Why Drazan is My Pick for Governor
For several years now, we have tried to address homelessness using the Housing First model as well as the harm...
Barbara Thayer
Why I fear law enforcement: Homeless and deemed not credible
The year was 1992 when I was a homeless drug addict coupled with a mental illness. Two law enforcement officers,...
The Unreported Violence on the Streets
As a formerly homeless woman, I think it’s important to help others understand exactly how violent the streets are. I...
Voices From the Sidewalk: The Ratio of Help as it Relates to Homelessness
Homeless shelters rarely have the adequate amount of staffing needed to provide meaningful help for shelter residents. An example of...
Voices From the Sidewalk: Harm Reduction Has Killed Many
For several years now, the harm reduction model has been used to treat those who are homeless. Harm reduction includes...
Voices From the Sidewalk: Chronically Abused During Homelessness Circumstance
Something nobody touches on when discussing our unhoused population is the fact that people who are vulnerable and women especially,...
Voices From the Sidewalk: When Sheltering the Homeless Becomes “Warehousing People”
Homeless shelters rarely have the adequate amount of staffing needed to provide meaningful help for shelter residents. An example of...
Voices From the Sidewalk: Oregon’s Mental Health System is Failing
In Oregon, we need a complete overhaul of our mental health system. In 2025, according to Sheriff Duncan, Linn County...
Voices From the Sidewalk: Forced Treatment Would Save Lives
It was an early day in Spring when I arrived at C.H.A.N.C.E. (Community Helping Addicts Negotiate Change Effectively) and heard...
Voices From the Sidewalk: A Challenging Case Ends in Tragedy
As a former case manager at a homeless shelter, I learned much about what works and what doesn’t work when...
The Unspoken Truth About Homelessness and Trauma
The traumas that go along with homelessness are something we rarely speak of. As someone who experienced homelessness first hand,...