by Sam Al-Jondi, Contributing Writer
I am not writing this article to be vindictive or angry, but rather trying to find a good solution to one of our social problems: homelessness.
I recently visited those plains. No one in their right mind would want to be there. I have slept in my car from time to time in the past. I thought that was homeless, but recently I have had to sleep in doorways and under bridges — and not just one night. It actually went on for weeks. What I saw was ugly, but everyone must take some responsibility for what takes place in their lives. It is not a mission impossible. It takes will.
Now I want to talk about people who make a difference, starting with the director of this paper, Israel Bayer, who won a good deal of money for a job well done and turned around and donated it to this paper so it can serve the community better. One can never ignore that.
In my personal experience the “mavericks” are the people of the Northwest Pilot Project, from Susan Emmons to the most recent employee, they are great. This is how it went with me. I was sitting at the Red Door church. Behind me were my three bags I was hiding because I was afraid of others knowing that I was homeless. Around me was despair, broken lives. The weather outside was raining and crappy. Nothing seemed possible, nothing tasted good.
A man stood up and said, “If you need help with housing, this lady Jessica is here to help you.” She went around talking to other people. I did not raise my hand because I thought that I was beyond help. Before she walked out, I put my hand up. She walked towards me smiling, as if to say, “Hi. I am Miss Hope and I am here to help you.” During our conversation I was thinking that nothing and no one can help me. She insisted that I go to her office and talk to them. I carried my three bags and walked the 14 blocks.
When I got there, I was sweating, I walked in and the receptionist Dee Dee Richardson was professional and caring. So far so good, I told myself. I met Jason Coulthurst; we talked for a while and he was most reassuring. He gave me $10 and some bus tickets to get around and told me to check with him in a couple of days. All of a sudden everything seemed different, There are people who care; that put a smile on my face a spark of hope in my life. I kept checking with him every so often. I found a source of a modest income while I was checking with him.
With help of a great lady called Rebecca Childs they found a place for me and I am normal again. I don’t have the words in my vocabulary to thank them enough. They are a credit to our community and the city.
Another group of people come from Woodlawn, Wash., to Portland to feed people in need and give them clothes and blankets. They do that every Saturday. They do that out of their pockets. They don’t expect any donations or glory. They do good deeds for the sake of good deeds. Their names are: Deborah Bennett, Rhod Larson, Angela Baumgarmi, Mike Rindahl, Alex Briggs of Street Reach Northwest.
The last people are Andrew and Tim of the Union Gospel Mission. They never said no to me when I knocked on their door asking for something, whether it was a sleeping bag or a blanket I needed. They would give it to me even if the place was not open for the public. People like that shine like a star on a cold, crisp, and clear night.