Listen to the People, not the Pundits
Portland is often labeled as a cautionary tale of "woke/progressive" policies gone awry in the eyes of national and international media and political spheres. It seems we can’t make it more than a week without being inundated with think pieces on how to “save Portland.”
National debates on "housing first" versus "treatment first" shape how Portlanders perceive themselves and influence violent policies targeting our unsheltered neighbors. Rather than implement housing-first policies, we witness elected leaders enact widespread camping bans that leave individuals with little to no alternatives.
As pundits argue, we make it a priority to heed the voices of those with lived experience of the problems. The prevailing sentiment supports stable housing without judgment and meeting people where they're at.
Our guiding philosophies center the experiences of our community, not opinions from people who don’t even live here. In 2007, we published "Voices from the Streets." The book compiles firsthand accounts and stories, shedding light on the experiences of those facing homelessness, providing insights into their struggles, challenges, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Today, we persist in nurturing genuine relationships and connections. We’re often called “radical” when what we are really doing is simply asking folks experiencing the violence of poverty what the solutions are to solve it.
Next year we will collaborate with local organizations and Portland State University on a community-based participatory action research project. The goal is to interview our neighbors on the streets and identify their housing preferences and needs, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of existing local programs in meeting those needs. Through this initiative, we strive to challenge paternalistic housing programs and policies.
As we face these challenges head-on, we emphasize that Sisters of the Road stands firm in its commitment to the principles of listening to what people need. We don't depend on city or county contracts; instead, we rely on the collective strength of our supporters and advocates.
Sisters of the Road has always championed self-advocacy and autonomy. Our aim is to empower our neighbors to find their voice and speak for themselves.
This is where you come in.
There are just 14 days left in our Gather & Grow summer fundraising campaign. We depend on your support and solidarity to continue our advocacy and outreach to center the voices that actually matter in this debate. Help us reshape the narrative, foster understanding, and develop solutions informed by people, not pundits.
In Solidarity,
Kelcie Grega
Fundraising and Campaign Coordinator
