Kris recently landed employment and plans to save money to get off the streets
Born in Seattle, Kris Beck grew up in the Scandinavian enclave known as Uffda in the city’s Ballard neighborhood.
“I was the only person of color in the area. I had no problem with that,” she said.
Since Kris moved to Portland, she’s experienced a ramping up of racism and assault on the streets and in the shelter.
Kris things things have gotten worse since Trump got elected. She believes being a person of color, homeless and small in stature has made her particularly vulnerable.
FURTHER READING: In mono-racial Portland, racism hides 'in plain sight’
“I thank God for Street Roots and Rose Haven,” Kris said. “Street Roots is a safe place to come, and other vendors, guys, homeless people, stick up for me even on the streets. There’s always going to be a predator, no matter what, in the working class.”
Kris arrived in Portland looking for a new beginning following a domestic-abuse situation in Seattle. But when her ID and all of her belongings, including her field journal full of writings and drawings, Kindle and phone, were stolen soon after her arrival, she’s had a tough time.
“I’ve never been without a job. I can’t stand being out of work,” she said. “Street Roots has kept me sane while I sent away for my ID and looked for work.”
Recently things have been improving for Kris. After applying for five positions at Work Source, she was hired at the Washington Park Zoo as a member of the grounds crew. She is excited to begin working soon. Eventually she’d like to work at the nearby arboretum as a horticulturist.
She loves working with plants and plans to study botany and teach one day. But first, she hopes to save up for an apartment so she can get off the streets.
“You can’t work a job and be living outside,” she said.
One of Kris’ heroes is her mother, Melody. Melody was living on her own when she was 14. Her parents kicked her out of the house because she refused to steal steaks from the grocery store.
“Her family told her, if you want a winter coat, steal one. That’s the way my mom grew up,” Kris said.
Melody took parenting classes when she was 16 and pregnant; “she didn’t want to mess us up the way she was.”
Kris and her family grew up in poverty, on food stamps, in Seattle’s housing projects, but she has good memories of that time.
“I thank God my mom took care of me and my sister the way she did. My mom is cool. She had a way worse life than me,” Kris said.
Kris sells Street Roots at the Southwest Fifth Avenue Food Cart Pods downtown, at the Multnomah County Central library after 5 p.m., and across the street outside of Case Study Coffee Roasters.
“How do you get back into it when you feel lost? How do you get your self-esteem back? Engaging with customers builds esteem because they aren’t paid; it’s their choice to buy from you. They ask me how I’m doing and are excited for me. Even if they don’t give me a dollar, they say hello, and it brings a smile on my face,” Kris said. “My customers are the best people on Earth.”
Street Roots is an award-winning, nonprofit, weekly newspaper focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. Our newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Learn more about Street Roots
