News
Street Roots’ continuing coverage of Social Security and people experiencing poverty
Street Roots and Jake Thomas have been working on a several months’ long investigation into Social Security Disabilities and how it effects people experiencing poverty. Street Roots reported on March 6, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General served a federal search warrant on Safety Net of Oregon, a nonprofit that manages the…
Seattle physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston spotlights the human cost of our mental health crisis
About 450 million people live with mental illness worldwide and nearly one million a year die of suicide. Portland’s suicide rate is higher than the national average, according the Portland Police Bureau, and last year the city’s attention was drawn to Vista Bridge for that reason. The Southwest Portland span is also known as the…
Judge orders immediate restraining order against Social Security to protect disability clients
U.S. Judge Marco Hernandez ruled on March 26 that the Social Security Administration (SSA) improperly handled the clients of a nonprofit organization that is shutting down amidst a federal investigation. Earlier this month, Safety Net of Oregon was served with a federal search warrant on allegations that it was mismanaging clients’ funds. Safety Net serves…
Jackie Yerby rallies local Catholics for marriage equality, despite opposition from the Archdiocese
Jackie Yerby and community advocates, along with a group of Catholic Oregonians, are leading a campaign to support marriage equality in Oregon. The group titled Catholic Oregonians for Marriage Equality was developed in response to Portland Archbishop Alexander K. Sample’s public support opposing same-sex marriages in Oregon. Street Roots recently sat down with Yerby to…
Checks and imbalances: exploring Portland’s disproportionately high Social Security waitlist
Leone has a roof over his head, medical care and some money in his pocket. Having all this makes him “jealous of himself.” That’s because things weren’t always so gravy for Leone, who doesn’t want his full name used for this article. “When you hear voices, and you try to figure out who’s talking, it…
Breaking: Oregon Law Center, Disability Rights Oregon file lawsuit against Social Security Administration
Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center have filed a class action lawsuit against the Social Security Administration, alleging that its handling of a troubled nonprofit organization is illegal and imperils the financial stability of hundreds of disabled individuals. On March 6, the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General served a federal…
For the record March 14-27, 2014
-Number of breweries in Portland: 53 -Number of barrels of beer Oregon breweries brewed in 2012: 1.3 million -Number of signatures on the online petition asking the U.S. government to deport Justin Bieber: 261,412 -Percentage of children from the ages of 2-5 in 2009 and 2010 considered overweight: 26 -Percent of U.S. teenagers who reported…
Multnomah County chair rips Social Security’s handling of nonprofit closure
Multnomah County Chair Marissa Madrigal has sharply criticized the Social Security Administration’s handling of a troubled nonprofit organization that manages the federal disability benefits of 1,000 individuals who may soon find themselves without a way to pay for rent, groceries and other necessities. On March 6, first reported by Street Roots, agents with the Office…
Opinion
Double your impact. Help Street Roots fly in April.
As a Street Roots supporter, you know we’re working hard to become a weekly publication. A new and generous donor believes so much in Street Roots going weekly she has offered to match your donation in April up to $10,000. That’s amazing! Go here and double your impact! Help us go weekly this winter.…
Home safe home: Why abuse often leads to homelessness
A survivor called our 24-hour crisis line asking for emergency shelter. She was fleeing from her abuser, who had found her at her sister’s house and assaulted her so badly she ended up in the hospital. “Unfortunately, we have no shelter space available, and she has nowhere to go.” These harrowing words came from a…
A new reason to live
One year ago, Tara Elizabeth Axmaker, high on meth, stabbed a Clackamas County acquaintance, stole a police car and led deputies on a chase that ended when she wrecked about five miles away. In October 2013, Axmaker pled guilty to first-degree assault, aggravated theft and attempting to elude police. She was sentenced to 10 years…
City Club to study Medicaid expansion, homeless impact
Health care reform at the federal level and expansion of the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) provide an opportunity to increase access to health care and improve health outcomes for thousands of Oregonians, especially those experiencing homelessness. More than half of those counted as homeless in Multnomah County suffer from one or more serious physical, mental…
Don’t be a bully, from Oregon’s 2014 Teacher of the Year
When I was 15, my best friend killed himself. He was gay. Jack probably felt alone. He was not. In Oregon, one out of five gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender teenagers have attempted suicide in the last year, according to the Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition’s 2013 report. Over 30 percent of teens that…
Readers play vital role at Street Roots
New readers often tell me about Street Roots, “I had no idea the content was so good. You’re actually producing real, in-depth journalism.” Why yes — yes we are. Readers then usually follow with, “I wish more people understood the concept and read the newspaper. I absolutely love the vendors.” Here are a few ways…
Vendor Profiles
Sharing art and a good story, too
When Harry Richards and I sit down for our interview, the first thing he asks me is if I want half of his burger. You have to learn how to share, he explained, when you grow up in a big family like he did. Now, Harry shares in a different way – through art. He…
