As a poet, Eileen Vizenor has built a body of work spanning the past few decades of her life. Some of her early work explores life in Portland as a homeless woman. But now that Eileen has been living safe and secure at the Alder House in downtown Portland for the past year and a half, her poetry shines a light on those still on the streets.
She writes from a perspective of deep understanding and compassion. “I wonder,” she writes in her poem Winter Blues, “how many will die this winter?”
A longtime member of what Eileen refers to as the Street Roots “family,” she’s so grateful, she said, “to be around people that love me.” Eileen has been with Street Roots since December 2012 when she lost her job, wasn’t able to make her rent, and had to live on the streets. Since that time, Eileen has had a variety of experiences, securing housing and then later moving to the coast, where she found herself in an abusive relationship. In May 2019, after leaving that abusive relationship, she was back in Portland and living on the streets for three months.
But since August 2019, Eileen has had a home for her and her corgi, Vicki.
“Life is good! I love the location,” she said. “It’s close to Max, the bus lines, Fred Meyer, Street Roots. Everything’s within walking distance.”
She’s decorated her place with her own paintings and drawings. “And I’ve been going crazy with plants too,” she said. “I have seven plants! They warm my heart. They’re like my babies. I talk to them.”
“It’s so good to be creative in all these ways,” Eileen said.
Writing poetry has been her bridge, what connects her different selves. “When I was homeless, writing helped me stay sane,” she explained. “Writing poetry gives me the opportunity to express myself. I write from my heart.” Browsing through her “scrap book of poetry” recently, Eileen said, “I was just giggling. … There’s such a difference in perspective between then (when I was homeless) and now. I’m a different person.”
When she returned to Portland in 2019, she rejoined the Street Roots weekly poetry workshop and her work has often been published in Street Roots. She was featured in the 20th anniversary edition of Street Roots, in October 2019, with her article “Why it's important to have a creative writing class at Street Roots.” She served on the 2019 zine committee, and she has read her poetry at readings sponsored by Street Roots.
This past December, Eileen celebrated her 60th birthday.
“I feel great,” she said with joy. “Not old. Nobody believes that I’m 60.”
She’s also a woman of faith who cares deeply about others. Before COVID-19, she was a regular volunteer at St. Andre Bessette Catholic Church. Helping others is what Eileen misses the most during the pandemic.
And she considers her Street Roots’ customers her “community.”
Eileen’s sales post is at Southwest 11th Avenue and Taylor Street in front of Daily Feast Diner. “The employees are awesome,” she said. “They bring me hot tea, and if they have a meal that nobody picked up, they share it with me. I have a customer base and they’re always happy to see me. They stop and have a chat and check in with me. And I check in with them.”
Eileen looks forward to a day when COVID-19 is behind us and “we can get back to normal, whatever normal is. When I can get back to volunteering, when we don’t have to isolate ourselves. I’m looking forward to giving my friends hugs.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly publication focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
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