Opinion
Kaia Sand | ‘All I want for Christmas is a smile’
He was wearing a neon vest, offering her an umbrella and a greeting, Gale Watson recalled how she first met long-time Street Roots vendor Rick Davis a year ago at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Kaia Sand is the executive director of Street Roots. This column represents her views. She was trying to find an Episcopal congregation…
Environment
Available resources during Portland area’s dangerous cold snap
Portlanders and those in the surrounding areas are in for frigid weather this week, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-teens Wednesday night and remain below freezing until Saturday morning. Additionally, the wind chill could push temperatures to sub-zero levels both Wednesday and Thursday nights. Temperatures will be especially dangerous beginning Wednesday night, when temperatures…
Housing
Available resources during Portland area’s dangerous cold snap
Portlanders and those in the surrounding areas are in for frigid weather this week, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-teens Wednesday night and remain below freezing until Saturday morning. Additionally, the wind chill could push temperatures to sub-zero levels both Wednesday and Thursday nights. Temperatures will be especially dangerous beginning Wednesday night, when temperatures…
Housing for frontline social service workers addressing the homelessness crisis
Jeff Woodward, a boots-on-the-ground frontline worker with the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon, spends his days bringing harm reduction supplies out to homeless encampments and connecting folks with resources for medicine, health insurance, work opportunities and shelters. During extreme weather conditions with low temperatures, outreach workers deliver extra sleeping bags, tents, tarps and…
Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile | Defining and finding family
Coming to Portland from Hawai’i brought some culture shock for Street Roots vendor Leka. In Hawai’i, Leka said, “the way they process everything — it’s a little bit slower. It feels more natural." Leka grew up with a large family in Hawai’i and is especially close with his sister and her daughter, who he calls…
News
2022 Oregon Labor Wrap: A burst of labor activity
In 2022, Oregon’s labor scene had a burst of activity across trades — ranging from health care to electrical work to social services. Across the United States, approval for unions was at a 60-year high in 2022, according to Congressional Progressive Caucus Center analysis. In 2022, the National Labor Relations Board saw a nationwide 53%…
