Street Roots vendor David Yeggins loves almost everything that Portland offers.
“Except maybe the Naked Bike Ride,” he said. “They could use a little bit of clothes.”
While naked bike riding may not be his jam, most everything else about his adopted city is. Especially the bikes and the animals.
“I like the bikes in Portland and all the service animals,” David said. “I wouldn’t mind having a little dog but I don’t have one now. I like to color, and do puzzles and ride my bike. I like collecting cans, trying to make some money.”
Although David was born in Houston, he played football for Roosevelt High School and considers Portland home. After high school, he moved back to Houston but quickly found his way back to Portland, where he’s been for six or seven years. He reconnected with a few friends from high school and settled back into his life in Portland.
David discovered Street Roots through his girlfriend Josephine, who was also a vendor, and he has been a vendor for the last several years.
“Street Roots helped me put the time in to stay on a good path, and it also helps me have money in my pocket,” he said. “I have a few friends that I met at Street Roots that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
Living in a tent is fine for him, but he gets frustrated about the lack of services, especially around trash and sanitation.
“I kind of don’t mind the camping, but the trash is hard,” he said. “I wish that it was easier to throw things away. Trash does create a lot of problems, and I get that. I wish that there was a better way to handle that. But we’re people, too, and all of us aren’t bad. We just need a chance for housing, a chance.”
His goal is his own home, with steady and consistent work.
“In five years, hopefully, I’m working a good little job so I can have a little home or apartment,” he said. “Maybe I’ll have a driving job. I have my license. I’d like to live back on the north side, where I grew up — the St. Johns area.”
While he enjoys the work and the connection with his customers, he loves earning his own income. He credits his success to a simple, two-part strategy.
“I try to be a real nice guy and I’m consistent about selling papers every day,” he said.
Most days, David can be found selling Street Roots from late afternoon until closing outside of the Whole Foods on Northwest Couch Street in the Pearl District. David can also be supported via @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (550) 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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