One of my first mentors on the streets was the great Genny Nelson, co-founder of Sisters Of The Road. Genny has mentored dozens of organizers, agitators, policy makers, writers and artists over the years. Her life’s work has a footprint on both Portland p ...
30 Oct 2014 - Israel Bayer
The story of ending people’s homelessness in our community and around the country over the past 30 years is so dysfunctional it’s hard to explain to the general public what’s worked and what hasn’t worked. A little history might help. Between the years of ...
29 Sep 2014 - Israel Bayer
What is the vision of Street Roots? At the heart of Street Roots and every street newspaper are the vendors selling the newspaper. Providing people the opportunity to earn a dignified income is at the heart of everything we do. People from all walks of li ...
16 Sep 2014 - Israel Bayer
The tragedy of the Michael Brown killing is rocking the nation. It should. For anyone living in an urban environment, especially people of color and the poor — the events of Michael Brown and the community response is not surprising. It’s hard to shift th ...
29 Aug 2014 - Israel Bayer
It’s time to embrace the idea of organized camping and the Tiny House Movement in Portland for people experiencing poverty. We are now three decades into to the rise of massive homelessness in the United States. During that time we’ve seen tens of billion ...
16 Aug 2014 - Israel Bayer
The Oregonian recently reported that apartment rentals in Portland shot up 6.1 percent last year according to Axiometrics, a rental industry data firm. The average rent for an apartment in Portland is $1,160. You know what? They’re going to increase even ...
13 Aug 2014 - Israel Bayer
Street Roots vendors work hard in the summer. It’s not easy. Being homeless in the summertime isn’t any fun. Longer periods of daylight are a welcome sign for many Portlanders, but for many people on the streets it can mean going long stretches of time wi ...
10 Jul 2014 - Israel Bayer
Portland is reaching a tipping point. With the decline of affordable housing units around the city due to the increase of rental prices we’re heading into a perfect storm. In fact, some might say the storm has already arrived on our shores. It sure feels ...
1 Jul 2014 - Israel Bayer
The world is a complicated place. Of course, you don’t need me to tell you that. On my way home from work this week I stopped and talked to an elderly woman sleeping on the streets in Old Town. “Besides my aching back all I really need is a long, hot bath ...
5 Jun 2014 - Israel Bayer
Mike has lived a very hard life. Challenges with mental health, addiction and living with Tourette’s syndrome have for years contributed to a life on and off the streets. Mike has been a regular at Street Roots for quite a while now. We’ve both seen each ...
12 May 2014 - Israel Bayer