SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT!

Severe Weather Notice: The National Weather Service forecasts that the wind chill factor will be below 25 degrees beginning Wednesday evening, November 20, 2013 and that it is expected to last through Saturday, November 23, 2013.

Anyone seeking shelter should contact 211info, reached by dialing 2-1-1. 211info will be available to identify shelter and warming center resources 24/7. Additionally, shelter information is available at www.211info.org.  

Yellow Brick Road Street Outreach teams will be out helping people connect to the following shelters:

  

Family Winter Shelter 

12505 NE Halsey Street, Portland Oregon (on Halsey near 126th Avenue) 

This is a walk-in facility. It is not necessary to call beforehand. No one will be turned away. Dates: Seven nights a week throughout winter season Hours: 7:00 PM - 7:00 AM Serves: Families with children under 18 and women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy 

Women’s Winter Shelter 

Check availability at Bud Clark Commons, 650 NW Irving, 

Walk in Mon-Fri 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Sat/Sun 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or call 503-280-4700 Dates: Seven nights a week throughout winter season Hours: 7:00 PM - 7:00 AM Serves: Single women 

Red Cross Severe Weather Emergency Warming Center 

Imago Dei Church, 1302 Ankeny Street, (near 13th Avenue in Inner SE) 

This is a walk-in facility. Pets allowed, some space for carts, accessible location Dates: Evenings of Wednesday, November 20 through Saturday, November 23 Hours: 9:00 PM - 7:00 AM Serves: Families, single adults, and youths 

Union Gospel Mission 

15 NW 3rd Avenue, 503-228-0319 

This is a walk-in facility. Dates: Evenings of Wednesday, November 20 through Saturday, November 23 Hours: 9:30 PM - 6:00 AM Serves: Families, single adults, and youths 

The following expanded day center service is available during the Severe Weather Notice: 

Union Gospel Mission 

15 NW 3rd Avenue, 503-228-0319 

This is a walk-in facility. Meal will be served. Dates: Wednesday, November 20 through Saturday, November 23 Hours: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Serves: Families, single adults, and youths Please call 211info with questions regarding other shelter and transportation resources.

YBR volunteer awarded for 10 years of outstanding community service!

Congratulations and THANK YOU to Stella Butler for her dedication to youth experiencing homelessness in Portland! You are a STAR!

Rock Ya Body!

Yellow Brick Road enjoyed meeting everyone today at Planned Parenthood's Rock Ya Body Community Health Fair. Special thanks to Lamar Tillman for organizing this event.

 

Consistency and Longevity in an Uncertain World

 

When I moved to Portland and started to volunteer for Yellow Brick Road, I mentioned it to a friend who had at one time been on the streets over 10 years ago.  He replied, “Oh yeah!  I used to get toothbrushes and condoms from them!”  This was my first sign that I was on to something good!  Luckily for me, after 8 months of volunteering, I was hired on as an Outreach Specialist for Janus.  Now, instead of just one night a week, I get to do one of the best jobs in the world full-time!  I am also fortunate to say that I work closely with 3 other individuals who each have over 10 years of experience working with the youth of downtown Portland.  This longevity is a testimony to the reputation that Yellow Brick Road has built in nearly 30 years’ time. 

Each time we train a new volunteer, one of the things we emphasize is the vital importance of consistency. In our volunteer interview, we ask each applicant if they can commit to one day per week, the same night each week, for a minimum of six months.  As a result of the dedicated volunteers who have donned a Yellow Brick Road bag over the last three decades, the volunteers of 2013 come in with a long-standing rapport and a trusted name in the Portland community! 

Consistency is important on multiple fronts.  Teams form a trusting bond when each member is assured of the mutual commitment of their teammates.  Each member is able to more clearly identify their own strengths and areas of growth as well as those of their outreach partners.  Confidence is built, team dynamics are refined, and safety is improved.  Even more significant is the impact of consistency on Yellow Brick Road’s relationships with the people that we serve.  Not only is there a team out every night of the week, but we carry with us the confidence that we can supply many of the basic needs of those persevering on the streets.  Those supplies often create a means to get below the surface and connect people with the resources they need, process the daily struggles and triumphs of a life lived without a house, and make ourselves available as part of an extended support system.  

Volunteer Jess talks about how she became involved in YBR.  “YBR volunteers first approached me while I was in the Occupy Portland Camp. I actually didn't need any myself, but while living down there amongst the activists and the homeless I definitely noticed needs for just those kinds of things. I thought it was way cool, and I asked about who they were, and found out about Yellow Brick Road. After the Occupy camp ended, I decided to get involved myself as an ongoing way to be a part of serving the underprivileged in my city.”  Mark’s path to becoming a volunteer was a little different.  He says, “A friend of mine was involved with YBR. I was inspired from experiences I have had through out my life. A childhood friend of mine has been living out doors for the greater part of ten years, and I hope he has revived services from programs like YBR. I hope I was at least a positive face to someone's childhood friend.”

One volunteer with 5 years under his belt, Bill talks about a couple of his most memorable experiences doing outreach.  “One was going out on Christmas dressed as an elf with my partner dressed as Santa.  The reception was priceless.  The other was going out during ‘Snowpocalypse’ a few years back when the city was virtually shut down for days.  Both times, people were both shocked and extremely grateful to see us.”  For Mark, a favorite YBR was hard to pinpoint.  “I don't really have a favorite moment that stands out,” he says.  “Sounds cheesy but I enjoyed every night I went out.”

As a word of encouragement to those volunteers currently reaching out on the streets of Portland and to those considering whether to apply, ten-year veteran volunteer Stella offers some words:

Volunteering with homeless youth has changed my life.  I appreciate the smallest and simplest of things now.  I’ve seen my husband change a lot by his experience as well.  Our perspective on possessions, our personal values and acceptance of others has increased.   My life is enriched by the people we meet on our outreach, the stories they share, and the resilient lives are an inspiration.  I've learned to appreciate the moments with them whatever it may be.  I actually find delight in meeting some of them.  They often have the best behaved dogs I've ever seen.

I would love to have more partners out there on the streets.  There’s safety in numbers, can cover more territory and honestly its a great way to see the Portland city lights from the bridges, the historical buildings, the full moon, stars and sometimes a beaver can be seen on the Willamette River.  We can enjoy the festivals like the Rose, Blues, Beer Fests, Christmas Tree Lighting, and the occasional fireworks as we walk by.

It’s pretty evident that youth living outside are not the only people impacted by the work that Yellow Brick Road does on a nightly basis.  This impact affects lives on a long-term scale.  As we move forward, I just want to say thank you to all those who come along side the staff of Janus Youth Programs and give of their precious time to serve the resilient, vulnerable and valuable youth of Portland! Your consistency is priceless!

Heather Penzel, Outreach Specialist

photos by Stella Butler

YBR TRAINING EVENT! 7/21

Yellow Brick Road provides free training events to the community every 3-4 months. These events are FREE and available to anyone over 18 who may wish to learn more about street outreach, volunteer opportunities with Janus Youth Programs and other topics related to youth homelessness, poverty and exploitation. This is a great opportunity to meet the current outreach volunteers, staff and program supervisor, learn about important updates regarding our program and homeless youth services, and ask questions. Applications are always on hand for anyone who wishes to join the team but there is absolutely no obligation to attend. Our next training will take place in downtown Portland on Sunday July 21 from 2pm until 5pm. This will be an intensive training on the basic principles and best practices for youth street outreach with a visual tour of some of the areas "off the beaten path" that our teams routinely visit. We will focus on safety and engagement practices. Hope to see you there! 

SUNDAY
July 21, 2013
2pm-5pm

Please R.S.V.P. for the location: 

 dlundberg@janusyouth.org

Photo by YBR volunteer Stella Butler

J.T. Fest's "Street Culture" manual is now available as a revised Kindle edition!

Buy it here!

YBR VOLUNTEERS ARE AMAZING!

This month we celebrate some very impressive milestones for several of our amazing outreach volunteers!

Michaela Voorhees celebrates one year with YBR.

Mark McCallum celebrates one year with YBR.

Jessica Battin celebrates one year with YBR (welcome back!).

Em Stauss celebrates 2 years with YBR.

Bill Moore celebrates 5 years with YBR.

And, last but not least, Stella Butler celebrates TEN years with YBR!

Wow. THANK YOU for all you do.

FREE YBR TRAINING EVENT!

Yellow Brick Road brings quarterly training events to the community! These events are FREE and available to anyone over 18 who may wish to learn more about street outreach, volunteer opportunities with Janus Youth Programs and other topics related to youth homelessness. This is a great opportunity to meet the current outreach volunteers, staff and program supervisor, learn about important updates regarding our program and homeless youth services, and ask questions. Applications are always on hand for anyone who wishes to join the team but there is absolutely no obligation to attend. Our next training will take place in downtown Portland on Sunday March 10 from 2pm until 5pm. Haven Wheelock from Outside In will join us to discuss their needle exchange program and harm reduction tips for street affected drug users.  We will also focus on attentive listening skills with our resident Outreach Specialist Neal Sand. We hope to see you there! 

SUNDAY
MARCH 10, 2013
2pm-5pm

Please R.S.V.P. for the location: 

 dlundberg@janusyouth.org

AND YET AGAIN...SEVERE WEATHER DECLARED FOR TUESDAY JANUARY 22, 2013!

Please call 2-1-1 or see our posts below for resources and details!

SEVERE WEATHER CALLED FOR MONDAY 1/21/2013!

Once again, temperatures are expected to dip down below 25 degrees with freezing rain in the late-early morning.  Imago Dei Church will be open to all at 7pm.  See below for details or call 2-1-1 for more info.

SEVERE WEATHER DECLARED FOR SUNDAY 1/20/2013!

See post below for resources and bundle up out there!

SEVERE WEATHER IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY DECLARED FOR SATURDAY 1/19!

The National Weather Service forecast for the evening of Saturday, January 19, 2013, shows below freezing temperatures and wind chill of 25 degrees between 4:00am and 7:00am in the early hours of Sunday, January 20, 2013. Anyone seeking shelter should contact 211info, reached by dialing 2-1-1. During this Severe Weather event, 211info will be available to identify shelter and warming center resources to Multnomah County callers between 2:00pm and midnight, Saturday. Service providers who would like to update information on services they offer during Severe Weather Notices, please call Troy Hammond at 503-504-9867. In addition to existing year-round and winter shelter facilities, the following warming center facilities are available:

Family Winter Shelter: 
12505 NE Halsey Street, Portland Oregon (on Halsey near 126th Avenue)
This is a walk-in facility. It is not necessary to call beforehand. No one will be turned away. Dates: Seven nights a week throughout winter season.
Hours: 7:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Serves: Families with children under 18 and women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy

Women’s Winter Shelter: 
Check availability at Transition Projects/Bud Clark Commons, 650 NW Irving,
Walk in Mon-Fri 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Sat/Sun 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
or call 503-280-4700 Dates: Seven nights a week throughout winter season Hours: 7:30 PM - 7:00 AM Serves: Single women

Severe Weather Emergency Warming Center: 
Red Cross Severe Weather Emergency Warming Center at the Imago Dei Church 1302 Ankeny Street, (near 13th Avenue in Inner SE) This is a walk-in facility. Pets allowed, some space for carts, accessible location
Dates: Evening of Saturday, January 19th Hours: 9:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Serves: Families, single adults, and youths; Pets allowed; some space for carts; accessible location on main floor

Union Gospel Mission: 
15 NW 3rd Avenue, 503-228-0319
This is a walk-in facility.
Dates: Evenings Saturday, January 19th & Sunday, January 20th
Hours: 9:00 PM - 6:00 AM Serves: Families, single adults, and youths

Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES): 
11 NW 5th Avenue, 503-227-0810
Offers additional emergency mats, first-come, first-served, must arrive by 10pm.
Dates: Evening of Saturday, January 19th
Hours: 6:00 PM - 8:00 AM
Serves: Single self-identified women

Janus Porch Light Emergency Shelter:
1635 SW Alder Street
Hours: 8:45pm-9:00am
Serves: Homeless youth ages 15-23
35 bed spaces: first come, first served


Please call 211info with questions regarding other shelter and transportation resources.

Meet the Friday Night YBR Team!

NO SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT (1/3/2012)

But it will still be very cold tonight so BUNDLE UP out there!

Waiting for the Sun

I’ll be honest: this time of year is not my favorite for being outside.  I didn’t get to do outreach during the sunny months this year as a result of a bike accident.   I’m certainly glad to be back.  I missed the faces and the places and the people I’ve been building relationships with over the last two years.  I started out as a Yellow Brick Road volunteer in December 2010, so my first experiences on outreach were largely in the dark, wet Portland winter.  Maybe it’s a good thing that I missed the summer this year – I won’t remember as clearly the nights when it was still bright and warm at 8:30pm.  Thankfully, with winter solstice behind us, the days will only get longer for the next six months.

There are certain faces that I won’t get to see until the days are longer again.  The cycle of travelers coming through is at a low point for the season, but the hearty Portland-based youth are still fixtures throughout my week.  The holiday season is always a challenge for many of them.  A month ago, a few of them expressed hopes that folks downtown would be more generous since Christmas was coming.  It seems that the economy held many back from giving as much as they might have in years past.  The cold weather accentuates already difficult circumstances.  Getting up at 6am at the request of the Police is that much harder after a restless night under wet blankets.

I appreciate that as an outreach worker I can offer respite to youth who don’t have services in the Homeless Youth Continuum at least twice a week.  Once is on Sunday nights at a program called Road Warrior, hosted by our partners at Outside In.  The second opportunity is at Janus’ Stationary Outreach on Thursdays.  Some folks come in right at noon to make sure they can get their laundry washed and dried.  Others warm up with a hot shower and some hot food and coffee.  Still others pass out with weariness on one of our couches and rest for an hour or two.  I am excited that we will be able to throw a post-holiday party on Jan. 10th.  The donated gifts, youth-suggested movies, and specially-ordered food will surely brighten these darker days for a number of folks.

It’s always a learning experience walking the streets of Portland through the yearly cycle.  Seasons transform much more than weather.  Last year at this time, we were just recovering from several months serving the youth of Occupy Portland.  This year presented its own hopes and challenges.  As we continue to walk along side so many young people in our community, my goal is to keep my eye on the horizon and watch for the rising sun.

- Heather Penzel, Street Outreach Specialist

SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT (12/30/12)!

The City has declared a Severe Weather Alert for tonight! As odd as this seems if you are looking out the window while reading this, temperatures are expected to drop below 25 with wind chill tonight and may possibly remain below 25 through Tuesday. 

Anyone seeking shelter can go to the Red Cross Warming Shelter located inside the Imago Dei Church located at 1302 SE Ankeny Street (just behind Old Wives Tale). 

For more information please check the 211 website for up-to-the-minute information. Bundle up tonight!

FREE YBR TRAINING EVENT...11/11!

YOU are invited to our upcoming Yellow Brick Road training! YBR training events are always FREE and available to anyone over 18 in the community who may wish to learn more about street outreach, volunteer opportunities and issues related to youth homelessness in the Northwest. This is a great opportunity to meet the current YBR volunteer teams, outreach staff and program supervisor, learn about important updates regarding our program and homeless youth services, and ask questions. Applications will be on hand for anyone who wishes to join the team. Our next training will take place in downtown Portland on Sunday NOVEMBER 11th from 2pm until 5pm. We will be discussing winter shelter resources, severe weather response plans and safety on the streets. Our teams from Portland and Vancouver will also be providing updates on their respective communities.  Please R.S.V.P. for the location at the email address listed below as space is limited.  We hope to see you there!

dlundberg@janusyouth.org

Doin' What We Do!

Yellow Brick Road Outreach Specialists (Heather & Neal) doin' what they do!  

It's HOT...Stay Cool!

It's HOT out there folks!  For the next few days Portland is expecting temperatures hovering around 100 degrees.  For people living outdoors this is not only uncomfortable...it can be dangerous.Please drink lots of water and wear lots of sunscreen if you can't get to shade.  Follow the link below to learn about free cooling centers in Multnomah County:    

Every place in Multnomah County that people can cool down in the heat...for free!

Project Metamorphosis Reunion!

Calling all current and past RTAs, A&D Specialists, Supervisors and Supporters of Project Metamorphosis! The very first Meta Reunion is scheduled to take place June 30, 2012---Noon to Dusk. 

 If you have been involved in meta and wish to attend, please contact Patti Davis to R.S.V.P. and for location. 

 Patti Davis: pattid@depaultreatmentcenters.org 503-980-5531