Cathy, Terri and Jennie - welcome to the group!  I'm looking forward to sharing and learning with you...

If you have friends in your network who are from Oregon, please let them know about Oregon HCA and send them an invitation.  If they're not yet a part of Care2, ask them to join!It would be wonderful to grow our community and increase our knowledge and our ability to "be the change" we wish to see.

I already know both Cathy and Jennie, but will introduce myself for those of you who don't know me.

I am a formerly homeless single parent and live in the Portland Metro/Tri-County area.  I have been involved in advocacy (poverty related issues) for roughly 8 years, and in activism for two. 

I have participated in two of the Project Homeless Connect events in Portland.  I have recently been invited to be a member of the Board for a four county (Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington & Clark) program which handles funding for programs directly related to emergency shelter and food.

I am also a Board member and volunteer for a non-profit which focuses on preventing at-risk populations (elderly & disabled) from "falling through the cracks" of the current system.  Many (but not all!) of our clients are not homeless, but at serious risk of homelessness. 

Homelessness is an experience that has shaded every day of my life, ever since my own brief episode.  It will never leave me, and any security I feel is always transient.  I know too well that the majority of us are only one or two paychecks away from losing that which is the foundation for every other path to security - our housing.

I'm glad that you have joined me here, and I hope that we can work together to bring about change!

Cynthia

You're off to a great start here.

Suggestion: If you go to any group on Care2 and scroll down to the right bottom corner it will show from your "cookies" other members of your geographical location. Then you can invite them to this group.

Wendy - welcome!!  I'm so glad that you accepted the invitation. 

I love the fact that you've volunteered at a shelter - that shows such a huge commitment!

Are you in Josephine County?  I was just doing some research, so I know that there are few resources there.  I'd love for you to start a thread on the county that you live in  - so that we can learn what the resources are, and discuss options, etc.

Winter shelter is of particular concern and I'm hoping to add more to the thread addressing that...

I'll look forward to hearing more from you this weekend Wendy!

Blessings!

Cynthia

Hi Donna! 

Thanks so much for the encouragement - and the tip as well!  I'm having difficulty finding active Care2 members from Oregon (That's a hint to all group members - HELP! lol!) but I'm really hoping to grow our membership.  I'm even inviting a few local people involved in the issues surrounding homelessness - who aren't currently Care2 members...

I've linked to both Homeless Civil Rights and the main HCA group...and hope you don't mind if I borrow postings, info, etc. on occasion.  Between the two groups, there's such a wealth of information!

Blessings!

Cynthia

I'm not directly involved with the homeless here in PDX, but I like to remain aware of the resources available and the work being done in this area. As a single mom I live on the edge of financial disaster most of the time and as a caring human I look around at all the stories sitting in doorways and street corners and want to make sure I know ways to help.

I'm involved in nonviolence. I work with the international group Nonviolent Peaceforce NP) that trains civilians to help other civilians in conflict areas. I'm involved through the US NP Chapter association, participating on committees and building the local Oregon chapter, Peaceforce Oregon (peaceforceoregon.org). We've been considering training local peace teams in our area and one application I've considered is unarmed civilian accompaniment for the homeless, to help reduce the violent attacks by both other civilians and law enforcement. I'd love to hear feedback from the group on this idea. If you would like to be involved in this work please let me know. The chapter is just forming and all input is needed.

Congratulations on becoming a Grandmama Cynthia. What a precious gift.
-Terri Shofner
peaceforceoregon.org
nonviolentpeaceforce.org

Terri - so nice to hear from you!  Direct involvement in PDX or Oregon isn't a requirement - simply an interest in the issues and a hunger for information!

I have been a single mom since my childrens births (they are 18 and 20 now) and am oh, so familiar with living on the edge.  We even experienced a bout of homelessness (and I was working full-time then) when my kids were toddlers - what a nightmare that was!  And of course, the awareness that exists now just didn't exist then.

Your work in nonviolence and peace sounds fascinating!  After 9/11, I participated with a local, church based group in accompanying some of our Muslim neighbors - women and children - in public during outings to the grocery store, to various appointments, etc.  It was a revelation to know that so many of the people and families directly affected by 9/11 promoted peace and tolerance in the midst of hate...

I don't think that I have the resources now, physically, to be directly involved.  But I am definitely open to learning more and to exploring the possibilities.  You might be interested in the work that I do (my livelihood) with a small local organization called People Helping People.  You can check it out at http://www.phpnw.org/.

Peacekeeping, non-violence and tolerance are all very relative to issues of poverty - including homelessness.

I"ll look forward to your posts, and to learning more about your work and the development of a local NP chapter! 

Cynthia

PS - If you have friends and/or connections that are interested in the issues we bring forth in this group, feel free to issue them an invitation to join us!  I'd love to see this group grow and become more interactive!