Earlier this year, as discussed on a previous episode of the Old Mole, the Welcome Home Coalition, in partnership with Sisters of the Road, released their report, Finding Home: Lasting Solutions Rooted in Community Expertise, which surveyed and consulted those with lived experience of homelessness in the Portland area. That research confirmed that the city needs to pivot to a housing and support service-focused response to homelessness, and away from the current system of sweeps and shelters.
As part of the Finding Home project, Welcome Home produced a short film, directed by Alex Wakefield, featuring the voices of people who know the solutions that will actually reduce homelessness. Welcome Home has graciously granted us permission to share audio from that film here on the Old Mole, but we also recommend watching it, since the visuals include informative text and compelling images. Here are the voices of some who truly understand the problems of homelessness and how best to address it.
Image: Cover of Finding Home: Lasting Housing Solutions Rooted in Community Expertise, with colorful graphic of a housekey. Used with permission.