Opinion
Why we document you: Recording the city’s oversight failure
It seems like a million years ago, but there was a time when the testament to a fine performance or thrilling speech was a standing ovation. Even further back, for a moment in adolescence, we lifted our matches in a darkened stadium to share a twinkling recognition of the ascendancy of rock. More recently,…
Director’s Desk: Businesses key to Portland’s success with housing
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. We could argue until we are blue in the…
Yes! Affordable Homes: The time is now for Portland to act on affordable housing
Portland is experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis. Rents are up nearly 15 percent over last year, and low vacancy rates are making it harder to find a place to live. These forces are being driven by a strong local economy that is producing many new job opportunities for people who live here and for those…
News
City buys Joyce Hotel
After six months of uncertainly, the Portland Housing Bureau has completed an agreement to buy the Joyce Hotel, Downtown Portland’s last low-barrier housing for the city’s most vulnerable residents. Street Roots has been covering this story since the eviction notice in December. The announcement of the $4.2 million deal came today from Housing Commissioner Dan…
Harrowing escape from Vietnam forged path for U.S. citizenship, Ms. Oregon reign
It sat there smugly, seeming to exist for the sole purpose of taunting the little girl every time she meandered past it. Thuy Huyen (pronounced “Twee Who-win”) despised that inane bowl of decorative fruit. Back then, food was always on her mind – there was never enough of it. There wasn’t enough at the refugee…
After Iraq, Portland veteran finds a new way to serve
Damon Faust and business partner Ross Fielder have a vision: putting veterans’ skill sets to work in Haiti. It’s an experience Faust knows about this firsthand. Faust, co-founder of the nonprofit Remote Emergency Training Solutions, put his skills as a combat veteran to use as a wildland firefighter. He has also worked with Team Rubicon,…
Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile: ‘Sky’s the limit’ in couple’s travels
Can you be homeless and joyful? Mr. and Mrs. Geist would say yes. They found each other and happiness while on the street. During this interview, the couple laughed, finished each other’s sentences and described their time together. Mr. Geist: We’ve been together for a little over a year, and met in (both chiming) New…
