Street Roots vendor Robert Egan wants to bring sunshine into your life. A longtime vendor, Robert has sold the paper for over 15 years. Robert, who credits the paper with giving him stability for many years, has been the subject of three previous vendor profiles.
Since the last time he was profiled, Robert found stable housing in Northeast Portland.
“I got a warm bed to sleep in and a roof over my head, so that’s a good thing,” Robert said during the recent April snowfall.
Robert has been in his current housing for over 15 months, paying rent with the proceeds of his paper sales. More than a source of income, Robert considers Street Roots his family, saying they’ve helped him find housing and work through problems.
“I would do anything for any one of them, hands down,” Robert said. “Just like they’ve done for me.”
Robert’s spirit of camaraderie and caring radiates out to his customers. He sells papers not just to pay rent, but to be a steady presence for his customers.
“I appreciate everything we’ve been to each other for the many years I’ve been selling papers, and I appreciate your generosity and willingness to engage in conversation,” Robert said. “Everybody needs the human-to-human connection, even (at) the tail end of the pandemic.”
A natural joke teller, Robert never wants people to leave his presence without a smile on their faces.
“Why did all the easter eggs hide? Because they’re all little chickens,” Robert said.
Robert does have concerns about the direction Portland is going. Portland is his hometown, Robert is worried about the rise in violence downtown.
“Portland is not the Portland I grew up in,” Robert said. “Back in the 1970s you could be a kid and walk around downtown just fine, now you have to be in a group to stay safe.”
Robert has also worked to raise awareness about homelessness in Portland. In collaboration with Portland State University students and graphic artists, Robert participated in selling a recent comic book series detailing the stories of people experiencing homelessness and the strategies they use to overcome it.
Still, Robert’s upbeat demeanor guides his way. His advice to others?
“Engage,” Robert said. “Get off your phone and engage with somebody … Respect everybody … (and) always be willing to be open to new ideas.”
This is Robert’s fourth vendor profile –– and could be his last. Robert has met someone with whom to share his warmth, a woman in Madison, Wisconsin. Robert plans to move to Madison this summer to be with her. Portland will be missing a little bit of sunshine as Robert opens a new chapter. Wherever he goes, he will surely bring joy to the lives of others.
Robert sells Street Roots 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. most weekdays at Grand Central Bakery on Hawthorne Avenue. He also sells papers at the Grand Central Bakery at Northeast 45th Avenue and Fremont Street. You can also support Robert through @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (453) in the notes.
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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