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Homelessness
This page is dedicated to homeless advocacy work, including Dignity Village, gentrification, squatting, the camping ban, and reclaiming public land.
From the open publishing newswire:
As Portland's Sit/Lie ordinance is deemed as unconstitutional, there is evidence all over Portland of underground actions protesting the law. (Some popped up all over the city before the circuit court decision).
The signs the figures are holding have some of the following statements on them: * "This city wide ordinance has been deemed unconstitutional by circuit court. Sit/Lie in unity to the supreme court. FREEDOM FOR ALL." * "SIT LIE LAW IS A GVNMENT CURSE - Homeless Front" Some that I spotted before the circuit court decision simply stated, "SIT LIE" and appeared to be attached with metal to what they were sitting on.
From the open publishing newswire:
A motley crew of 35-40 pissed-off Portlanders disrupted the auction of foreclosed homes by bank-fraudsters yesterday morning at the Multnomah County Courthouse before being removed by Sheriff's deputies from the lobby of the courthouse, some violently. Attendees shouted slogans and made "bids" on properties (e.g., "I bid that you keep people in their homes"). The law-unenforcers outrageously claimed that the courthouse lobby and steps were not "public space", and that they therefore were entitled to grab and shove members of the group away from the building. One deputy said, "I'm the judge" of what's public space. The banking industry has been obstructing attempts by activists to require pre-foreclosure mediation between themselves and homeowners because such mediation has been shown to keep people in their homes rather than out on the streets, where "unnecessary" people should apparently be. [ Read More | forclosure resistance in portland | Fight the Banks: Foreclosure Prevention Direct actions ]
From the open publishing newswire:
Warming Centers City Hall 2008: I video taped (from my TV) [on Saturday 12.20.08] the City Hall discussion about Warming Centers in Portland Oregon that took place on Wednesday 12.17.08
From the open publishing newswire:
Local activist jailed for smoking.
Radical Richard was cited for "offensive littering" while smoking on the opposite side of the street from Pioneer Square. He put his cigarette out on the ground and was immediately approached by police who announced that they were citing him for "offensive littering". Richard told them that many people put out their cigarettes on the street and that they (the cops) were only citing him because they targeted him as a potentially homeless person. Richard then told the cops that he would obtain a lawyer and fight his case if cited for this infraction. The cops then took him to jail, he spent several hours in Central Precinct. His court date is November 28th. Richard needs our support, please contact Central Precinct (503)823-0097 and voice your concern about the obvious over handed jailing of a minor infraction offender.
From the open publishing newswire:
sit lie law survey / poll
Take the survey on Portland Business Journal  http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/poll/?poll_id=6178
The link is for a poll on the sit lie ordinance The Portland City Council will revisit the city's "sit-lie" ordinance in October. The ordinance, adopted last year, prohibits persons from sitting, either on the pavement or on a chair or stool, or lying down on public sidewalks. Supporters say the law makes for a safer, cleaner downtown, but opponents say it discriminates against the homeless. Do you support Portland's sit-lie ordinance? Yes No Undecided Well it doesnt look encouraging from the results I seen today *most votes are from the suit n tie crowd I am wagering/thinking (((I VOTED NO)))
From the open publishing newswire:
Be in the streets July 9th at 5pm. Help end police harassment! Meet up in the North Park Blocks by the elephant for a brief rally, followed by a march. Police harassment of the poor and houseless has spiked as the city is cleansed for the summer festival season.
In response to the targeting of poor and houseless people in the community, a demonstration is planned for Wednesday, July 9th. It will start in the North Park Blocks at 5pm. "Hands Off the Poor," a demonstration organized by the Portland Coalition Against Poverty demands an immediate end to police harassment and arrest of poor and houseless people in the community.
From the open publishing newswire:
The Portland Police Bureau has continued its criminalization of houselessness, by sweeping 50 folks from under and atop the Burnside Bridge on 6/24, and sweeping almost 50 more folks from the Hawthorne and Morrison Bridges the following night. Their possessions were confiscated and thrown away. The Portland Coalition Against Poverty is hosting a demonstration to demand an immediate end to police harassment of poor and houseless people. It is on Wednesday, July 9th, at 5pm, in the North Park Blocks.
From the open publishing newswire:
The Lane County Coalition Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) are hosting a rally and a march on Sunday, June 29th from the EMU on the University of Oregon Campus. They intend to draw awareness to the impact of the Olympics on the poor and homeless communities locally and globally.
From the open publishing newswire:
Acting in solidarity with the call out for a decentralized day of action on June 21st, an ad hoc group of Portland residents intends to establish a temporary autonomous zone in downtown Portland. The space created by our action intends to
-Challenge the Sit/Lie Ordinance through community power -Create a conversation surrounding the criminalization of poverty -Demonstrate that commodified and (para)militarized urban areas can be re-imagined through creative transformations. -Uphold the demands of the United Poor People (UPP). http://homelessliberation.wordpress.com/
-Recognize that listening and cooperation requires attention to systematic modes of oppression and privilege related to race, class, gender, and sexual orientation.
From the open publishing newswire:
This is the text from the UPP 3-fold pamphlet which will soon be made available as an online readable pdf.
The UPP was founded as a people's response to the crisis of poverty and homelessness in Portland. We recognize that this is a national crisis which needs immediate, viable solutions, not promises of future recognition. We meet in Chapman Square, across from City Hall every day at 10:00am and 6:00pm. Our meetings are consensus based and open to the public and we encourage and request that YOU come join us and help develop solutions that will WORK. - SOLUTIONS NOT SWEEPS - HOMES NOT JAILS - DIALOGUE NOT A DOG AND PONY SHOW - CREATIVITY NOT CRIMINALIZATION
From the open publishing newswire:
Here is an update that I videotaped from the Park on 3rd street on Saturday evening regarding the still in progress "protest to repeal the no-camping and sit-lie laws" Here is an YouTube video Update from a few of the protesters on Saturday evening They are letting the community know of the Monday morning City Hall Protest starting at 8:00 am Numerous homeless advocates have been arrested over this push for human rights and dignity Support and Solidarity is still needed
From the open publishing newswire:
After the Portland Police department swept protestors from City Hall at 5:30am, [on Thursday May 15th] the United Poor People have regrouped and continued their protest. We are calling for new ways to address the lack of adequate housing for the people of Portland in the hopes that it can serve as a model for other cities. More long-term solutions are being debated by UPP such as searching for ways to provide affordable housing for people who are poor. Innovative changes must be addressed with proper representation for the poor instead of solely allowing existing service providers to make decisions.
The protest has been ongoing for over 20 days, starting April 25th, since police performed sweeps at many of the common camp sites that people were staying at. Larger issues have become key such as the lack of adequate housing, shelters that provide space for those with mental and physical health issues, couples and people with pets, as well as for sexual minorities and increased space for women. The existing shelters, which police gave information for during the sweep, are already full as are the beds that Mayor Tom Potter has trumped up for the media. Protesters have stated that they would stop sleeping at City Hall if a temporary Green Zone was approved to allow those without houses to camp in a safe environment. This would require repealing the Camping ordinance and protesters would like to see the Sit and Lie ordinance repealed as well. Please come out to support members of your community because this issue effects all people. Any time is good for people to come down but especially on Wednesday morning for the City Council meeting at 9:00am. For more information please contact UnitedPoorPeople@gmail.com. [ Previous articles: More articles on homeless camp ] Updates: May 16th - City Hall Protesters return, but then cops return also, and sweep them into park
From the open publishing newswire:
Responding to an invitation issued by the office of Mayor Tom Potter on Monday, elected representatives from the homeless camp outside City Hall met with the Mayor at 3:00pm Tuesday. Scheduling only a half an hour for the meeting (his press conference was to begin at 3:30pm) Potter sauntered out around 3:50 flustered and red in the face, perhaps upset that the meeting that took two weeks of avid protest to get had lasted more than a half hour. [ Previous articles: More articles on homeless camp ] |
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