Justice for Homelessness by Kathy

Justice for Homelessness by Kathy - February 2020 Scholarship Essay

My parents were both born in Vietnam and grew up there until their early twenties. The moved to Portland Oregon and gave birth to my brother and I. When I was younger, I always viewed my hometown as a beautiful mixture of nature and city environment. The weather here was perfect throughout all four seasons. The only complaints Portlanders had was that it rained too much.
However, as I grew up, Portland's population grew and there are many gentrified areas. The population from 2001 and 2020 has increased by more than 100,000 people. This impacts the prices of housing. The value of the house my family currently lives in is tripled. However, as the population and economics increase, I also notice homelessness increasing.
Homelessness is an issue in Portland now. This does not only cover people who live in the streets outdoors but also includes families or individuals who do not own their own homes. For example, it is almost impossible to travel around the city area of Portland and not see people sleeping in the streets whether it is in front of a building, under a bridge, or in an abandoned area. There is not a lot of efforts done to help this issue. I remember seeing polices kicking a group of homeless people out under a bridge and replaced it with huge rocks in able for them to not return. The rocks were not appealing and we could be using the money for other purposes to directly help the homeless.
If I were able to start a nonprofit organization, it would be an organization that benefits homeless people, mainly focusing on those who live outside. Not only would it benefit them and give them a safe place and warm place to live, but it would be positively impacting the City of Portland in general. My parents always talk about how the corners of Portland look dirty and messy due to homeless people's home setup. Most people would want their neighborhoods and cities to look clean so that would also be an advantage. Instead of gentrifying traditional or cultural areas, it is a better idea to use the space to build a space where we can provide beds, food, and other resources for homeless people. However, although homeless people may be in denial of this idea it is still important that we provide it for them and make them feel included in our community.