#title Free Portland, OR
#lang en
#pubdate 2023-01-24T15:26:53
#topics Liberate
** General Guide
Portland is a hip left-libertarian leaning city with some of the best tolerance for radicals as US cities go. It has a population of 562,690 in a metro area of around two million, it is the third largest city in the Pacific Northwest AKA Occupied Cascadia and 23rd largest in the United States. Bicycling and public transport are among the best in the world. If you like good coffee, craft brewed beers, cycling, high tech, and radicals for all causes Portland has what you want.
In 2006, Portland was ranked overall number 1 of 50 U.S. cities by the organization SustainLane on quality of life and economic factors that affect personal sustainability. According to Grist Magazine, Portland is the second most eco-friendly city in the world.
Portland is divided into 5 quadrants - North, Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, & Southwest. The Willamette River divides East & West; Burnside Street divides North & South. Sellwood, Hawthorne, Woodstock, Brooklyn, Alberta, Mississippi are "hip" neighborhoods where a person can find housing near amenities and transportation. Rising prices in Northeast have displaced the African-American community that for many years was "redlined" into that area.
Downtown has plenty of places to hang out with south park blocks and PSU having both free WiFi and benches plus an occasional power plug. Downtown the Pioneer Place mall is like any other but the decor and lighting of the underground food court area has a futuristic blade-runner feel. Pioneer courthouse square has an amphitheater and people hang out around there, bikes are forbidden to be ridden in the square and the private security can evict anyone since the city has set this up as a private space but it is a free speech zone. Don't leave without hanging out at the Powells largest used bookstore in the world 1005 W. Burnside www.powells.com. Northwest is another trendy area, prices are high for rent but there are nice parks and the bike ride down from the zoo down to Burnside is a long scenic one. Dignity Village alternative housing experiment is near the Portland airport.
** Housing
** Dignity Village
After much protest, relocation, and negotiation a city recognized squatter camp exempt from building codes, occasionally troubled by internal political turmoil. For safety reasons children are not allowed to reside in dignity village. There is a limit to amount of residents and/or a waiting list to get in. Also, all new residents must be approved by a council interview. [[http:/www.dignityvillage.org/][http://www.dignityvillage.org]]
The Rules:
- No violence toward yourself or others.
- No illegal substances or alcohol or paraphernalia on the premises or within a one-block radius.
- No stealing.
- Everyone contributes to the upkeep and welfare of the village and works to become a productive member of the community.
- No disruptive behavior of any kind that disturbs the general peace and welfare of the village.
Among the services offered by Dignity Village for their residents are:
- Showers
- Sanitary facilities
- Private and communal food and flower gardens
- Communal cooking and refrigeration facilities
- Emergency transportation
- Access to education
- Access to counseling
- Distribution of donated food, personal items and construction material
- Internet access
- Weekly community meetings
- On-site medical care on a scheduled basis by volunteer doctors and nurses
- Access to prescription medication assistance
- Rudimentary first aid
- Access to telephone
** SafeHaven
SafeHaven - Eligibility Criteria
- Must have one or more children under the age of 18.
- Must be homeless
- Must have been clean and sober for 30 days prior in intake
If you have questions about SafeHaven Shelter for Families, or are in need of homeless family services, please call (503) 246-1663 ext 100 between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday - Friday.
** Goose Hollow Shelter
First United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson St. Shelter Manager's Desk (during shelter hours only) - 503.228.3195 ext. 203 Email: ghfs@fumcpdx.org
Families staying at the Shelter are provided an evening meal and a light breakfast. They have access to showers, laundry facilities, sleeping areas (partitioned for families), and constructive activities for kids. Thanks to many donations received throughout the year, they maintain a pantry of personal toiletry items and a clothes closet of re-cycled clothing for shelter families.
** Transition Projects
The Community Service Center staff provides resource information and services to homeless and other very low-income adults. Located at the corner of Northwest Glisan Street and Fifth Avenue, the Community Service Center is open: Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Call 503-823-4930 to be placed on the shelter waiting list, or visit us at 475 NW Glisan Street, [[http:/www.tprojects.org/][http://www.tprojects.org]].
** Hotline
24-Hour Shelter Referrals call 211 or (503) 222-5555.
** Alternative
We have known "homeless" Portlanders who lock up their bicycle on shore and row to one of the urban area river islands staying in self built cabins on these rarely patroled islands. Once in town they bike trailer the kayak and lock up bike and boat at the university for classes.
Forest park is the largest urban park in the USA. There is enough depth that you can usually find a place to tent up off of bicycle or walking trails. A father and daughter lived hidden for five years in forest park using tarps for shelter while teaching the girl from a set of encyclopedia.
** Food
Excellent Dumpster diving at the plentiful organic food markets and if you ask at the independent stores most clerks are cool and will load you up with the days spoils before they hit the dumpster.
Portland farmers market is good farm grown produce with plenty of organics open when in season Saturday at PSU, Wednesday Downtown, Thursday Eastbank, Thursday Ecotrust [[http:/www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/][http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/]].
The Portland chapter of Food Not Bombs serves free vegan meals every Wednesday (Dawson Park), Friday (Colonel Sumners Park), and Saturday (Under the west end of the Burnside bridge) starting at 5:30.
** Medical Care
- Outside in Clinic and homeless assistance center
1132 SW 13th Ave in Portland just north of the I-205 overpass from Portland State University 503-535-3800 Health and counseling services for the homeless and low income population, they do not turn anyone away, some days they even have doctors for the naturopathic medical school.
- Oregon health plan
OHP provides benefits to low income people and families especially pregnant mothers and children, some people are required to pay monthly premiums, non-mothers and men are often rejected for care under the OHP.
[[http:/www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/][http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/]].
** Legal Aid
Oregon State Bar Association [[http:/www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/1172.htm][http://www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/1172.htm]] The Modest Means Program is a reduced-rate legal service program administered through the Lawyer Referral Service. The number to call in the Portland area is 503-684-3763 or, toll-free elsewhere in Oregon, 1-800-452-7636.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon serves people with low-income and seniors. If you qualify for food stamps you may qualify for services from Legal Aid Services of Oregon. Child Support Hotline: Statewide service of legal aid programs throughout Oregon that provides help to low-income persons who have problems with getting or paying child support. 1-800-383-1222 Monday 1:00 - 4:00; Thursday 9:00 - 12:00. Public Benefits Hotline, Statewide service of legal aid programs throughout Oregon that provides help to low-income persons who have problems with applying for or receiving public benefits such as Welfare, Food Stamps, or Social Security. 1-800-520-5292 [[http:/www.oregonlawhelp.org/][http://www.oregonlawhelp.org/]] English and Spanish services.
** Armed Forces/Deployment Avoidance Counseling
Legal aid, resources, etc.
** Play
More beautiful wilderness nearby than you could imagine, Mt Hood for skiing and boarding all year round, national forest for camping and anti-logging action, beach and rivers for fun in the water, Columbia gorge for the best wind surfing in the world, Rock climbing is scattered all around the metro area.
** Futsal
Portland Futsal (3401 SE 17th Ave) is a converted warehouse designed to give soccer fans a place to play after work. Open play occurs twice a week, Wednesday and Friday 8-11, and though there is technically a charge of $5 per hour a little resourcefulness will get you in and out for free. Beautiful facility, good soccer players, good vibe.
** Zoobombing
Zoobomb is a weekly bike event that meets every Sunday around 8:30PM across from Rocco's Pizza (949 SW Oak) in Portland OR. Bring a bike if you have one, MAX fare ($1.75), bike lights, and any saftey gear you want to wear. You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks but you MUST clean up everything you bring with you. Leave no trace. Its a good time and you WILL have fun!