A homeless camp for people of color and another for the general population are also set to open over the weekend
With Oregon residents ordered to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic, houseless communities are at increased risk of infection because of the often close quarters of camps where they live. In response, Portland’s first LGBTQ+-dedicated camp opened Thursday, April 16. Two more camps are due to open within the next few days, one of which will be dedicated to BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) residents.
DIRECTOR'S DESK: Street Roots has supported effort to open 3 temporary campsites
Shelter-in-place camps have tents placed at a minimum of 10 feet apart, though some are farther apart to account for mobility access. Each camp has four hand-washing stations, multiple portable toilets and a medical facility with enough space for adequate social distancing while still maintaining patient privacy. The camps are staffed 24 hours a day and receive weekly laundry truck visits and shower trucks every few days. During shower visits, stalls are sanitized by site staff between uses. On-site facilities are serviced by United every other day.
Street Roots vendor Chris Drake (left) registered for the newly established LGBTQ+ shelter-in-place camp with volunteer Genevieve Roudane (right) of Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project. More than 250 residents applied for fewer than 100 spots across the three new camps. During check-in, a volunteer asks all new residents about their health to ensure they aren’t experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, coughing or shortness of breath.
Roudane (left) coordinates with Raven Drake (right). Drake is one of the principal organizers for the LGBTQ+-dedicated camp.
“This is the LGBTQI camp, and so being trans myself, this is my real baby,” Drake said.
Residents were beginning to move in as Drake spoke with Street Roots. She said the goal is for the BOPIC camp to open Saturday morning and for the main, combined population camp on NW Sixth Avenue and Glisan Street to open Monday.
FACEBOOK VIDEO: Raven Drake gives an update on the camp
New residents are offered hygiene supplies and beverages at check-in. Raven Drake said people were prioritized based on their vulnerability. That’s why two camps are culturally specific for people who identify with those communities. But people with physical illnesses or mobility issues and people who are the most susceptible to coronavirus were also prioritized, Drake said. Women and people over the age of 50 were considered most in need during the application process.
Chris Drake is autistic and experiences anxiety. The coronavirus pandemic has been especially challenging for him now that the routines he relies on for stability have been disrupted. While the move is another change that may add to his anxiety, he recognize the need for a dedicated LGBTQ+ space. Drake’s previous camp had no on-site access to running water or toilet facilities.
Camp postings are slowly reserved as residents check in. They are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and residents have the option to use a provided tent or their own. Because of social distancing, capacity varies per camp but the LGBTQ+ camp can host up to 30 residents, the BIPOC camp will host 33, and the combined-population camp will have a maximum of 38 residents. Roughly 250 people applied for spots in the three camps.
Photos by Celeste Noche
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