On the 27th of July 2009, Sisters Of The Road’s Administration Team made a hard decision. We decided that as a direct response to increased crowding, drug use and selling and violence outside our doors we would close our doors through the month of August. During this closed time we dedicated the majority of our resources and staff hours to coming up with a solution to these concerns in a way that represented our values of nonviolence and honored our mission to find systemic solutions to homelessness.
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Working with our community to create solutions

We invited customers, community members, local service agencies and neighbors to engage with us to create a different way of doing things - with the belief that change comes most effectively when all affected are part of the solutions.

On Tuesday, September 1, 2009 Sisters reopened our doors with a new way of addressing the concerns outside. We implemented a clearly defined code of conduct for our customers, posted inside the cafe and in our windows visible to the outside. We began using chalk to mark the required passage way on the sidewalks around Sisters. We changed our waitlist sign up to a time slot format that allows fifteen people to be served every half hour.
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Positive feedback from customers, neighbors, and community partners

“At first I was nervous that Sisters was just going to move us along like everyone else,” says one customer who wishes to not be named, “but now I see that it’s actually safer and better for everyone”.

Howard Weiner, Chair of the Old Town/Chinatown Visions Committee and business owner in Old Town since 1984 stated, “the conditions are greatly improved and the changes are better for the customers and for the neighborhood at large”.

“I’ve seen a huge difference when Sisters reopened and it has continued to get better.” said Marylee King, Director of The MacDonald Center, our nearest neighbor. “People are very respectful of the new rules ... a lot of the change has to do with the respect that this community has for Sisters and their dedication to making their mission work.”

We continue to fine-tune the changes we’ve made here at Sisters and work in partnership with our neighbors, community and authorities. We truly believe that developing authentic relationships with others will bring about sustainable and systemic change.

Please come down to the cafe and pay us a visit - let the work we’ve done speak for itself.
If you have any questions or concerns about the changes at Sisters we invite you to call our Executive Director Monica Beemer at 503.222.5694 ext 19 or send her an email at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).