Street Roots director Israel Bayer has some wise words on the homeless protest:

Like it or not, many individuals experiencing homelessness are not going to sleep in a shelter, period. There are also people living with animals; couples, and families that simply will not be split up due to archaic shelter guidelines. And yes, there are drug addicts. Individuals dealing with an addiction are human beings, and using law enforcement to force individuals into the criminal justice system, and not have the same access to shelters as the broader population, is inhumane, costly, and backwards…

We are all on the same side in this fight — local businesses, community organizations, City Hall, advocates, social services, and the people affected the most. It’s clear that there are not enough resources. But we can’t lose our focus on being able to couple short-term, out-of-the-box thinking with a housing first model that has proven successful. We can’t be distracted into thinking shelter beds are a satisfactory means to end the criminalization of the homeless or to house people. Portland’s leaders need to reinforce long-term solutions to truly make a difference.

Incidentally I was in the gym this morning, and heard a customer talking to his personal trainer about the homeless protest. The trainer, I think, was on the side of the protesters, but the guy on the abs-ball was saying, “I’m about as conservative as it gets on this issue…the city’s giving these people places to sleep, it’s not their right to get in my way, walking down the sidewalk.”

And I could just see the trainer wanting to slap him one, or kick the ball over so this guy would fall on his ass. But he couldn’t, because he was being paid to listen to this guy’s crap. I wanted to go over and say pretty much what Israel said in his post, about shelters not being the right solution for everyone, and ask him what gave him the right to say where people should be allowed to exist. But I stopped myself, because I realized it’s better that people are talking about these issues in the gym and at least having to decide where they stand, than not talking about them at all. Also, I was worried I might punch the guy, and that wouldn’t get any of us anywhere.

Don’t punch anyone. It’s not a good idea.