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City, county and community leaders cheered the start of construction of the Resource Access Center at a Friday morning groundbreaking ceremony.
When completed in 18 months, the center will house a variety of homeless services, including 130 units of permanent housing, 90 shelter beds and counseling programs.
“This will be the center of our ambitious 10-year plan to end homelessness,” said Commission Nick Fish, who championed the project as the head of the Bureau of Housing.
The $46.8 million project is to be built on a block owned by the city adjacent to Union Station and the Greyhound bus station along Northwest Broadway. It is being funded by a mix of urban renewal, federal housing and federal stimulus dollars.
this is great news! we are all waiting for the opening day.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 02:44 PM
HOW DO YOU GET INTO THE PROGRAM? I AM AN AMERICAN INDIAN AND HAVE BEEN ON THE LOW INCOME HOUSING AUTHORITYS WAITING LIST SINCE 2004..I AM STILL WAITING..AND NOW I FACE AN EVICTION NOTICE EFFECTIVE END OF NOVEMBER....I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A HOME, THAT CANNOT BE PULLED FROM UNDER ME AND MY SICK DAUGHTER..WE ARE SO STRESSED FROM FEAR OF BEING HOMELESS!!!!...CAN YOU HELP US GET THIS NEEDED INFORMATION?
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Editorial response:
Sharon: You should contact city Commissioner Nick Fish's office, 503-823-3589.
Kevin L. Harden
Web editor
you know this won't end crap.....every homeless person in america already knows that portland's where it's at.
all we will see is more homeless for us tax payers to house and feed! whoa team!
go sam adams!
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Institutions never solve problems. I worked with the homeless population for several years and I know everything we are doing is wrong. Close to fifty million dollars wasted as far as I'm concerned. Should have given it to the schools to prevent future homelessness instead of making it so people get housing without having to work for it. Too many people with incomes don't get help when they need it, and they are the ones paying taxes. The only parts of the homeless population that should get any services are vets and the severely mentally ill. We owe vets until they die and treat them horribly instead. Until we figure out something better we just need to concentrate on keeping the mentally ill off the streets.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Every human being on this planet has a right to have shelter and food. This is a beautiful idea.
Regina Parton
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 03:53 PM
"get a job you bum" - of course it won't "end" anything, but you need to realize that getting people access to housing and food is more economically responsible for the taxpayer. Living on the street with limited access to food or housing leads to greater costs associated with mental health and addiction treatment, court/law enforcement costs from the criminalization of homelessness, more frequent medical and emergency room visits, and costs associated with preventing and treating victims of abuse within the homeless community. So if taxes is your concern, there it is.
Besides, much of the food and housing provided is due to private donation rather than taxes, so you should have to worry about that. Tax money goes more to the things I mentioned above.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 04:06 PM
what a bunch of bunk!!! thats what we need is more ways to make the homeless feel comfortable. i believe in helping people that help themselves. not ones that live on the street willingly just to get all the freebies they can, rather than going out and getting a job like the majority of the city. all you bleeding heart liberals dont start calling me a hater...i don't want to hear it cause im not. we spend millions of dollars a year on the homeless and the problem only gets worse never better. stop making them feel so comfortable and they will go somewhere else. i cant afford, on my social security disability to comit any more of my rescources and tax money to these lazy noaccount usupers! why do we have to build they a "new" shelter? isnt a revamped building just as good? after all anythings a move up from a refrigerator box under the hawthorne bridge. they should just be glad that there existing shelters. if you don't like the situation, go get a job and start supporting yourselves and paying taxes like the rest of us.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 06:23 PM
what a bunch of bunk!!! thats what we need is more ways to make the homeless feel comfortable. i believe in helping people that help themselves. not ones that live on the street willingly just to get all the freebies they can, rather than going out and getting a job like the majority of the city. all you bleeding heart liberals dont start calling me a hater...i don't want to hear it cause im not. we spend millions of dollars a year on the homeless and the problem only gets worse never better. stop making them feel so comfortable and they will go somewhere else. i cant afford, on my social security disability to comit any more of my rescources and tax money to these lazy noaccount usupers! why do we have to build they a "new" shelter? isnt a revamped building just as good? after all anythings a move up from a refrigerator box under the hawthorne bridge. they should just be glad that there existing shelters. if you don't like the situation, go get a job and start supporting yourselves and paying taxes like the rest of us.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 06:24 PM
what a bunch of bunk!!! thats what we need is more ways to make the homeless feel comfortable. i believe in helping people that help themselves. not ones that live on the street willingly just to get all the freebies they can, rather than going out and getting a job like the majority of the city. all you bleeding heart liberals dont start calling me a hater...i don't want to hear it cause im not. we spend millions of dollars a year on the homeless and the problem only gets worse never better. stop making them feel so comfortable and they will go somewhere else. i cant afford, on my social security disability to comit any more of my rescources and tax money to these lazy noaccount usupers! why do we have to build they a "new" shelter? isnt a revamped building just as good? after all anythings a move up from a refrigerator box under the hawthorne bridge. they should just be glad that there existing shelters. if you don't like the situation, go get a job and start supporting yourselves and paying taxes like the rest of us.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 06:25 PM
I just dont believe in spending 46.8 million on people who do not contribute to society i have lived in portland for over ten years, the kids are proud of their lifestyle moving from shelter to shelter, food program to food program, it seems every homeless person in america knows if they can get to portland they can live for free of the incredible ammount of tax dollars paid by citizens (in 10 years i have paid over $37,000 to oregon) especially in multnomah county. As a resident i would rather see that money go to the school systems, transit system or a work program that makes these people contribute for the services provided not just a free handout. if you really allow 130 units with no time frame to move out then what motivates them to get their own place, we already have the housing athority. Tough love is what these people need, a specific time frame needs to be given with job skills and job placement so the county and community can get back the money spent on them. if you think i have never been without a job or addicted to substance abuse your wrong, i was tired of laboring and living under the radar and within a couple years i got myself into college graduated and have a great job without ever using a government handout. It has to come within that person to change or you will harbor this type of re-accuring behavior.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Let me get this straight Mr.(s) "kill em all". You are living on the public dole (SSI) and you don't want your hard earned tax money to pay for the homeless? You need more help than you're getting.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 07:56 PM
first of all AL, i worked in the job market for 42 years. i was a single parent widowed with 4 kids and never i repeat never went on public assistance. i worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table and our TAXES paid, so don't you start ragging on me for being on ssi disability. my disability is from working my arse off for 42 years and the injuries that were incured and lastly that is MY friggin money that I paid into the system so that I would be taken care of in my time of need or during retirement. so you my friend can kiss my lily white...
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 08:50 PM
where is the incentive to get a job and pull your own weight???? the flood gates will be opened for every bum in the country. those who are so willing to open their wallets should do so but don't open mine..
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 09:09 PM
Look, "kill em all", first kudos to you for your hard work, and I hope you are getting a whopping good SSI payment back. I really mean that. On the other hand, you gotta realize that nobody is making them "comfortable". The place will be no Ritz Carlton. WE can't leave people suffering of addictions, mental, and physical health to die in the streets - that wouldn't be a good measure of our society, now would it. Do you want our streets and countryside to resemble Victorian England? Yes, we spend a lot of money on this issue, but don't you think the social consequences might be worse if we didn't spend anything? And NOBODY is giving them the star treatment or buckets of hand-out money, so you can't use that arguemet.
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 09:15 PM
kpv, no. their drug and alcohol problems are a them issue not a me issue. i didn't force them to do drugs and or drink. as for the mentaly impared and those that have just fallen on hard times and just need a hand getting back on their feet, i say give them all the money they need. but as for the smelly, lazy, refuse to work, refuse to do anything to better or help themselves people, i say let em rot on the streets. round em up and put em on chain gangs to do the cities dirty work to help repay their debts. these people do nothing for you but spend your money, force really quality projects to be cast by the way side, spread desease and drug use, sleep on the streets, and bum money from people that they intimidate either by their appearance or their smell. i say screw em and get em the hell out of here!
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 10:15 PM
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Re: City breaks ground for new homeless service center
Two quick corrections:
It is actually the RESOURCE Access Center and the 130 units of housing are permanent, not transitional. Residents will not be time-limited in any way in their new homes.
"Andy Miller, Portland Housing Bureau"
(email verified)
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Editorial response:
Thanks, Andy. We fixed the story.
Kevin L. Harden
Web editor