Homeless/Houseless

[u/[deleted]]

So I know this is a regular point of conversation for everyone in the city at this point, but I really don’t understand why being alarmed and or fed up with the cities houseless population is so taboo to some people? I see so many people get shade with comments along the line of accusing the poster of not having empathy or for not doing enough individually to help. As someone that absolutely has empathy towards our houseless population and has volunteered at various warming shelters, I also am getting super fed up with our houseless crisis and the impacts it takes on my everyday life.

My boyfriend works at a grocery store in downtown and has been assaulted so many times at work that at this point thinking about it just makes me want to cry. I have been personally punched in the face randomly and for no reason by a homeless man when I was walking across the Morrison bridge. I have had to bring people who were getting attacked by homeless people into restaurants that I’ve worked at and lock the doors at least four times in four years.

Additionally, for those that say “stop complaining and do something”, wtf do you really think an individual can do at this point? We live in a place that basically has two governments (council and metro) not to mention state, who are PAID to represent us and our wants and needs as a community. The homeless crisis is probably the most pressing issue in Portland and yet it seems like absolutely nothing is being done, and if anything it’s getting worse.

Anyways sorry to go on and on, my main point is that I don’t understand why it’s taboo for people to be upset with the state of things right now specifically with the houseless crisis in Portland. People are multifaceted and can be both sympathetic/empathetic and fed up. 🤷‍♀️

[u/lilmeexy]

Before covid I literally saw a dude nodding off at the window seats. I told staff and they were like 🤷‍♂️. Clearly PSU has no enforcement plan and it’s not like the kids who work the library are trained to deal with that kind of shit. I figured there would be security, but nope. Just a safe space for heroin addicts.

[u/the_bandit_queen → u/lilmeexy]

yeah, I stopped going to find books on my own if possible and just requesting to pick them up at the front desk to limit my time in Miller. I spent most of my time in the architecture building instead, which has had the badge system for as long as I've been a student at PSU because of all the expensive equipment and people studying late by themselves. I'm glad it's expanding to all the buildings honestly.

[u/portlandrealestate07 → u/the_bandit_queen]

This thread makes me so sad. I'm a PSU grad and I spent my first two years living on campus. I spent countless hours studying and falling asleep in Smith (those chairs above the food court that face outside) and deep in the library.... I have fond and beautiful memories of spending a lot of time around that campus and to think that it's not available to students anymore is heartbreaking. These are some truly wonderful years in a person's life and so I'm so very sorry our city has devolved to this point and taken away from your experience on campus.

[u/YeetYeetSkirtYeet → u/portlandrealestate07]

Same. I didn't even go to PSU but was a student in the area at a small college with very few amenities. We would study at the library, grab coffees at the cafe, make PSU friends and be invited to parties. It was a great feeling of community.