Severe Weather called for December 5th & 6th!

The City of Portland is declaring a Severe Weather Alert for the following nights: Saturday and Sunday December 5th-6thth. This means no one seeking shelter will be turned away this weekend. TB cards will be waived due to expected freezing conditions. Please note location of Red Cross Severe Weather Warming Center below. The location of the Red Cross Warming Center will be different on Saturday night versus Sunday night. If you are homeless, we hope this info will help you navigate these services a bit easier. If you are not homeless, we hope you will consider contacting one of these agencies to offer volunteer support. Many of these severe weather shelters are made possible by Red Cross volunteers and other support from the community. The Winter Shelter Hotline is also available to help you during severe weather. The hotline is available Monday-Friday 8am to 10pm & weekends 10am to 10pm.

211 Winter Shelter Hotline: (503) 721-1500

FOR YOUTH UNDER 24

Janus Youth Programs operates both crisis and short-term shelter year-round. There is often room in the crisis shelter so please refer male, female and transgender youth who are under 24 to the Access Center to determine eligibility. The Access Center is available everyday of the year from 8:30am until 6:30pm: (503)432-3986. After 8:30pm, youth can contact the Janus shelters directly at (503) 222-5933. Janus Youth Shelters are located at located at 1635 SW Alder, Portland. Youth and Young Adults, age 18 and older, are also welcome at the Adult Shelters, including the Severe Weather Shelter Sites for Adults (see below).

FOR FAMILIES

FAMILY WINTER WARMING CENTER:
1435 NE 81st Street (behind the former Elmers restaurant at NE 82nd and Halsey, just off of the NE 82nd Max Line stop). Available seven nights a week throughout winter season 7:00 PM - 7:00 AM, check-in on site. For families with children under 18.).

ADULT WARMING CENTER:

Check in at Transition Projects, 475 NW Glisan, between 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to reserve a space for the night.
Dates: seven nights a week throughout winter season
Hours: 8:00 PM - 7:00 AM, check-in on site
Serves: Single men, single women, couples without children, separate sleeping areas for men and women

For the night of SATURDAY, December 5th only:
Red Cross Severe Weather Emergency Warming Center
Lents Seventh Day Adventist Church
8835 SE Woodstock, (near SE 88th and Foster)
Hours: 9:00 PM - 7:00 AM, check-in on site
Serves: Families, single adults, and youths; Pets allowed; some space for carts; accessible location (main floor)

TriMet Routes: Four blocks west of the Lents/SE Foster stop on the Max Green Line; 1 block west of the SE Foster & 89th stop for the #14 bus

For the night of SUNDAY, December 6th only:
Red Cross Severe Weather Emergency Warming Center
Portland Foursquare Church
1302 Ankeny Street, (near 13th Avenue in Inner SE), Portland
Hours: 9:00 PM - 7:00 AM, check-in on site
Serves: Families, single adults, and youths; Pets allowed; some space for carts; accessible location (main floor)

TriMet Routes: One block south of 13th and Sandy, served by the #12, 19, and 20 bus routes

WOMEN ONLY:

Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES)
Ankeny Entry at Harbor Light Site (2nd and Burnside) (503) 731-3942. Space for 12 additional single women via mats on the floor in the day space during severe weather. Day space open 7am to 11pm daily. Shelter open 7:45pm to 7:00 am daily. No pets or carts. Not disability accessible due to steep stairs.

MEN ONLY:

City Team Ministries
526 SE Grand Avenue (503) 231-9334. Space for 10 additional single men via mats on the floor in the main room during severe weather. May also be open during the days during severe weather. Typically there is a $ 4 per night charge, which includes sleeping space and a meal. No pets, and limited space for belongings. Accessible location

Portland Rescue Mission
111 W. Burnside (503) 227-0859. Space for 70 additional single men via mats on the floor in the lobby, may also be open during the days during severe weather. No pets, and limited space for belongings. Accessible location.

In addition to the above overnight shelter resources, the below providers will open day center space on Sunday, December 6th for individuals.

DayWatch
522 SW 13th, Portland, 503-916-4009
Provides coffee, snacks
Hours: 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Serves: Adults

Salvation Army Harbor Light
SW 2nd and Ankeny, 503-239-1259
Provides seating and hot beverages
Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Serves: Men, up 70 people

Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES)
11 NW 5th, 503-227-0810
Basic services.
Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Serves: Women

SUPPORT STREET ROOTS!

Street Roots newspaper has long supported Janus Youth Programs' work to improve the lives of homeless and high-risk young people. They provide a media voice for the voiceless and boldly advocate for our city's most marginalized citizens. Unfortunately the economic slump has impacted their services and it's time to show your support! Now is a great time to consider making a donation to Street Roots through Willamette Week's annual Give! Guide site. Just click here and look for Street Roots under the 'community' listing. While you're there, check out all the other great agencies that could benefit from your support. It only takes $10 to make a difference. And you might even be elligible for some really great incentives!

YBR TRAINING EVENT NEXT SUNDAY!

FREE TRAINING!
Sunday November 22
2pm-6pm

PORTLAND YOUTH GANGS & GANG INTERVENTION!

Join us for our upcoming Yellow Brick Road Training! The training is free and open to the public but seating is limited. We’ll be learning about Winter Shelter Services that recently opened in Portland and discussing the culture of youth gangs! Discussion will include a brief history of local gangs, how they recruit, why they are so attractive to young people, and how we might better understand the gang “lifestyle” so as to become more effective youth advocates. We’ll have a guest Gang Outreach Specialist with us and the training will be followed by a screening of CRIPS & BLOODS: MADE IN AMERICA, a powerful new documentary that explores the history of two of the largest and most notorious African-American gangs in the U.S.. Vegetarian lunch and coffee will be provided. Hope to see you all there!

Please R.S.V.P. for location at dlundberg@janusyouth.org

Yellow Brick Road on National Public Radio!

Oregon Public Broadcast's Think Out Loud has been covering issues of homelessness recently and tomorrow morning's show will focus on youth homelessness in the Northwest. They will be interviewing young people who are experiencing homelessness and Yellow Brick Road Supervisor Dennis Lundberg will be on air to address youth homelessness from an outreach perspective. Think Out Loud is the "radio show that listens" so call in and voice your own opinion! Your voice can make a difference!

Think Out Loud
91.5fm
Tuesday November 10
9am-10am
Call In: 888-665-5TOL (or 665-5865)

YBR BENEFIT!

The leaves are falling and the smell of woodsmoke is in the air. Autumn is well upon us and winter is soon on the way. For people living outdoors this means it's time to hunker down and try to stay warm with sparse possessions. And YOU can help! Our friends at New Seasons have organized a night of special entertainment to raise awareness of homelessness & poverty in the community. The event takes place Saturday November 7th at Liberty Hall (near Emmanual Hospital in North Portland) and they're asking everyone to bring warm gear to be distributed to the homeless by Yellow Brick Road Street Outreach Teams. We are in need of warm hats, gloves, scarves, and wool socks to help clothe the homeless this cold season. Adult sizes and dark colors are preferred. We invite you to join us for this great event and enjoy the mind-expanding sounds of El and special guests! You can make a difference in the lives of people living outdoors this winter.

Saturday November 7
6pm
Liberty Hall
311 N. Ivy St.

Bring warm hats & gloves for the homeless!

Animal Health Clinic!

Mark your calendars! On Sunday October 18th from 1pm-4pm, the great folks at Portland Animal Welfare will be providing their next Animal Health Clinic for animals living with people experiencing or transitioning from homelessness. Services provided include basic exams, vaccinations, de-worming and flea treatment. This event is first-come-first-served and will take place at Outside In's Tattoo Removal Clinic located at 311 NW Broadway.

P.A.W. Animal Health Clinic
Sunday October 18th
1pm-4pm
311 NW Broadway

ANOTHER AWESOME YBR EVENT THIS FRIDAY!

The Portland Artist Network is proud to present a sock and hygiene supply drive in celebration of Yellow Brick Road’s 25th anniversary! Please join us THIS FRIDAY August 21 at the Ella Street Social Club for what promises to be a very fun evening featuring MC Jeffrey Darling of Sissy Boy, music by The Juan Prophet Organization and DJ Manic, visual art by Petr and Rose Sorfa, spoken word performances by Tommy Gaffney and Davey Mac, film by Alchemystical Workshop and "Random Wonderfulness" with deaf interpretation provided by DHOR through Equal Access ASL. This event also celebrates the 4th anniversary of Portland's Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a 501(C)3 public charitable organization dedicated to the support, education, and development of the GLBT community.

Friday August 21
8pm
Ella Street Social Club (714 SW 20th Place)

$8 at the door or
$5 for those who bring donations for Yellow Brick Road!

YBR event at Holocene THIS WEDNESDAY!

We cordially invite you to attend what promises to be a very exciting evening at Holocene this Wednesday, August 12! Local musician (and all around nice guy) Brian Mumford is guest curating a wonderful muti-media gathering with all proceeds going directly to Yellow Brick Road in honor of our 25 years of service to homeless youth here in Portland! There will be visual art, music, local crafts, independent record labels, and Yellow Brick Road will even be on hand with outreach bags at the ready! Please come by and say, "Hello" this Wednesday at Holocene.

Wednesday August 12
Holocene
1001 SE Morrison
7pm
$6
(all proceeds go to Yellow Brick Road!)

YBR TRAINING OPPORTUNITY!

FREE TRAINING!
Sunday August 23
2pm-5pm

ASSERTIVE ENGAGEMENT! It is my pleasure to welcome Yellow Brick Road founder and Homeless Youth Continuum training consultant Jerry Fest back to YBR for a special Summer Training. Jerry has been instrumental in launching a recent redesign of Portland's Homeless Youth Continuum and he will join us on August 23rd to explain the new conceptual framework for the Assertive Engagement model. Janus Youth Programs and our partners in the Homeless Youth Continuum are the first interagency youth system in the nation to provide this progressive approach to working with street-dependent youth so this is a very exciting time for all of us. Vegetarian food & coffee will be provided!

Please R.S.V.P. for location at dlundberg@janusyouth.org

YBR CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF STREET OUTREACH!

That's right! August 2009 heralds the Silver Anniversary for Yellow Brick Road, one of the first volunteer-based street outreach programs in the nation! This is a very exciting time for all of us at Janus Youth Programs and we invite YOU to join us in celebrating 25 years of service to Portland’s street-dependent youth & young adults. Since our inception in 1984 Yellow Brick Road has provided eye-to-eye advocacy to young people experiencing homelessness every night of the year. Our trained volunteer teams are on the streets of downtown Portland every night from 5pm until 10pm bringing critical information, service referrals, and crisis intervention directly to homeless youth. Our teams distribute basic medical and hygiene supplies in an effort to reduce harm and engage young people in their own recovery and transition. As the “frontline” for the Homeless Youth Continuum, Yellow Brick Road often serves as the first point-of-contact for runaways and street entrenched youth. Our outreach teams also work to end sexual exploitation of young people by developing consistent supportive relationships on the streets, building trust between service providers and youth. And we need your help!

Every year Yellow Brick Road distributes an average of 2,500 pairs of socks, 8,000 band aids, 10,000 Q-tips, 1,000 toothbrushes, 1,000 travel-size tubes of toothpaste, 200 rolls of dental floss, 3,000 safety pins, 1,000 travel-size deodorants, 2,500 packs of triple antibiotic ointment, 4,000 wound wipes, 300 stretch gauze bandages, and hundreds of other essential items such as warm hats & gloves and sunscreen. Students, churches, small business owners, musicians and artists all across Portland have devoted their time and energy to raising awareness as well as supplies that will be distributed directly to the young people in our community who need them most. Anyone can organize a sock drive or hygiene supply drive. It’s easy and fun! And we'd be glad to help you get started. We are also available to come out and speak to your agency or organziation about youth homelessness and how Janus Youth Programs is working every day of the year to improve the lives of young people. Keep watching this blog in the coming weeks for upcoming trainings, benefit events and YBR birthday celebrations! And thank you for your continued support!
All the best,
~Dennis

Dennis Lundberg
Associate Director/Willamette BRIDGE Programs
Janus Youth Programs
dlundberg@janusyouth.org

Notable Survivors

Here is a fascinating (and by no means complete) list of famous survivors of child abuse, sexual abuse, spousal/dating abuse, and rape taken from the abuse resource site As Waters Passing By.

Alexander Pushkin (poet) abuse, info courtesy of AEST
Alice Walker (author/activist) abuse
Andrea Dworkin (author/activist) rape
Angela Rose (activist) sexual assault (visit Angela's site here )
Angela Shelton (actress/model/director/actvist) incest
Angie Dickenson (actress, etc) emotional abuse
Anne Heche (actress) incest
Anne Sexton (poet) child sexual abuse, info courteousy of AEST
Antwone Fisher (author) emotional abuse/child sexual abuse
Axl Rose (musician) child sexual abuse (according to IMDB.com)
Baby Lyssa Chapman (famous bounty hunter/daughter of Dog) statutory rape
Beethoven (composer) unspecified child abuse
Beth Chapman (famous bail bondswoman/wife of Dog) domestic violence
Bill Clinton (former U.S. President) secondary domestic violence
Billie Holliday (singer) childhood rape
Billy Connoly (comedian) incest
Brett Butler (actress) domestic violence
Carlos Santana (musician) child sexual abuse
Carrie Otis (model) rape
Chester Bennington (musician) child sexual abuse
Christina Aguilera (singer) unspecified child abuse/secondary domestic violence
Christina Applegate (actress) dating violence
Christina Crawford (author) emotional abuse
Cindy Williams (actress) emotional abuse
Clara Bow (actress) incest
Connie Francis (singer) rape
Dave Mustaine (musician) child physical abuse/secondary domestic violence
Dave Pelzer (author) multiple forms of abuse
Derek Luke (actor) child sexual abuse
Desi Arnaz, Jr. (actor) emotional abuse
Dog the Bounty Hunter (famous bounty hunter/reality TV stars) child physical abuse
Dorie VanStone (author) multiple forms of abuse
Drew Barrymore (actress) unspecified child abuse
Eleanor Roosevelt (former First Lady) unspecified child abuse
Elizabeth I (Queen of England) teenage sexual assault, info courteousy of AEST
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (poet) abuse, info courteousy of AEST
Elizabeth Loftus (psychologist) child sexual abuse
Ella Fitzgerald (singer) abuse
Emme (model) emotional abuse
Erin Gray (actress) unspecified child abuse
Eve Ensler (playwright/actress) incest
Fantasia (singer) teenage rape
Farrah Faucett (actress) domestic violence
Fiona Apple (musician) childhood rape
Florence Holway (artist/activist) rape
Fran Drescher (actress) rape
Gabrielle Union (actress) rape
Gavin DeBecker (violent crime expert) psychological abuse
George Orwell (author) unspecified child abuse
Greg Luganis (athlete) abuse
Halle Berry (actress, model) domestic violence
Henry Miller (writer) abuse, info courtesy of AEST
Henry Rollins (musician) child sexual abuse
Janice Dickenson (model) child physical & emotional abuse
Janice Mirikitani (poet) incest, Janice's story is featured on a DVD sold at RAINN's site
Johannes Brahms (composer) child sexual abuse, info courteousy of AEST
Jonathan Davis (musician) child sexual abuse
Joyce Meyer (evangelist, author) child physical abuse & incest
Kirk Hammett (musician) child physical & sexual abuse
Laveraneus Coles (athlete) child sexual abuse
Leslie Triber (author/poet) abuse
Lorena Bobbit - marital rape
Lynn C. Tolson (author) incest/domestic violence/sexual assault
Marie Waldrep (poet/activist) incest/domestic violence
Marilyn Manson (musician) child sexual abuse
Marilyn Monroe (actress) child physical & sexual abuse/childhood attempted rape (according to IMDB.com)/domestic violence
Marilyn VanDerber Atler (former Miss America) incest
Mary J. Blige (singer) emotional abuse/childhood rape/secondary domestic violence
Mary Wollestonecraft (author) child physical abuse
Mata Hari (famous spy) domestic violence
Maya Angelou (author, poet) childhood rape
Maynard James Keenan (musician) child sexual abuse
Meat Loaf (musician) peer abuse/parental physical abuse (?)
Mike Patton (musician) neglect/child sexual abuse
Missy Elliot (rapper, producer) child sexual abuse/secondary domestic violence
Nicole Brown Simpson - domestic violence (very likely murdered by OJ)
Oprah Winfrey (talk show host) child sexual abuse
Ozzy Osbourne (musician) emotional abuse
Pamela Anderson (actress) rape/domestic violence
Patricia Weaver Francisco (author) rape
Patsy Cline (singer) domestic violence
Patty Duke (actress, etc.) multiple forms of abuse, info courtesy of AEST
Paula White (evangelist, author) child sexual abuse
Queen Latifah (rapper/actress/model) child sexual abuse
Rain Pryor (actress) child physical abuse/teenage sexual abuse
Richard Nixon (former U.S. President) unspecified child abuse
Rita Hayworth (actress) incest
Robert Blake (actor) multiple forms of abuse, info courtesy of AEST
Rosanne Arnold (actress) child sexual abuse
Rose McGowan (actress) religious related (SRA?) abuse
Rosie Perez (actress) child sexual abuse
Rudyard Kipling (author) unspecified child abuse
Sandra Dee (actress) incest
Sinead O'Connor (musician) multiple forms of abuse, info courteousy of AEST
Stasi Eldredge (author) rape
Suzanne Somers (actress) emotional abuse
Teri Hatcher (actress) incest
Tina Turner (singer) domestic violence
Tom Arnold (actor, etc) abuse, info courtesy of AEST
Toni Childs (musician) abuse, info courteousy of AEST
Tori Amos (musician) rape
Virginia Woolf (author) incest
Viva (actress) child sexual abuse

* Note about sources - these sources generally come from print/internet interviews, documentaries, biographies and the like. Details available upon request at www.aswaterspassingby.org

* The term "secondary domestic violence" denotes that the well known person grew up in a home where one or both parents were the victim of domestic violence. The term "domestic violence" when applied to the persons denotes that they are the survivor of domestic violence where they were the primary victim.

ROSE CITY RESOURCES!

The Rose City Resource Guide is now available online!
ROSE CITY RESOURCE GUIDE ONLINE

Thanks!

THANK YOU to everyone who applied for the Outreach Specialist and RTA positions. The response was overwhelming and both positions are now closed. We are ALWAYS recruiting dependable volunteers for Yellow Brick Road Street Outreach so please drop a line if you are interested in joining the team:

dlundberg@janusyouth.org

NOW HIRING!

Street Outreach Specialist needed for Janus Youth Programs' Outreach & Engagement to engage and develop trusting relationships with street-entrenched youth, 25 and younger who traditionally do not access services, in order to introduce them to employment or educational opportunities and assist in transitioning them from the streets into safe, stable housing. This position involves making regular, outdoor contact with homeless and street-dependent youth in a wide geographic area within abandoned buildings, schools, service agencies, and other areas where youth camp. Bachelor's degree in counseling or related field is preferred. Requires experience with street youth and/or youth involved in sex work, substance abuse, and multi-diagnosis and experience in counseling/case managing youth who are reluctant to engage in services. Driving is required. Beginning salary is $12.00/hour; excellent benefits.

Submit resume and cover letter to Dennis Lundberg, c/o Janus Youth Programs, Inc., 707 NE Couch Street, Portland, OR 97232
or e-mail to him at dlundberg@janusyouth.org

This position closes Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

Yellow Brick Road Street Outreach Program is currently seeking dedicated, energetic, and dependable volunteers! Our mission is to engage street-dependent youth through non-judgemental outreach on the streets of downtown Portland, meeting basic needs while offering referral information and community resources. Outreach shifts are once a week from 5-10pm. Volunteers are asked to make a six month commitment. No experience is necessary and professional Outreach Specialists will provide safety and engagement training.

Please contact Dennis Lundberg at (503)789-4011 or dlundberg@janusyouth.org

NOW HIRING YOUTH!

Project Metamorphosis is currently accepting applications for the Recovery Transition Advocate (RTA) position. This is a part-time entry-level position. No experience is necessary! Our mission is to engage and encourage youth to exit street life with innovative outreach and customized youth-friendly services integrating alcohol/drug and mental health treatment. As an RTA you will be expected to act as a clean & sober peer role-model for 16-24 year old homeless and street dependent youth, providing support, referrals, and crisis intervention through the Homeless Youth Continuum. We encourage diversity!

Qualifications:

1 year clean and sober time (required)

High school diploma or GED

Experience and/or knowledge of the issues of homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction.

A pre-employment drug screening (required)

Applications are due May 13, 2009.

For an application and more information please contact Brandon Schwanz: brandons@depaultreatmentcenters.org
(503) 535-1181.

Food Front

Yellow Brick Road has once again been selected for participation in Food Front's generous Bean Bag program! Food Front is one of Portland's longest-running cooperatively owned grocery stores and their Bean Bag program allows customers to donate 5 cents to various local non-profit organizations every time they shop with their own bags. Next time you shop at Food Front, we hope you'll bring your own recycled shopping bag and consider donating 5 cents to Yellow Brick Road. Those nickels really add up and make a difference!

Food Front Cooperative Grocery
2375 NW Thurman Street
Portland, Oregon
(503) 222-5658

Yellow Brick Road & Reed College: Reaching Out

One of the great characteristics of Yellow Brick Road is our ability to go into the community and educate potential allies, stakeholders, and concerned citizens on issues related to youth homelessness. This form of outreach is every bit as critical as the kind we provide on the streets directly to the most vulnerable youth. Just in the past 6 months Yellow Brick Road has provided free trainings and presentations to Milwaukee Lutheran Church, Riverdale High School, In Other Words Books, Palisades Elementary School, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, and Reed College. Through our rigorous engagement with the community Yellow Brick Road has fostered a particularly rewarding relationship with Reed College that has culminated in our recent partnership as a Federal Work Study (FWS) site.

The Reed FWS is an off-campus internship opportunity that allows students on financial aid to earn their required work study by volunteering with non-profit organizations, schools, and government agencies. In August 2007 Yellow Brick Road became a partner organization, actively recruiting Reed students to join our nightly YBR teams in downtown Portland. Since that time YBR has trained nearly 20 Reed students, approximately 5 students per semester, to conduct outreach among homeless young people who are quite often their own age. Currently, Reed students account for nearly half of our nightly volunteer outreach volunteers! At least two of these students have been so impassioned by their work with YBR that they’ve redirected their course of study toward community services. Two other Reed volunteers have since been hired on as substitute workers in the Janus Youth shelter programs, Streetlight and Porchlight. Reed’s Students for Education, Empowerment and Direct Service (S.E.E.D.S.) program has been instrumental in this linkage and coordinate closely with YBR to recruit and support their students in our often difficult but always rewarding work on the streets of downtown Portland.

Beyond financial aid, many of the Reed students who spend time with YBR have stated that their service has empowered them to become meaningfully engaged with the local community and become more broadly educated about "real world" issues. They have also stated that their service with YBR has proven to be a strong community-building influence on campus that also allows them the opportunity to get out of the Reed “bubble” to enjoy positive, educational, and healthy recreation. YBR wishes to thank all of the Reed students who have joined the fold since 2007 and we look forward to a lasting relationship with Reed College in the future. For more information about Reed College’s S.E.E.D.S program visit them online here!

Dennis Lundberg
Associate Director/Willamette Bridge Programs

2009 Street Count results have been released

The results of this year's Street Count survey have been released today by the Portland Bureau of Housing & Community Development. To read the extensive report visit Portland Online. Thank you to everyone who participated in this important survey!

meet the press

Meet Yellow Brick Road supervisor Dennis Lundberg and some of our allies in the struggle against homelessness and poverty at Ultimate Northwest magazine's recent feature on people making a difference in our community!

To Ride, Shoot Straight, & Meet 'Em Where They're At!

2009 marks the 25th Anniversary of Yellow Brick Road! As we gear up to celebrate this milestone it seems like a great opportunity to highlight one of the many folks who make Janus Youth’s Street Outreach Programs so remarkable. Neal Sand is a professional Outreach Specialist with Janus Youth's Outreach & Engagement. "O&E", as it is popularly known on the streets, was conceived nearly 5 years ago as a critical offshoot of our volunteer-based outreach program with the mission of delivering intensive mobile services directly to the young people who need them most but are often the least likely to seek them out on their own. Since he joined the O&E team in 2006 Neal has packed his bag every week and headed out to the streets, bridges, wooded camps, squats, and pretty much anywhere off the beaten path where he might find Portland’s most vulnerable young people. He excels at meeting the “hardest to reach” youth where they’re at and he builds meaningful relationships that make a lasting difference.

Neal’s history with Janus Youth Programs goes back to 1998 when he began as a volunteer with Yellow Brick Road. The amazing part of his story is that Neal stepped into YBR to fill his sister’s shift on the team. His sister had in fact stepped into YBR to fill her then-boyfriend now-husband’s shift. You can safely say that serving the community is a family tradition. Neal far exceeded his minimum 6 month volunteer commitment, remaining on the YBR team for no less than 4 years before he applied and was hired as a substitute line staff for the Willamette Bridge Programs. He was soon hired on full-time, serving the front lines at Bridgehouse, Streetlight, and Porchlight Crisis Shelter before assuming his role as an Intake Worker for both the Access Center and the Road Warrior late night drop-in program. Over the years Neal has honed his skills with young people and left a wake of hilarious epic-length monologues in our staff log books.

Neal is a Journalism major with a gift for wry wit. That’s a nice way of saying he can laugh even in the shadow of life’s darkest ironies. It’s a skill that serves him well in our work downtown where we’ve needed both hands to count the folks we've lost on the streets in the past 8 months. Neal’s passion for laughter and language is a gift he has shared with youth in the form of creative writing and self-expression workshops. I’ve watched him make words come alive for young people with dub reggae and colorful beatnik poetry. I vividly recall the proud smile of a particularly hardened ex-convict after he finished reading his journal aloud to a group of equally hardened peers and beamed, “I never knew poetry doesn’t have to rhyme!” Neal believes in young people so unrelentingly that, eventually, they tend to believe in themselves.

Anyone who spends time with Neal soon comes to appreciate his love for cinema, which is a wonderful coincidence considering he got his start at a program that takes its name from a 1939 musical. Neal doesn’t just casually enjoy movies. He is a walking encyclopedia of obscure film trivia and his enthusiasm is downright contagious. One of his favorites is Django, an old “spaghetti western” that tells the tale of a brooding anti-hero who drags a coffin filled with ammunition through muddy frontier camps meting out justice and classic one-liners. I like to imagine Neal riding into the sunset on outreach like a badlands bandito. Of course, instead of a coffin full of guns he totes an outreach bag full of socks, cough drops, triple antibiotic, and resource guides. Like Django, he chooses his words carefully and delivers one-liners with a twinkle in his eye. Neal is a soft-spoken hero on the streets of Portland and he is one of the dedicated youth advocates who have made the Janus Youth Outreach Programs the acclaimed models they are today. I’m glad to know him. So are the youth.
~Dennis Lundberg


“Neal is an excellent outreach worker. He is very observant out in the field and has the ability to explain what steps people can take to improve their situation without being judgmental." ~Devin Dinihanian (RTA)

“Neal is kind, compassionate, and reliable…but those words always sound so cliché. I guess what I’m saying is I appreciate somebody who can handle any crisis but can also talk about Motorhead and bad zombie movies.” ~Jasmine Pettet (Outside In)

“Neal is so cool, he doesn’t even realize how cool he is!” ~ “Leyla” (Youth)

YBR Training Opportunity!

FREE TRAINING!
Sunday February 22nd
2pm-5pm

UPPERS, DOWNERS, ALL-AROUNDERS! At our last Yellow Brick Road training in November, several of our volunteers suggested that it would be helpful to receive information about street drugs and their effects on behavior and the brain. That seemed like a great idea so I’ve invited Patti Davis of DePaul Youth Treatment Centers and Andrew Gadbois of Outside In to share their expertise in the Alcohol & Drug field. This interactive training will cover the basics of the most prevalent street drugs with a special emphasis on identification, effects, and local treatment options that should prove helpful on outreach. Please feel free to come prepared with questions as Patti & Andrew have a wealth of knowledge to share. As always, lunch & coffee will be provided. Hope to see YOU February 22nd!

Please R.S.V.P. for location at dlundberg@janusyouth.org

Great New Resource For Teens!

We just learned of a great new internet resource for young teens to discuss the dynamics of relationships, dating, and networking online. Sponsored and co-created by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Office of Violence Against Women and the Ad Council; this new website is designed to provide a safe place for teens to talk about relationships and decide what's "not cool" for them. This site is geared towards younger teens aged 13-15 that may face unique problems such as cyber bullying, breaking into emails, abusive text messages and other "Digital Infractions." Take a look and share with teens who may benefit from this information:

That's Not Cool

Off The Beaten Path

The following photos were taken last week while Janus Youth Outreach Specialists were in the field conducting the 2009 Multnomah Street Count. The results from this year's Street Count will be published here as soon as the data is collected and made available.

These photos were taken with kind permission from people who live there, with the understanding that Janus Youth outreach workers would not disclose exact locations or identities. It is generally disrespectful and unsafe to photograph camps without prior relationships and permission.

2009 STREET COUNT

STAND & BE COUNTED! Janus Youth Programs is partnering with other local agencies again this year to conduct Multnomah County's bi-annual HOMELESS STREET COUNT! The Street Count collects critical and confidential data about people living on the streets, in abandoned buildings, in vehicles, urban camps, and doorways. The information we collect provides the most accurate impression of the people living outdoors in our community and enables service providers and funders to meet the needs of these people more effectively. Outreach Specialists and trained volunteers with Yellow Brick Road and Portland Outreach & Engagement will be out in the field night and day from January 25th through January 31st, surveying people experiencing homelessness where they live. Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the Street Count. We also invite you to take a photo-tour of some of the sites and locations we visited while conducting the 2007 Street Count:

homes under bridges
homes in the woods
homes near rivers

Who coordinates the Homeless Street Count?

The Homeless Street Count is coordinated by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development (BHCD). Planning for the count is led by the Outreach and Engagement Workgroup, which includes outreach workers from Janus Youth Programs, staff from other local agencies that provide homeless services, members of the Police Department, and staff from BHCD and Multnomah County.

Why does Portland conduct a Homeless Street Count?

Communities that receive funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for homeless services are required to conduct a biannual homeless street count. The data collected from the count enables Portland to qualify for federal funding for local programs, and it also helps the City and its nonprofit partners to plan for the funding and services needed to meet the needs of homeless persons in our community.

What geographic areas does the Homeless Street Count cover?

The count covers Multnomah County, including the cities of Portland and Gresham.

What is the difference between the Homeless Street Count and the One Night Shelter Count?

The Homeless Street Count, which is coordinated by the City of Portland, focuses on people who are sleeping outside (on the street, in cars, or in abandoned buildings). The One Night Shelter Count (ONSC), which is coordinated by Multnomah County, focuses on people who are sleeping in emergency shelters and in transitional housing or who are turned away from those facilities. Both counts will occur on Wednesday, January 28, and efforts are being made to maximize coordination.

What is the definition of homelessness used for the Homeless Street Count?

The Homeless Street Count focuses on people who are unsheltered and sleeping in a place that is not intended for human habitation. This includes streets, sidewalks, parks, alleys, transportation depots or other parts of transportation systems, all-night commercial establishments (e.g. movie theaters, laundromats, restaurants), abandoned buildings, farm outbuildings, caves, campgrounds, vehicles, and other similar places. (Note: The Homeless Street Count by definition only focuses on the sub-set of the homeless population that is unsheltered. It does not include people who are in shelter or transitional housing or who are “couch surfing” or doubled up with family or friends.)

Why is the count held in late January?

Both the Homeless Street Count and the One Night Shelter Count occur at the end of January as mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD requires homeless counts to happen during the last ten days of January in order to capture data when shelter use peaks due to weather. It requires the counts to happen at the end of the month because that is when those who cycle on and off the streets are most likely to be homeless, having depleted their monthly income or benefits.

How does the count avoid duplication of data?

The Homeless Street Count survey form collects basic identifying information for each individual who is counted (first 3 letters of last name, first letter of first name, age, and gender.) This information is used to eliminate any duplication across the surveys. If identifying information is not available, or if outreach workers do not wish to disturb a campsite or someone who is sleeping, an alternative form can be used to collect information on the location and approximate number of people sleeping at that location. Because this data can not be unduplicated, it is included in an appendix to the Street Count report, but not in the official Street Count number.

What about people who are couch surfing or doubled up?

The Homeless Street Count only captures a portion of the individuals and families experiencing homelessness in a given night in our community. Those in shelter or transitional housing are captured by the One Night Shelter Count. Neither count captures people who are doubled up with friends or “couch surfing.” Unfortunately, there are no good methodologies available to collect accurate data on the number of people in that situation. But we know that they represent an important segment of the overall population of people experiencing homelessness in Portland.

For more information visit the Street Count Online
here.

NO WARMING CENTERS TONIGHT!

There is snow on the ground in Portland again! The City of Portland has assessed the wind-chill factor and precipitation and will NOT declare a Severe Weather Alert for Sunday January 25th. That means the Warming Centers will NOT be available this evening. However, a few additional beds will be available at the Rescue Mission, City Team Ministries, and Transition Projects (TPI) on a first-come-first-served basis. If you need shelter tonight it is suggested you check in at one of these locations as early as possible. Youth and young adults under 21 are encouraged to check-in at Porchlight Shelter.

For more information please call 211 Info by dialing 2-1-1 from landlines or (503) 721-1500 from cell phones. Bundle up out there!

LAST NIGHT OF SEVERE WEATHER!

Friday December 26th is the last night for emergency warming centers in Portland! The Four Square Church and Estate will no longer be open as warming centers beginning Saturday December 27th. Please plan accordingly and spread the word! For updated information please continue to call 211 Info by dialing 2-1-1 from landlines or (503) 721-1500 from cell phones. The hotline hours have been extended this year so you can reach someone until 10pm.

The Following Shelters Will Remain Available:

Family-Focused Seasonal Warming Center
Available for families with children under 18 only!
1435 NE 81st Avenue, Portland
(Behind the former Elmers restaurant at NE 82nd and Halsey, just off of the NE 82nd Max Line stop)
seven nights a week throughout winter season
7:00 PM - 7:00 AM

Transition Projects Warming Center
475 NW Glisan (directly behind the Greyhound Station at the corner of NW 5th and Glisan). (503) 823-4934 (24-hours).
The Transition Projects warming center will be open seven nights a week regardless of weather conditions from Thursday December 18th through March 31 2009! To access the warming center: Sign up daily at Transition Projects starting at 7:00PM. The actual warming cenbter is a short walk from Transition Projects. A light snack and hot drinks will be available. The Warming Center will be open 8PM to 7AM daily. The Warming Center is open to adults, including couples. (There are separate sleeping areas for men and women with a common area for socializing.) Please note: There are stairs and no elevator available, no smoke breaks or smoking in the center, no animals allowed, and no carts!

For more information please contact 211 Info:
(503) 721-1500 or dial 2-1-1 from landlines
Monday through Friday 8am-10pm
& Saturday and Sunday 10am-10pm.

SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE!

It's cold out there! Severe Weather conditions are expected to continue through the weekend and the City of Portland has announced that warming centers will remain open at least through Monday morning December 22. The easiest way to figure out what is available is by calling 211 Info by dialing 2-1-1 from landlines or (503) 721-1500 from cell phones. The hotline hours have been extended this year so you can reach someone until 10pm.

WARMING CENTERS:

In addition to year-round shelters and winter shelters, the City of Portland now offers Severe Weather Warming Centers organized by volunteers of the Red Cross. Warming Centers only provide a mat on the floor and a blanket. No food, coffee, or other services are provided provided. The expectation for couples is that they will sleep close to each other on mats but not together.

Family-Focused Seasonal Warming Center
Available for families with children under 18 only!
1435 NE 81st Avenue, Portland
(Behind the former Elmers restaurant at NE 82nd and Halsey, just off of the NE 82nd Max Line stop)
seven nights a week throughout winter season
7:00 PM - 7:00 AM

Red Cross Warming Center at the Portland Foursquare Church
1302 Ankeny St. (near 13th in Inner SE), Portland
Available during Severe Weather only!
9:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Serves: Families, couples, single adults, and youth; Pets allowed; some space for carts; disability accessible location (main floor).

Red Cross Warming Center at Central City Concern's Estate Hotel
225 NW Couch
Available during Severe Weather only!
9:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Serves: Families, couples, single adults, and youth. Pets allowed; some space for carts; disability accessible location (elevator).

Transition Projects Warming Center
475 NW Glisan (directly behind the Greyhound Station at the corner of NW 5th and Glisan). (503) 823-4934 (24-hours).
The Transition Projects warming center will be open seven nights a week regardless of weather conditions from Thursday December 18th through March 31 2009! To access the warming center: Sign up daily at Transition Projects starting at 7:00PM. The actual warming cenbter is a short walk from Transition Projects. A light snack and hot drinks will be available. The Warming Center will be open 8PM to 7AM daily. The Warming Center is open to adults, including couples. (There are separate sleeping areas for men and women with a common area for socializing.) Please note: There are stairs and no elevator available, no smoke breaks or smoking in the center, no animals allowed, and no carts!

YOUTH UNDER 21:

PORCHLIGHT CRISIS SHELTER
Porchlight Crisis Shelter is the city's only emergency youth shelter for young people under 21 years of age. During severe weather, Porchlight has the capacity to provide a few additional beds on a first-come-first-served basis (6 extra beds for a total of 36 guests). Youth with BLA’s from shelter should be encouraged to speak to shelter supervisor (Ken Kerr) during hazardous weather conditions. There may be instances in which non-violent BLA’s can be waived for safety on a case-by-case basis. Please note that Porchlight staff will not waive BLA’s, youth must speak with Ken Kerr directly. Porchlight staff prioritizes safety and will only accommodate additional youth when doing so does not create an unsafe environment. Porchlight does not have the ability to accommodate pets.

WOMEN ONLY

Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (S.A.F.E.)
1136 SW 11th
(503) 227-8681
Space for 12 additional single women via mats on the floor in the day space during severe weather. Day space open 7am to 11pm daily. Shelter open 7:45pm to 7:00 am daily. No pets or carts. Not disability accessible due to steep stairs.

DAY SERVICES:

Expanded severe weather Day Shelter may also be available at Portland Rescue Mission or Salvation Army, depending on weather severity and as staffing permits. Contact sites directly to inquire about Day Time Access. St. Francis, Julia West/Daywatch, and S.A.F.E. Shelter all operate Day Service for adults year round. New Avenues for Youth & Outside In offer Day Services for youth under 21 year round.

TRANSPORTATION:

Yellow Brick Road and Can We Help often provide Severe Weather Transportation in an effort to get as many people indoors as possible. Transportation is generally available during severe weather from 6pm-10pm but always call 211 first to confirm availability!

For more information please contact 211 Info:
(503) 721-1500 or dial 2-1-1 from landlines
Monday through Friday 8am-10pm
& Saturday and Sunday 10am-10pm.

SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND!

Severe Weather conditions are expected to begin in the Portland area on the night of Saturday December 13 and are likely to continue until the morning of Wednesday December 17. The easiest way to figure out what is available during severe weather is by calling 211 Info by dialing 2-1-1 from landlines or (503) 721-1500 from cell phones. The hotline hours have been extended this year (see below).

WARMING CENTERS:

In addition to year-round shelters and winter shelters, the City of Portland now offers Severe Weather Warming Centers organized by volunteers of the Red Cross. Warming Centers only provide a mat on the floor and a blanket. No food, coffee, or other services are provided provided. The expectation for couples is that they will sleep close to each other on mats but not together.

Family-Focused Seasonal Warming Center
Available for families with children under 18 only!
1435 NE 81st Avenue, Portland
(Behind the former Elmers restaurant at NE 82nd and Halsey, just off of the NE 82nd Max Line stop)
seven nights a week throughout winter season
7:00 PM - 7:00 AM

Red Cross Warming Center at the Portland Foursquare Church
1302 Ankeny St. (near 13th in Inner SE), Portland
Available during Severe Weather only!
9:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Serves: Families, couples, single adults, and youth; Pets allowed; some space for carts; disability accessible location (main floor).

Red Cross Warming Center at Central City Concern's Estate Hotel
225 NW Couch
Available during Severe Weather only!
9:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Serves: Families, couples, single adults, and youth. Pets allowed; some space for carts; disability accessible location (elevator).

YOUTH UNDER 21:

PORCHLIGHT CRISIS SHELTER
Porchlight Crisis Shelter is the city's only emergency youth shelter for young people under 21 years of age. During severe weather, Porchlight has the capacity to provide a few additional beds on a first-come-first-served basis (6 extra beds for a total of 36 guests). Youth with BLA’s from shelter should be encouraged to speak to shelter supervisor (Ken Kerr) during hazardous weather conditions. There may be instances in which non-violent BLA’s can be waived for safety on a case-by-case basis. Please note that Porchlight staff will not waive BLA’s, youth must speak with Ken Kerr directly. Porchlight staff prioritizes safety and will only accommodate additional youth when doing so does not create an unsafe environment. Porchlight does not have the ability to accommodate pets.

WOMEN ONLY

Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (S.A.F.E.)
1136 SW 11th
(503) 227-8681
Space for 12 additional single women via mats on the floor in the day space during severe weather. Day space open 7am to 11pm daily. Shelter open 7:45pm to 7:00 am daily. No pets or carts. Not disability accessible due to steep stairs.

DAY SERVICES:

Expanded severe weather Day Shelter may also be available at Portland Rescue Mission or Salvation Army, depending on weather severity and as staffing permits. Contact sites directly to inquire about Day Time Access. St. Francis, Julia West/Daywatch, and S.A.F.E. Shelter all operate Day Service for adults year round. New Avenues for Youth & Outside In offer Day Services for youth under 21 year round.

TRANSPORTATION:

Yellow Brick Road and Can We Help often provide Severe Weather Transportation in an effort to get as many people indoors as possible. Transportation is generally available during severe weather from 6pm-10pm but always call 211 first to confirm availability!

For more information please contact 211 Info:
(503) 721-1500 or dial 2-1-1 from landlines
Monday through Friday 8am-10pm
& Saturday and Sunday 10am-10pm.

DICENTRA

Dicentra is a Portland-based radical collective actively engaged in creating communities of care, networks of support, and movements of positive change based on relationship building. This week Dicentra hosts Harm Reduction and Intervention, a workshop and panel discussion that brings together practitioners and organizers to explore the dynamic practical and conceptual landscape of harm reduction. Speakers from Rose City Copwatch, Cahoots/White Bird Clinic, Yellow Brick Road/Janus Youth Programs, Dicentra Collective, and others will examine the role of harm reduction in addressing domestic and interpersonal violence, police brutality, substance abuse and mental illness, dispute resolution and street facilitation. Please join Yellow Brick Road this Thursday for what will undoubtedly be a thought provoking evening.

Thursday December 11 @ 6pm
In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources
8 NE Killingsworth Street
Portland, Oregon

For more information visit the online Dicentra Collective here.

Food Front Supports Yellow Brick Road!

Yellow Brick Road has once again been selected for participation in Food Front's generous Bean Bag program! Food Front is one of Portland's longest-running cooperatively owned grocery stores and their Bean Bag program allows customers to donate 5 cents to various local non-profit organizations every time they shop with their own bags. Next time you shop at Food Front, we hope you'll bring your own recycled shopping bag and consider donating 5 cents to Yellow Brick Road. Those nickels really add up and make a difference!

Food Front Cooperative Grocery
2375 NW Thurman Street
Portland, Oregon
(503) 222-5658

Happy Thanksgiving From Yellow Brick Road!

Organize Against Transphobia

Silve​rton,​​​ Oregon recently elect​ed the first​ ever openl​y trans​gende​r Mayor​,​​​ Stu Rasmu​ssen!​​​ Unsurprisingly the Westb​oro Bapti​st Churc​h, founded by extre​me homop​hobic​ preac​her Fred Phelp​s of www.godha​tesfa​gs.​​​com infamy, is comin​g to Orego​n this week to prote​st the election. Queer​s and allie​s throughout Orego​n are preparing to organize in support of Stu Rasmussen in an effort to counter the hate directed at the GLBTQ community.​​ Portl​and is obser​ving Trans​gende​r Remem​branc​e Day this week so it seems an especially critical time to rally​ in suppo​rt of the first​ openl​y elect​ed trans​gende​red offic​ial. Westb​oro Bapti​st Churc​h has announced plans to prote​st​ throu​ghout Portl​and this week and they plan to visit Silve​rton on Monda​y,​​​ Nov. 24th.​​​ In response, a meeti​ng has been announced to brainstorm ways to suppo​rt the queer​ commu​nity and raise​ awareness of the hate directed at our citizens. If you are inter​ested​ in being​ invol​ved pleas​e consider atten​ding a plann​ing meeti​ng on Frida​y,​​​ Nov. 21st at 7pm at Outsi​de In. If you have ideas​ or quest​ions or want to support but can't attend the meeting feel free to email​ the organizers at: dmm19​76@​​​gmail​.​​​com or climb​erfag​@​​​gmail​.​​​com.

​Frida​y​​​ November 21
7pm
Outsi​de In
​​1132 SW 13th Ave.
Portl​and,​​​ OR 97205​
(betwe​en Jeffe​rson and Main on 13th.)

​​

Cat Food Bank December 7th

Cat Food Bank
Sunday December 7

The Cat Adoption Team's Cat Food Bank will be open on Sunday December 7 to provide cat/kitten food to homeless cat owners and cat owners with financial need. Some kitty litter may be available as supplies last. Remember, this is NOT A PET CLINIC. They will only have cat food. Just come to the address below between noon and 2:30pm on Sunday December 7th! CAT’s Cat Food Bank has provided 3,039.15 pounds of kitten and cat food to local cat owners to feed 316 cats/kittens since its inception in June (approximately 53 cats/kittens each month). CAT is also seeking donations of unopened, unexpired cat or kitten food as well as clumping cat litter to keep the Cat Food Bank shelves full.

14175 SW Galbreath Drive ~ Sherwood OR 97140 ~ (503) 925-8903
www.catadoptionteam.org

Long Nights: A Glimpse into Portland Street Life

Check out this great video put together by
Portland Youth Builders!

Long Nights: A Glimpse into Portland Street Life is a student-produced documentary featuring conversations with members of Portland's homeless community and local service providers in order to better understand the issues of youth homelessness. Students focus on de-bunking homeless myths and stereotypes and provide an introduction to the controversial Sit/Lie Ordinance and the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. Participants include Dennis Lundberg of Janus Youth Programs, Gloria Willis of Cascade AIDS Project, Natalie Schraner of the Portland Women's Crisis Line, and Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard. Check out the other videos by PYB YOUTHMEDIA HERE!

Zane Gross Memorial this Thursday

Please join us for a candlelight memorial in remeberence of Zane Gross this Thursday November 13th at 6pm in Pioneer Square. The memorial will be facilitated by Zane's mother Amber and she encourages anyone who knew him to attend.

Memorial for Zane Gross
Thursday November 13
Pioneer Square
6pm

Zane Gross

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Zane David James Gross. Zane was found dead this morning with immediate circumstances suggesting a possible heroin overdose. Results from a toxicology study will take approximately 6 weeks to confirm the actual cause of death. Zane was originally from Southern Oregon and came to Portland almost 2 years ago. He was screened for services and has engaged with various Homeless Youth Continuum services since his arrival. Recently Zane successfully completed drug treatment and was hoping to make significant changes in his life. His death is extremely painful for all of us who had the pleasure of experiencing his gregarious and gentle nature and is somehow even more stinging as it arrives on the heels of the recent Vulnerability Index survey. Zane's death is another cruel reminder of just how fragile the lives of young people living on the streets really are. Memorial services will be announced soon. Rest in peace, Zane.

Zane Gross
March 25, 1990-November 7, 2008

Vulnerability Index

Janus Youth Programs recently collaborated with Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development, New York City's Common Ground Institute, local service providers, and nearly 70 volunteers to conduct a Vulnerability Index survey in our community. The Vulnerability Index is a tool for identifying and prioritizing a community's most medically fragile homeless population. It is a practical application of research into the causes of death of homeless individuals initially conducted by Boston’s Healthcare for the Homeless organization, led by Dr. Jim O’Connell. The Boston research identified specific health conditions that cause homeless individuals to be most at risk for dying on the street. The Vulnerability Index is administered in the form of a survey, which captures a homeless individual’s health and institutional history. The survey identifies vulnerability through a ranking system which takes into account risk factors and the duration of homelessness. This ranking allows those with the most severe health risks to be identified and prioritized for housing and other support. By surveying people who are living on our streets here in Portland, we now have clear health and housing data on the individuals living on the streets and in some of our community’s shelters. This data will hopefully allow Portland to take immediate action on behalf of the most vulnerable people who are living on our streets, as well as identifying and implementing system improvements. 13 teams strategically canvassed Portland between the hours of 6am and 8am over the course of 3 mornings beginning on Tuesday October 21. The initial findings were decidedly disturbing. 646 people were surveyed and 47% of those fit the definition of "medically vulnerable". In comparison with other communities that conducted the Vulnerability Index survey, Portland stands out in several areas:

• Portland’s overall “medically vulnerable” population was 5% higher than other cities that conducted the same survey (notably New York City, Los Angeles County's Skid Row, Santa Monica, New Orleans and Washington D.C.).

• Portland surveyed more young adults sleeping on the streets than other cities (15 people surveyed were under the age of 19 and 89 people surveyed were under the age of 30). 23 people under the age of 25 fit the survey's definition of "medically vulnerable" (specifically related to co-existing HIV, injection drug use and or daily alcohol consumption), a much higher number of young adults that fit the risk criteria than the larger cities that conducted the survey.

• Portland had a 12% higher rate of tri-morbidity than other cities that conducted the same survey. Tri-morbidity is defined as a co-occurring psychiatric, substance abuse, and chronic medical condition.

• Shockingly, Portland had a 10% higher rate of violent attacks on homeless than other cities that conducted the same survey (keep in mind again that those other cities include New York City, Los Angeles County's Skid Row, Santa Monica, New Orleans and Washington D.C.)

• 29% of the homeless people surveyed said they had foster care involvement at some point during their lives, 3 times higher than the national average (the average for the other cities that conducted the Vulnerability Index was about 10%).

• Despite our relatively mild winters Portland has a significantly higher rate of exposure-related health risks such as frostbite, hypothermia, and immersion foot(trench foot). Exposure-related health risks are considered indicators of self-neglect and Portland's rates are alarmingly close to New York City.

• Portland has a much higher percentage of people whose only income is food stamps and a higher rate of folks without healthcare (63% of the people surveyed had no insurance).

• Those surveyed reported a total of 730 emergency room visits within the past 3 months at an estimated cost of $492 per visit for an estimated cost of $1.43 million per year in emergency medical care.

Sick City

Janus Youth Street Outreach Supervisor Dennis Lundberg spoke to Street Roots journalist Amanda Waldroupe this past week regarding Portland's recent Vulnerability Index survey. Here's what he had to say about the experience:

Street Roots: You were initially skeptical about the survey. Why?

Dennis Lundberg: Yeah, I was skeptical going into the survey. One of my initial problems with the survey was that outreach workers in our community were not consulted until after the City of Portland had signed a contract with Common Ground from New York. The result was that many of us felt railroaded by the request to participate in a survey that we knew little about and which seemed to fly in the face of basic outreach etiquette. A few of us insisted on a conference call with the Common Ground organizers to address our concerns about methodology and intent before we made the commitment. I was skeptical about waking people at 4am, as they did in other cities conducting the survey, and we successfully pushed the wake-up time to 6am. I was also very uncomfortable with the idea of photographing people. In general, I was skeptical that the survey might turn into a demoralizing media circus. There can be something of a voyeuristic element to doing this sort of thing and I certainly wasn't willing to undermine my credibility as an outreach worker by taking strangers into the "homes" of people sleeping on the streets.

By Thursday morning, what had changed for you?

By Thursday I was exhausted! Many of us had to continue our regular work days despite the survey so by Thursday I was really feeling worn out. I appreciated Liora Berry's insightful observation at City Hall Thursday morning that we were all feeling the effects of sleep deprivation after just a few days so imagine how folks must feel after weeks, months, and years of homelessness. I think some people had their eyes opened out there and I applaud all the volunteers and workers who participated. As for myself, I actually had fun with the survey! It just felt like another opportunity to engage and, despite the gravity of the questions, I shared some good laughs with the people I met. I can only speak to my experience but it felt comfortable and it felt compassionate. I was really struck by people's willingness to open up and share very personal information with strangers waking them up before dawn. I was also surprised by the ease with which many people allowed their photo to be taken. It would've been just as easy to refuse. One of the questions asked for an emergency contact and most people seemed genuinely touched that we would be concerned about their well-being. That's not something I ask often and it actually benefited the interactions. Most importantly I learned some things about people's health and time on the streets that should serve to further illuminate the work that needs to be done in our community. Once I got out there I realized this could be another opportunity for people to stand and be counted.

As an outreach worker, do you typically ask the sorts of questions the survey asked? Why or why not?

I never delve into people's medical history the way the Vulnerability Index did, but I think context is everything. I don't really mince words on outreach and I'll ask some pretty uncomfortable questions in the service of knowledge-sharing and understanding. For instance, when young people ask me for condoms on outreach I typically quiz them on sexually transmitted infections and I may even give them a quick harm reductionist lesson on the risks of being sexually active. I may ask them if they're involved in sex work. I often ask total strangers if they have a safe place to stay for the night and I don't mind telling people that their spider bites look like abscess infections. Those aren't easy conversations but sometimes we can do a disservice if we avoid the difficult questions.

Did you feel that the questions were an invasion of privacy? If you did, what was it like for you, as someone whose job requires being respectful and considerate to the people you work with, to ask them?

I think walking into someone's camp uninvited at 6am and waking them up is generally an invasion of privacy. As an outreach worker I think it is wise to understand this dynamic beforehand and conduct one's self accordingly. I was very conscious of how invasive the questions might be and I weighed the survey carefully before agreeing to participate. I took a leap of faith with Common Ground and the BHCD [Bureau of Housing and Community Development] that we would hopefully glean some data that might make it all worthwhile. Respect is the basic foundation of Janus Youth Street Outreach and we convey a lot with mindful body posture, voice inflection, eye contact, and facial expression. If people don't want us around, we leave. It's as simple as that. In the final analysis, if the survey serves to create resources for housing, as we've been told it has in other cities, then it might just prove to be worth the discomfort.

Did you give the survey to folks you had previously engaged with? What was that like for you? How did your relationship with the individuals change, if at all?

Both. I asked many of the young people I work with weekly to sit and do the survey with me but I also spoke to several older folks I've never met before. My team was comprised of Janus Outreach Specialists, Neal Sand and DeAnna Negrete, and we purposefully set out to some camps "off the grid" of downtown in an effort to find vulnerable people who might have been otherwise overlooked. We met some people in St. Johns that rarely leave their wooded camp who were incredibly high risk. I'm talking about IV drug users with Hep C and cancer! As I mentioned earlier, context is everything and we did our best to re-frame the survey as simply another tool for engaging with people. With the folks I've known for a while it was a great opportunity to delve deeper into questions of drug/alcohol use and mental health. I think I've been around long enough that most people trust that I wouldn't ask this stuff unless I thought it could do some good.


What did you learn from doing the survey? Were there any surprises for you?

It's funny because when we had our conference call with Common Ground I kept insisting that Portland's homeless population is quite unique and should be approached with regional sensitivity. They responded by essentially telling us that everywhere they've conducted the survey people think their city is unique but the findings are often very similar. I opened my mind to the possibility that I would learn a lot about our streets at this early hour and hoped to be proven wrong about Portland's arguably most vulnerable citizens. When the survey was over and the initial findings were shared at the Portland Building I think it was probably Common Ground who were most surprised and unfortunately it was rather grim news. No other city surveyed had as many cases of DHS/foster care involvement. No other city surveyed had as many people under 30 fall under the definition of medically vulnerable. Despite Portland's laid-back reputation, our rates for violent attacks on the homeless were higher than New York and Los Angeles! Frankly, that even surprised me.

What do you think the results of the survey convey? What should the City and housing bureau do in response to the results? What do you think of what seems to be the reaction they will move forward with--rapidly housing the most vulnerable and giving them priority in housing?

The findings support what many of us have known for a long time. Mental health is a staggering and complicated issue and we do not have sufficient resources here in Portland to meet the need. If we try to house people without addressing the root causes of their marginalization, such as mental health and substance abuse issues, we are setting them up to fail. Closely related to mental health is medical well-being and, with painfully few exceptions, most of the people I spoke with have no health insurance. Almost everyone said they seek medical attention at emergency rooms. This points to a major system failure and I'd go so far as to say that lack of affordable health care is the most immediate threat to our national security. Hepatitis C seems to be nearly epidemic on the streets of Portland so it's time to stop kidding ourselves and start rallying behind harm reduction and needle exchange programs. We really need to invest in our young people at a very early age. The huge rate of foster care involvement among the homeless indicates that we need to work together as a community to support healthy families from the start or we are simply creating the next generation of homeless citizens. Incidentally, the war overseas is daily creating our next generation of homeless citizens and the longer the war continues the more we should brace ourselves for the fallout here on the streets.

For more information about Portland's Vulnerability Index check out the latest issue of Street Roots.

Happy Election Day!

Happy Election Day from all of us at Yellow Brick Road Street Outreach!

YOUTH POEM

It's amounting to
about the the same level
of two extremes.
Crazy and listless
confused and out of touch
What the hell DID I
do last night?

I guess when you've gotten
so good at using other
things to deal with
your problems, you have to learn
to be normal again.

Drink when yout socially
anxious a little lubrication
won't hurt. Besides poeple
will always remember your
name when you wake up
in the bathroom the
morning after the party

Pot helps to relaz when
your feeling overwhelmed
just a toke or two will
keep you content with
just eating and lounging
around. I mean, who
really want to concentrate
efforts on productive
work and thinds that
will move you father
ahead.

And lest we forget,
a little meth will get
you out of that slump
from all of the non
productivity. You can
stay awake for DAYS!
and not have to
stop to eat

Now I have to breathe
deep and take life a
day at a time, moment
by moment. Relearning
how I actually work

Feeling arising that
I haven't felt in years
or even forgot that I
was capable of.

Mel"vaton"

UPCOMING YBR TRAINING

Yellow Brick Road invites you to attend our FREE upcoming volunteer training on Sunday November 16th! Our trainings are a great opportunity to learn more about street outreach and meet the current volunteer outreach teams. This training will focus on GLBTQ youth and the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) will present their excellent Bridge 13 Training! This promises to be a thought-provoking afternoon! We'll get started at 2pm with food & coffee.

SUNDAY November 16th
2-5pm

Please R.S.V.P. for location: dlundberg@janusyouth.org

Remembering Noe

We regret to announce the death of Noe Balderrama who passed away unexpectedly last month. Noe faced life’s challenges with a beaming (slightly mischievous) smile and touched the lives of those around him with his far-beyond-positive attitude. He also touched the lives of those around him as his Championship Wrestler alter-ego "Master of Disaster"! Noe was a Special Olympics athlete who was known to visit our programs wearing a sequined Mexican wrestling mask! He taught many of us a thing or two about cherishing life and not taking a single moment for granted. His death has hit the community hard and impacted many of us who worked closely with him over the years as he transitioned from homelessness to independence. Please join us Monday October 13th at 4:00pm @ Outside In where we will place his name on the Memorial Tree. We miss you, Mr. Master of Disaster!