Living unhoused in pre-pandemic Portland, Randy Humphreys was a victim of a city sweep in which contractors discarded his personal belongings like trash. For unhoused folks, the items they have with them at a given time or in their tents are often all they own in the world. Humphreys’ story is not an uncommon one for homeless folks in Portland and beyond, but his response was unique. He started organizing.
He had already been an active member of Street Roots at the time, and he considered Street Roots to be his chosen family.
“Street Roots has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life, and they've always been there for me when I needed it,” Humphreys said.
Randy knew sweeps affected more than just him, so he came into the Street Roots office and talked to executive director Kaia Sand, who connected him to Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and Mayor Ted Wheeler.
Thus, he began a long journey of advocating for the homeless.
“You know, you can't force people indoors that don't want to be indoors, it's killing people to force them indoors,” Humphreys said.
Years later, he continues to be a political advocate, fighting for homeless rights and using his story to enact political change.
“I like it! I enjoy, you know, fighting with the bigwigs,” he said, letting out a big laugh that is often heard across the Street Roots office.
This is Humphreys’ seventh year at Street Roots, and the resource he appreciates the most is the fresh-brewed coffee. He is reminiscent of a pre-pandemic time when Street Roots was open seven days a week, although since he got housing a couple of months ago, he frequents the office much less often.
Humphreys’ was unhoused for 11 years, and he’s grateful to have a roof over his head and staff at his apartment complex that love him. He worked as a laborer for the better part of 20 years, and at his apartment complex, he has taken to landscaping.
As a young man in his home state of Idaho, Humphreys’ was very involved in martial arts, where he learned the principles of self-confidence, self-control and self-discipline. That ended when he was helping a friend get his truck unstuck in a snowstorm, and his knee was permanently injured by a slab of ice. He hasn’t been able to practice martial arts since.
“You gotta have self-control, self-discipline, self-confidence,” Humphreys said. “If you don't have those, you have nothing.”
Nonetheless, he implements these three values into his daily life, using them as his motto.
Humphreys is excited to be spotlighted in this week's vendor profile and hopes his story will make it around the world. He’s grateful for Portlanders’ generosity around the holidays and hopes people know he is a good guy who is just trying to make an extra buck.
Randy can be found selling Street Roots at the Seven Corners New Seasons on Southeast Division Street in the afternoon. He can also be supported via @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (439) in the notes
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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