Sharing Public Spaces Forum Meeting Notes (Small Group Discussions)

Tuesday July 21, 2009

What Works?

• Women’s shelter working well, but always has a waiting list
• Street Roots
• Resource guide
• Business community has been proactive

What doesn’t Work?

• Restrooms are not available from 11pm to 7am, except Portland Loo
• Restroom access for the disabled
• Lack of faith in city- source of funding
• # of rooms in Resource Access Center shrunk, build it to original specifications
• Concerns about disorderly conduct
• Concerns about behavior
• Doesn't apply to east side
• Does not take into account people who can't work due to disability issues
• Locations of services are too limited.
• Only one public bathroom location open after midnight
• The Ten Year Plan does not accommodate the newly homeless
• Public restrooms are always dirty, and need more regular cleaning
• Private security firms that over step their authority, and creating an oppressive environment
• Long lines for restrooms by drug users
• 960 homeless families on any given night and only 60 rooms available
• Services don’t address why people use the sidewalks

Lack of shelter spaces for women

What Services Are Still Needed?

• More overnight bathroom locations
• A resolution to deter aggressive panhandling
• Access to mental healthcare
• More available housing
• Job training programs
• Restrooms under the bridges
• Animal kennel space at homeless shelters
• Use the space under bridges to allow people to sleep
• Send social service agencies to provide outreach and solve problems under the bridges
• Utilize foreclosed, abandoned, and vacant land to use as temporary housing, tent shelters
• Access to Telephones, computers, counselors, and help attaining GEDs
• Places where the homeless can be during the day/ Day Action Center
• Tolerance zone for public consumption of alcohol, w/ adequate restroom/shower facilities.  Serviced by moderators, police, 24 hr social service monitor.
• Family friendly shelters
• More Dignity Villages
• Storage facilities – “You can’t look for a job with your house on your back”
• Questionnaires with the goal of empowering people
• A Board to which complaints can be filed
• Benches
• East side resource centers
• Food programs accessible to everyone in Portland
• Assistance obtaining birth certificates and state IDs
• Green zones where camping is allowed
• Housing for couples, GLBT, single fathers with children, etc.
• Coordination on reporting issues to Clean and Safe
• Dealing with aggressive youth panhandlers
• Reach out to more people
• Basic health care
• Living wages to empower people