots gives me bus tickets to go to work,” he ...
1 Jun 2018 - Helen Hill
Chris finds himself connected with people who care It’s been wonderful to have Chris Van Dam around the Street Roots vendor office this past year. He’s brought a resilient spirit, a ready smile and a philosophy of giving that is contagious. Chris was born ...
25 May 2018 - Helen Hill
‘I love working. I love being independent,’ says Rich, who is looking for a job in construction and painting “Every day I pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding so I can understand people and work to make them happy.” These are words Rich Pounds li ...
11 May 2018 - Helen Hill
Kris recently landed employment and plans to save money to get off the streets Born in Seattle, Kris Beck grew up in the Scandinavian enclave known as Uffda in the city’s Ballard neighborhood. “I was the only person of color in the area. I had no problem ...
4 May 2018 - Helen Hill
The Lullaby Project pairs new mothers with professional musicians to promote bond with infant For all the uncertainty in Kate Fraser Daley’s life right now, her devotion to her family has remained steadfast and strong. Her family members include her 6-mon ...
20 Apr 2018 - Helen Hill
Art created in Lori Lematta's workshop for people with mental health conditions will be exhibited at a Portland gallery Sandy carefully glues a picture postcard of a parrot into her shadow box. “My vision for this assemblage is to honor my love for ...
6 Apr 2018 - Helen Hill
Gail sells Street Roots to get out of the house and interact with her customers Gail Marcotte is an energetic, diminutive woman with a pronounced and charming Brooklyn accent. “I’m shrewd, intense and very complex,” Gail said. “From day to day, you won’t ...
23 Mar 2018 - Helen Hill
The freshly printed newspapers arrive, and it’s all hands on deck in the vendor office It’s 7:20 a.m. Dawn is washing over the silver streets of Old Town Portland. A gathering knot of souls waits outside the still dark door of Street Roots, peering in, wa ...
9 Mar 2018 - Helen Hill
Kellye – who sells papers with her dog, Freya – likes to sing while she works Kellye is an original, artistic soul who can’t be contained inside four walls for long. She travels the open road with Freya, the 12-year old dog she’s had since she was a puppy ...
2 Mar 2018 - Helen Hill
Debra, who moved to Portland to reunite with her sons, has developed a passion for Street Roots Debra was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, during the height of the steel industry boom. Her father began working in the mills when he was 17 and eventuall ...
16 Feb 2018 - Helen Hill