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.