Robin is back in Portland selling the paper and hoping to make a difference
Robin “Shaggy” Douglas has only been back in Portland for four weeks, but he’s already found community with Street Roots.
“He’s added such a great, helpful presence to the office,” said Kodee Zarnke, Street Roots’ Jesuit AmeriCorps volunteer.
Robin lit up when I shared this piece of recognition, and he spoke to the importance of encouragement — a great reminder for us all.
“I try to bring goodness to the Street Roots office, so it’s nice to hear that,” Robin said. “Some moments when you’re wondering what you’re doing it all for, it’s good to hear something like that. Otherwise, it can be pretty lonely when you’re all in your head.”
Robin is not new to Street Roots. Before living in Eugene for the past four years with his brother, he was a Street Roots vendor. It was the poetry writing workshops that drew him in.
After reading his poetry, several people on the Street Roots staff encouraged Robin. Former staff member Cole Merkel “saw the poet in me,” Robin said. “Cole can see things in people that they maybe had let go dormant or hadn’t tapped into. He’s a rock star!”
Because of that encouragement, Robin had the heart to read his poetry at several poetry events co-sponsored by Street Roots.
He had studied poetry in college, where he focused his course work toward an engineering major. But he had questions about pursuing that career path, so he traveled around doing various jobs and landed in Portland.
“Ever since I was knee-high I wanted to do something that would be helpful,” Robin said. “I wanted to figure out a way I could still make a difference and do something that would support me.”
So when he arrived in Portland that first time, along with working as a Street Roots vendor, he volunteered with Sisters of the Road.
Robin volunteered three to five days a week with Sisters of the Road and when a paid position as a relief worker opened up, he filled a job which included working the cafe and maintaining the Sisters’ policy of an open non-violent space.
The greatest challenge of that work was de-escalating situations with empathy.
“The advantage I had as a homeless person myself was that I carried a respect card for people. I could feel others’ energy. I could read the color of the room,” Robin said.
Being on the streets himself, he said it was hard not to give in to drugs.
“But drugs got me depressed; I lost my way, lost my state of mind. I lost the jobs I fully loved.”
Robin moved to Eugene and lived on the streets with his brother for a while.
“I’ve grown a lot these past few years,” Robin said. “I moved back to Portland to go to a rehab and get clean.”
To Robin, coming back to Portland felt like the stars aligning.
“A lot of people are happy to see me back,” he said. “That’s really touching! It means a lot to me. And being with Street Roots vendors, that camaraderie with others. That kind of thing makes you feel ‘normal’ again.”
Robin is a “semi-pro” on the longboard, an experienced disc golfer, and a trickster with a hacky sack. Look for him in the afternoon at the Safeway on Northwest Lovejoy Street in the Pearl.
You can also support Robin through @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (719) in the comments.
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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