Scott Mattson likes to think of himself as optimistic. He’s often seen around the vendor office wearing a smile and cracking jokes, always accompanied by his dog Indica. He and Indica spoke to Street Roots outside the old NW Davis Street office, hiding from the rain beneath CC Slaughters’ awning next door.
Scott has experienced housing insecurity on and off since he was a child. Originally from Hawaii, Scott moved to Portland with his family in 1974.
“First time I saw the streets was ‘84 — I was 14,” Scott said.
Since then, he’s spent time in and out of housing, boarding with friends and girlfriends and staying in shelters.
In 2005, Scott found himself on the street for a significant time.
“I was right here in doorways for 10 years,” Scott said, turning and pointing up and down NW 3rd Avenue. “The streets are not fun.”
Scott was recommended by a friend to start selling Street Roots in 2012. At the time, he was working at Hobo’s, a restaurant and lounge in Portland, and was told selling the paper was a great way to make money. He began selling Street Roots outside Hobo’s but soon found out it would mean more to him than just an extra income.
“Once you get to know the people, it’s more like my close family,” Scott said.
His favorite part about selling the paper is the people.
“All these vendors, they’ve got a different story,” Scott said.
Around the time he joined Street Roots, Scott also rescued a dog, Indica. Her owner was in legal trouble and could not care for her; thankfully, Scott stepped in at the right time.
“She was 43 pounds at a year old. You could actually see her ribs. Now she’s beefy. Spoiled,” Scott said, looking down at her with a smile.
He believes Indica is a significant reason for his good fortune in life. Scott says she has been not only a companion but also a protector.
“When I got her, that was a stabilizer,” Scott said. “This dog has been there for me.”
Having recently turned 54, Scott is hopeful to be back in stable housing. What he’s most looking forward to, other than a good night’s sleep, is to have a place for Indica to call home. When asked how he’s remained so positive, Scott explained it quite simply.
“Being positive is like change; it spreads. Why be negative? It takes more energy,” Scott said.
With the new building almost fully operational, Scott hopes to see the Street Roots family grow and reach a larger audience with their message.
“I want to see a broader market, more people selling, more people buying,” Scott said. “Street Roots does the smaller articles, which aren’t publicized as much. Those stories need to get out, too.”
Scott’s primary focus is returning to stable housing for him and Indica. He’s also in the process of getting a sales post of his own but says he likes to sell papers wherever there are people, like on weekends at the Saturday Market downtown. You can support Scott via
@streetroots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (472) 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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This article appears in Nov. 6, 2024.