In my years of traveling helping to change the story of homelessness I must say Dignity Village is probably the coolest community I have experienced. For me, self-governed community of about 60 homeless people in Portland, Oregon stands as a unique model that we can solve homelessness, and also a slap in the face to homeless services that we were not able to help these people.
Started 10 years ago Dignity Village is autonomous from the City of Portland and completely self-supported. Portland does provide the land where this "tent city" is located.
Even though Dignity Village is called a tent city it has evolved into so much more, as you can see by the photos I took that day here.
You can find more information on Wikipedia here (Dignity Village has 60 residents not 2000) and on their website here.
Homelessness is a result and not a cause. It's through dignity that people rebuild self-worth and start the road to healing. The main reason the current shelter system is broken is because we do not provide people the dignity needed to heal. I really wish homeless services would take a long hard look at Dignity Village and why it is a success. I also wish local governments would adopt this type solution before "bulldozing" tent communities because "moving" homelessness never solves the problem.
Meet one of the Dignity Village's residents here.
Follow Mark Horvath on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hardlynormal
and for those who whine incessantly or not about how their lives as they know it, living in cushy heated comforts who do have roofs over their heads and have a JOB to have, yet still complain...
to you all, a big phat tongue :** p
maybe 'youd' rather a life at tent city...?
hmm...actually might do some good
not withstanding the fortunate fortunates who do ruin this story's effect with their self-pitying wet eyes...
if there is to be any outcome, people in distress caused by living with out a shingle of their own, hope for these that should benefit, not those shamefully weeping, their crocodile tears produced to invoke the effects and maybe action 'you' want for yourselves..
I have come to the conclusion that everyone has a story to share no matter what their status is in society. Labelling people is not something I espouse nor do I like it when others trivialise peoples' circumstances.
These are real people that have built a community based on dignity and with this manifests a great sense of pride. Governments at both the local & global levels can donate parcels of land to help this growing global crisis of homelessness. Dignity Village is a valuable role model for all stakeholders not knowing what to do for a homeless situation.