Love in the time of Coronavirus

March 14, 2020

It's been a long time since we updated this blogspot! Right around the time of our last post on this blog, we got a great offer for help with our website. Someone was going to make a better website for us, and maybe that will still happen some day. We know that our web presence could be better. We're very active on Facebook, so like and follow us there too! 

As the Board members of Right 2 Dream Too followed the news about the coronavirus or COVID-19, we realized that we needed to figure out a way for those who sleep here, and those who stop by to use the restroom or get something to eat, have a way to wash their hands. We had hand sanitizer available, but good old soap and water is what breaks down this virus!

Our budget is tight, so it had to be inexpensive, durable and easy to fix. We looked for plans on the internet, and asked a volunteer if he was willing to make it for us. Steve said, "The more I thought about it the more I was convinced that I needed to make time to do this." He didn't want people to get sick just because they lacked basic hygiene facilities. So for $15 in parts and donated labor, Steve built our new handwashing station and delivered it just a few days after our initial conversation. It's been received well and it's getting a lot of use.

At this point, the members say they are doing well and our volunteer doctor says they are too. They continue to serve our community up to full capacity, and that puts them at risk. Hopefully, being outside is actually helpful, and we know folks are taking precautions and following protocols.

When we talked about Covid19 at last week's general meeting, folks said that what they need to stay healthy is housing now! 

However, since we can't wait for housing for all, the time is now to set up more rest areas (minus the communal tents or at least reducing the capacity in communal sleeping spaces), more villages, more camp sites - where houseless people have access to all the things they need, and can follow the best practices for handwashing, isolating, accessing warmth, medicine, and community support. There are plenty of empty lots and pieces of land - both public and private - in this city. Neighborhoods - like yours! can organize these. We are happy to offer advice and support as you organize your own rest area.

We can't wait for the government to take the lead on creative, out of the box solutions. We have to do the best we can with what we have.

We absolutely need to stop the sweeps and let people stay safe in their homes - whether that home is a tent or is made of plywood.

We appreciate all the support we get from community members. In fact, we wouldn't be here without the thousands of folks who have donated time and money.

Right 2 Dream Too is stretched financially right now.

Our grassroots fundraising strategy for this year was focused on house parties. We just had to postpone the first one indefinitely. We very much intend to continue to provide a space to sleep for Portland's most vulnerable Portlanders, while we organize and participate in life saving mutual aid projects.

Please consider donating on this page - press the Donate Now button on the right hand side! If you're on your phone - you need to press "View Web Version" at the bottom of the page to get those donate buttons to appear.

1) Consider setting up a monthly donation (just click the box). We would love to get 200 people donating $15-$20 each month. That would completely cover our operating expenses, community supported sleep!

2) Contact our City Commissioners and ask that they support Right 2 Dream Too! The city holds "in trust" more than $800,000 for R2DTOO. The so called "trust fund" was established by city ordinance 186464 on February 19th, 2014. The money has been tied up in litigation for years. We are requesting access to some of those funds to support our operations unless the city or county is able to access different funding to support the services that we provide.

Our Good Neighbor Agreement said that the city would provide utilities. The GNA document is not legally binding but our neighborhood supporters in the Lloyd, who are parties to the GNA, were surprised and disappointed that the city does not pay for our toilets ($1000/month), garbage ($650/month), water and electricity (these fluctuate). Our other major expense is laundry ($600/month).

The city paid up to $1500 per month for one year after we moved from Old Town. We have provided this vital service for 8 1/2 years now.

Mayor Wheeler
503-823-4120
mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.gov

City Commissioners: Jo Ann Hardesty 503-823-4151
joann@portlandoregon.gov,

Chloe Eudaley
503-823-4682
chloe@portlandorgegon.gov

Amanda Fritz
503-823-3008
amanda@portlandoregon.gov


While you are contacting your local government officials to ask tell them to support Right 2 Dream Too, let them know we need to use public land for more rest areas, villages and camp sites, so that houseless folks can be part of flattening the curve and having every chance to come through this pandemic.

Tell them to stop the evictions of apartments, houses and campsites. No one should be displaced, and to do so know puts us all at greater risk.

Thank you for your support.

May this be the time when we make the great leap to a caring economy that puts people over profit. Love and Solidarity!