The campers who were making our block their home have moved on. To be more specific, they were “moved on.” The city finally began enforcing the ordinance that prevents camping within 1000 feet of any school. There are many schools in our immediate vicinity, including our long time tenant, North West Academy.

We worked hard to be good neighbors to the campers and my own reaction to their leaving is mixed. Thankfulness at not having to navigate their belongings on the sidewalk. Relief that the many individuals who use our facility (congregants, students and community groups), will not have to pass through their encampment. Knowledge that our sexton staff was doing additional work as a result of their presence.

And sadness because they were simply moved…not moved into housing. They are sleeping on other sidewalks tonight.

Portland is experiencing a crisis of homelessness. The reason this is so is complex and not all those camping on Portland sidewalks want more permanent housing. But most do dream of stable housing and affordable housing is becoming scarcer not more available as development accelerates. The fact that the sidewalks around our block are now clear changes that reality not one bit.

First Unitarian has a long-standing and strong commitment to help address homelessness. For 5 years, in partnership with First United Methodist, the City and County, and Portland Homeless Family Solutions, we have hosted a daytime family shelter in the lower level of Eliot Center. Congregants volunteer at the 13 Salmon Family Center and we have been happy to make a contribution to easing life for these families.

We have been asked to expand that help and welcome families overnight this winter. Energy for this grew out of and was mobilized by the recent All Church Dialogue on Homelessness.

We have been able to say “yes.” Beginning sometime in November and continuing through the winter, we will welcome families to spend the night in our “Undercroft,” (the area adjacent to the daytime family shelter). The families will all be vetted by a partner agency just as our daytime guests have been. The City/County partnership is improving bathroom facilities in the Undercroft and adding partitions and bedding for our new overnight guests, as well as offering modest rent to First Unitarian. There will be on-site supervision throughout the night.

This process is moving very rapidly and there are a few additional approval steps involved. But I wanted you to know that this development is now more than likely.

The Undercroft is the area where our youth room was located. The youth have moved upstairs into Room 108 which they will share with other groups during the week. They are giving up a dedicated space and their beloved handprints on the walls. They are beginning to make that room their own and I hope feeling good about the justice work their sacrifice makes possible.

I hope you will feel as good about this new effort as I do. In the face of this crisis it is important for us to live out our values and practice the fragile art of hospitality.

And…what we can do…what all of the churches together can do…will not be enough. In the Beloved Community, at least by any definition I

am willing to affirm, everyone who wants housing would have housing. Until that is true, there remains work for us to do.

Blessings,

Bill