Right 2 Dream Too fined $12K
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PORTLAND, Ore. - City leaders have sent a bill for over $12,000 to an organization that runs a homeless rest area in downtown Portland.
For the past few years, we've followed the fight over Right 2 Dream Too at Northwest 4th and Burnside in Old Town.
The Bureau of Development Services has said in the past that the area is in violation of two codes - illegal camping and a fence that is higher than six feet. But rest area organizers want the city to waive the fines and work with them, not against them.
"I don't know how they plan to get money from people who don't have money, but we're going to stay here," said Right 2 Dream Too organizer Ibrahim Mubarak.
The group did sue the city back in December claiming that people's civil rights were being violated.
Organizers say they plan to meet with Mayor Charlie Hales and other city council members to try to come up with a solution.
the city has mismanaged the housing authority, with bad policies that cause homelessness, and bad usage of funding so that they do not produce an adequate number of units for the lowest tier of incomes who are waiting for them. or for the homeless. these are funded thru hud but the money is poorly spent with less bang for the buck. the section 8 policy of the city "home forward" housing authority, ACTUALLY EXCLUDES PEOPLE FROM HOUSING THEIR HOMELESS RELATIVES. unlike other housing authorities which allow people to move in with relatives . OF COURSE. everyone else lets their homeless kid or grandparents or sister move in and sleep on the couch or in the spare room, BUT if you try that on portland oregon section 8 housing voucher, you may be terminated and end up homeless yourself. Making disabled and elderly people homeless . what the h3ll is wrong with these mindless incompetent criminally uncaring antisocials who run this housing dept?
here's the dope on Home Forward's homelessness producing policy:
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http://homeforward.org/sites/default/files/docs/Section-8-Admin-Plan-09-2012-corrected.pdf
"PHA Policy
The PHA will conduct interim reexaminations to account for changes in household composition that occur between regular reexaminations, except as follows: For new participants, the PHA requires successful lease-up for at least 6 months before a request to add a household member will be received and reviewed. The PHA may waive the probationary period to add an adult on a case-by-case basis upon written request from the family and with supervisory approval in the following situations:
· If in a spousal-type relationship
·If to provide live-in care for an elderly or disabled family member
· If caring for mutual children
The PHA will not permit the addition of adults if not part of the household at initial eligibility, if not included in portability documentation, or if not permitted through case-by-case review as identified above. This includes parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and any others. The PHA will not permit addition of family groups (adult and one or more children) if not permitted through case-by-case review as identified above."
"any others" -that includes your homeless 19 -year- old daughter who lost her job. it includes your mentally ill son who sleeps on the street in the freezing cold etcccccc.
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It's funny how people who don't have much, think that because of their unfortunate circumstances, they can just break laws and do whatever they want. I can't just go to an empty space and construct a home there. Look, I am all for helping the homeless (handed out care packages this last Christmas actually) but you can't just break laws because you don't make money. Sorry, but I would put up notices that that place will be up in flames in 1 weeks time. If you refuse to leave, you will be tear gassed and we will drag you out.
 @mikeyb123 EXCUSE ME. if you had no money and nowhere to go, but night came, where would you sleep, especially if you were a native of the local area? THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE.
"A safe place to be" .... I guess the whole argument hinges on one's interpretation of what it means "to be". Shakespeare? Descartes??
I walked by there the other day. The stench was almost unbearable.Â
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Here is a classic example of selective enforcement of laws. The same thing the Linn County Sheriff is doing.
 @RalphCramden I drove by on the way to various destinations there several times and could have sworn I saw porta-potties at least once or twice?
 @whirledworldÂ
It's a different world for homeless folks. Many have drug and alcohol issues and just take a leak where ever they want to. If you walk under the Burnside bridge there is the same smell of stale urine even though there are access to bathrooms in the are.
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The other issue is bathing. The smell of the unwashed is worse when they are concentrated. Feet are usually the worst and we often called it TSS for toxic sock syndrome.
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I had to deal with that stuff for 30 years and none of that was fun and most often pretty disgusting.
@RalphCramden "The stench was almost unbearable." Which is probably why the city is targeting them aggressively.
 @RalphCramden I thought you didn't venture into downtown Portland? You're not fibbing, are you? ;)
 @badcatÂ
Christmas party my wife wanted to go to. I worked downtown for 10 years and don't really like it down there. It does remind me of why I retired and am glad I am out of there.
If you don't like the regulations, you can pack up and take your homeless with you!
 @jpk what if they came from portland? what if they have no means of travel and nothing to pack and no where to go? get a life and a brain and a conscience. join the human race.
@beequeen I have a life, brain, and a conscience. I also have a heart, but no Toto! See ya in Oz, and don't make me send the flying monkeys after you!Â
"The unhoused"? Aww. Isn't that just too cute? PC at its finest.
 @Nobody Not PC, it just makes sense (ala George Carlin -- "homeless" is an abstract concept, what make something a "home" anyway? These people need HOUSING!").
Great idea! Close the place down and make sure they have to find another place to stay... /facepalm
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