This winter, a group of students from Sunnyside Environmental School formed a Houselessness Cohort to better understand the issue of homelessness. Working with Street Roots, the group embarked on a letter-writing project to collect student perspectives on the issue. The following is a selection of those letters.
Dear Street Roots,
MY NAME IS IVAN MANNING and I am part of the houseless cohort at Sunnyside Environmental School.
How I feel about homelessness is very mixed because I know there are some people out there that could harm me but I am also very sympathetic for people in the streets because of the price of housing or they can't get a job. Thinking about homelessness usually makes me think about drugs or alcohol abuse but there is that voice in the back of my head that reminds me that not everyone is in that position because of drugs and alcohol.
And I know that if I was in that situation I would want people to help me out a little maybe pick me up off the ground and help me get a job. I think that if I was homeless it would be pretty hard because I know that I have the capability to work and provide for myself.
This subject is important to me because I get worried for people when I walk by the crowd of people at the church on the way to school.
I think you should care because as you probably know we have a huge homeless problem in Portland and people are having a hard time living and eating while they don't have a job or house and without help from the public.
Another reason is that homeless people tend to have a hard time finding a place to sleep and clean themselves up (brush their teeth, shower, use the bathroom).
A way that you and I could and should take action is by going to Clay Street Table and serve meals to those in need.
MY NAME IS ANMOL, I am an eighth-grader at Sunnyside Environmental School.
I think homelessness is a big issue. When I think of homelessness I think of people sleeping on the street with no resources or just a few resources and no warmth. I am asking myself what can we do? If you have any ideas for me/us we are open to ideas. What is the thing you most need right now?
I AM A SEVENTH-GRADER here at Sunnyside Environmental School. I think that homelessness is a huge issue especially here in Portland. I walk by so many homeless people every day and it makes me think about how actions need to be taken.
I could never imagine being someone out on the streets with little food or water. I always wonder about how they came to be in that position, because it's not always because of drugs or jail. I care about this crisis because there is something we can do and just the little actions can help them.
In the past I have made lunches and dinners for them. Serving them, I realize that even though it's not a big action it's still contributing to helping those in our community.
To read the full article written by Street Roots News staff and the student's letters, click HERE
Comments (0)