Homelessness in the time of Covid-19 is costly, complicated and cruel.
Baltimore has recognized that congregate settings are inherently unsafe by limiting indoor gatherings to no more than 10 people. And because of the particular vulnerability of the participants, the city has closed senior centers.
Certainly, people experiencing homelessness are similarly vulnerable and congregate facilities ought to be – and remain – closed.
Since last spring, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services has placed 500 homeless folks in motels and hotels, using CARES Act and FEMA funds. Currently, it appears the city has sufficient funds to put people up safely through at least the end of March.
But the neighbors’ hostility has worn on the villagers.
“It’s not comfortable living in a community when you know you’re not wanted there,” said Bob Bremmer, who’s lived in Hazelnut Grove since 2015. “It messes with your own self-worth.”
Combined with the area’s environmental safety risks, this persistent pressure from OKNA encouraged Hazelnut Grove residents to begin meeting with the city in 2018 to discuss a move to a more welcoming plot of land. By then, the city had formed the Joint Office of Homeless Service (JOHS) with Multnomah County to oversee shelter development, including the possibility of alternative shelters like Hazelnut Grove. JOHS and the mayor’s office, now occupied by Ted Wheeler, offered to cover the costs of relocation to another property if the villagers agreed to allow a homeless nonprofit to oversee the program a structure mirroring the Kenton Women’s Village, opened by JOHS in 2017.
Homeless solution debate heats up
Regional push for housing prompts more options, but some are questioning proposed new city policy.
The Portland City Council is expected to vote in February to clear the way for more homeless shelters, sanctioned outdoor campsites and alternative group living arrangements to be established in almost every part of Portland.
The appointed citizen Planning and Sustainability Commission already has held a briefing, two public hearings and a work session on the Shelter to Housing Continuum Project. It is intended to rewrite existing city regulations to allow such housing to be built more quickly, including where it is currently prohibited, such as in commercial zones.
Unsheltered homeless count could be delayed January 05 2021
The Portland-Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services has asked the federal government to postpone some of the two-year tally.
The federally-required count of homeless people in the Portland area could be less complete this year than in the past.
Although the number of people living on the streets appears to be increasing in Portland and the rest of Multnomah County, the city-county Joint Office of Homeless Services has asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval to not physically survey those living outside of shelters.
The reason is because of the COVID-19 pandemic that JOHS said makes it too dangerous for those conducting the count, which takes place every two years in the county. The last one was conducted in early 2019.
Lisa Holmes and Sherry Woods were well known among those living in the tent community that was nearly razed by Baltimore officials last month until public outcry halted their plan.
Holmes was described as an especially welcoming figure who helped clean the area under the Jones Falls Expressway and called people to come out of their tents for meals.
“The first thing, when me and another guy got here, was she came out of her tent with a bunch of blankets and covered us up because we were cold,” said Roy, who declined to give his last name.
“I had a special fondness for her because of that,” said Roy, who explained that he has been living for the past three weeks at the Guilford Avenue site, near the Centre Street intersection.