Features The morning sun slips through gaps in the patchwork drapes of the captain's quarters, landing an unwelcome blow on Finger's sleeping face.The hungover pirate rises from his untidy bed, grabbing a can of PBR as he walks past his drum set in the pilot's cabin.Finger hops from his boat onto his makeshift, free-floating dock near Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Five anchors hold his dock in place, leaving ...   More

News The Multnomah County Health Department and Street Roots Community Newspaper have released a report regarding homeless deaths in 2011. The report, Domicile Unknown, reveals that one person experiencing homelessness died nearly every week last year in Multnomah County. This is the first review by the Multnomah County and Oregon State Examiner regarding the deaths of those without shelter. The average ...   More

News The Portland Housing Bureau says it's received $1.365 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help fund rent assistance, employment services and permanent housing for homeless people with HIV/AIDS.  Portland is one of only eight communities chosen to receive federal money from HUD, beating out 38 other cities.  City Commissioner Nick Fish calls the new grant a ...   More

Arts & Books Laura Moulton is a self-proclaimed "street librarian." Twice a week, she peddles her mobile library Street Books downtown, where Portland's homeless population can check-out and return books.Local filmmaker Travis Shields has just put together this lovely documentary about the project:Shields' has made serveal other short documentaries featuring Portland's streets, including People Can't Wait about ...   More

News A heads-up to folks on the streets this holiday: Ncompass, a Portland-based nonprofit, will host its second Annual Christmas Festival for the Homeless under the Morrison Bridge this Sunday Dec. 19 from 11 am to 3 pm. Besides a giant barbecue, several free services will be featured, including a mobile dental van, acupuncture table, haircuts, manicures/pedicures and massages. Free sleeping bags, ...   More

News I have some good news, and some bad news. Lets start with the good: Street Roots, a nonprofit newspaper that helps those living with homelessness and poverty, has launched an easy-to-use website to accompany its Rose City Resource publication. The Rose City Resource site offers a “comprehensive guide to the public services and assistance programs in the Portland and tri-county area.” ...   More

News We know the economic recession has plunged many Oregon adults into unemployment. What sometimes goes overlooked is the recession's shattering effect it also has on kids. According to findings out today from the Oregon Department of Education, the 2008-2009 school year saw an increase of nearly 14 percent in the number of homeless students enrolled in Oregon schools. There were 18,051 homeless ...   More

News At the same time that the heavy wind and rain roll in to Portland, Multnomah County is announcing this year's plan to provide shelter for those caught in the fall and winter storms to come. Nearly 600 shelter beds are available year-round for families, adults, youth and those fleeing domestic violence. But up to 422 beds will be installed at local emergency shelters to provide more space for ...   More

News Here's a nice holiday story I just learned about. This Wednesday, Dec. 16, the Laundry Love Project will host a Christmas Party at Sunshine Laundromat (7914 NE Glisan St.) for locals who have benefited from the volunteer effort over the past 19 months. The volunteer program by JustOne, a nonprofit, washes the clothing and bedding of those who are homeless or living in motels or shelters. The ...   More