When Jeremiah Leggett first started selling Street Roots in 2004, he was struggling with addiction and mental health issues. At the time, he was going through treatment at Central CIty Concern, and Street Roots provided him with a steady income, a reliable schedule and an outlet for his writing, all of which helped him during his recovery.
“Street Roots is an awesome thing,” he said. “I feel like it really helped get me through treatment, and that changed my life. I'm really grateful. I'm glad that this option exists and it's there to help bridge people getting from one point to another. And it's a good opportunity to meet people in the community.”
A few weeks ago, Jeremiah flew to Maine to visit his ailing aunt. When he returned to his post outside of the Trader Joe's on Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Glisan Street, he was joyfully overwhelmed by the outpouring of support he received from his regular customers.
“I got more hugs than I can remember when I got back from Maine from people that are customers and just people that know me on the street,” he said. “It really humbled me to know that many people appreciate me and want me there. It feels pretty awesome to know that I’m in the right spot and I’m doing the right thing for me right now.”
In 2014, Jeremiah began experiencing homelessness, and Street Roots helped him find stability. Now, he sells Street Roots almost every day. And while he’s still experiencing homelessness, he’s able to meet all of his basic needs.
“I’m pretty blessed,” he said.
Jeremiah experienced a cascade of loss last month. Three people close to him died tragically and unexpectedly. But Jeremiah keeps his head held high, and he’s looking toward the future. He’s excited to visit his favorite spot to forage for chanterelle mushrooms, and he’s looking forward to hiking around Mt. Hood and the Coastal Range — he’s figured out how to take public transit to both, and he tries to get out into nature regularly.
“For me, getting outside is my religion,” he said. “I try to go as frequently as possible.”
He’s also looking forward to attending some concerts and possibly some volunteering this fall. Over the years, he’s enjoyed volunteering at numerous festivals and events, and listening to music is one of his favorite pastimes.
“I volunteer at a lot of different shows because I find it's more fun to actually be working the show,” he said. “My favorite was volunteering for the Oregon Brewers Festival back when they had music.”
He’s also looking into getting his license reinstated. He lost it after getting a DUI in 1999 when he was 19 years old, and he now feels ready to put the work into getting it back. He’s eager to pursue some job opportunities that require having a license.
“It’d be a game changer for me,” he said.
Jeremiah is also hoping to get back into writing. He’s published poems and articles in Street Roots over the years, and he’d like to get started again.
“Writing is a healthy outlet, and I feel like it's something that I've neglected for a while because I'm very critical of my work and I have a hard time sharing it,” he said. “But that's just something I need to work on and get better at.”
For anyone struggling, Jeremiah offers this advice: Try to get enough sleep if you can.
“I value my sleep because it’s important for my mental health,” he said. “It really is key. I feel like that's why there's so many people that are struggling to do even basic things that are on the street, because of the lack of sleep and the lack of a place to have some quiet and peace. Your brain and your body need it.”
You can find Jeremiah most weekdays in the mornings and afternoons outside of Trader Joe's on Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest Glisan Street. He loves connecting with Street Roots supporters, and he always appreciates a hello.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly investigative publication covering economic, environmental and social inequity. 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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