Environment
Heat Week is coming to Portland
Portland’s first “Heat Week” began during the last week of June to commemorate the 69 lives lost last summer due to high temperatures in Portland’s heat dome event. The event arrived during another, albeit less severe, heat wave as temperatures reached the high-90s when the event kicked off on Sunday, June 26. The 2021 heat…
Housing
City of Portland posts many homeless encampments at least twice before a sweep
Imagine being told you have between three and 10 days to move, with no way of knowing if the time will come at the 73rd hour or the 240th. Each excruciating day passes as you anticipate a small army of people in red shirts arriving at any moment. They’ll pack anything you can’t carry into…
Culture
The Freadom Festival celebrates revolutionary history of Black literacy
With every book bought and read at the first annual Freadom Festival, founder Nanea Woods helped create a new story around celebrating Black literacy and community. On June 18, community members gathered at Peninsula Park for the Freadom Festival, Portland's first Black literary festival. The event was the brainchild of Woods, founder of Prose Before…
Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile | 6 months sober, ‘J’ is proud of his journey
Street Roots vendor Jacob “J” Irish is happy caring for others, but he has learned to care for himself too, as part of his long march to sobriety. On July 2, J celebrates his six-month anniversary free from methamphetamine, and he is proud. Although Roseburg is his hometown, J moved to Portland in 2017 or…
Opinion
Opinion | Lessons from 7 years on the streets
My name is Bronwyn Jones Carver. I have been homeless for seven years this June. At the time, Portland was just starting to experience the landlord greed machine as they raised rents by ridiculous amounts. I was no exception to this. My two-bedroom apartment in inner southeast Portland — where I had lived for 15…
Kaia Sand | 10 ways to support houseless neighbors
1. Bring out the sun (and smoke) gear. Sun hats, ballcaps, water bottles, sunscreen, spray bottles. These make great care packages for people on the streets, or you can donate them to nonprofits. We will pass these items out at Street Roots (drop off or ship supplies to 211 NW Davis St, 97209). When it’s…
