View this email in your browser  On Wednesday KOIN 6 News aired a town hall on homelessness where I sat down with city and county leaders, community members, and experts in the field to discuss solutions. I believe in the urgency and effectiveness of the housing-first model and also believe in saving the lives and reducing harm to homeless Portlanders. For those who are poor, disabled, or need some help to recover from an adversity, compassion means a permanent or temporary supportive affordable housing unit.Compassion also means better serving those stuck on waiting lists for that affordable housing, often waiting for years. Life on Portland’s housing waiting list while experiencing outdoor homelessness is brutal, needlessly deadly, and harmful. It does not have to be this way. Each and every one of us in the City of Portland are impacted by the homeless crisis which is why it continues to be my top priority. I encourage you to tune-in to the conversation below. Watch KOIN: The Unsheltered Truth: Searching for Solutions Part One Watch KOIN: The Unsheltered Truth: Searching for Solutions Part Two Watch KOIN: The Unsheltered Truth: Searching for Solutions Part Three While housing (both long-term and emergency shelter) was largely the focus of our discussion, we also dove into the heartbreaking issues of substance abuse, addiction, and mental/behavioral health.Synthetic drugs like fentanyl and P2P meth are devastating our community. Cities all across the State of Oregon are struggling to provide access to services to our most vulnerable. I will continue to plea with Oregon lawmakers to make mental and behavioral health program reform a top priority in next year’s state legislative session.This upcoming Tuesday, September 27th, 2022, at 4:30pm, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and I will lead a public Behavioral Health Dialogue with leaders at the City, County, and State level. You can livestream the event via ZOOM and you can submit questions for discussion through this link: Click here to view the Behavioral Health Dialogue Chair Kafoury and I held earlier this month.Portland—and all cities across America—are experiencing a housing and behavioral health crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic. I will continue to prioritize this issue with urgency and compassion.Sincerely,  Ted Copyright © 2022 City of Portland, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1221 SW 4th Ave. Portland, OR 97204 |
Solar panels?
I work for Solar Oregon, a local nonprofit working to expand solar energy in Oregon through education and advocacy. Our annual Go Zero Tour is coming up this October. Would you be interested in sharing this opportunity with your neighborhood?
The Go Zero Tour is an open-house tour of zero energy homes in Portland. Residential buildings account for almost a quarter of all energy usage in the state of Oregon, and zero energy home design is an important strategy in climate adaptation. On October 8th and 9th, attendees can move between homes around the city where they can learn about sustainable building and design practices, energy efficient home technologies, and residential solar systems. Our goal is to educate homeowners or potential home builders on how they can reach their zero energy goals in order to catalyze community-scale reductions in our carbon emissions.
I’ve attached our communications toolkit below. Feel free to use the promotional language and links provided to post on social media or send out in your newsletter.
We really appreciate you considering sharing this opportunity! Let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.
Best,
Grace
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Grace Hardy
Program Manager
C: 971-645-6795
Attachments area
Help SOLVE litter problem
 Take part in the upcomingDowntown Portland CleanupWednesday, September 28, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Sponsored by  |
| “Let’s welcome fall by giving Portland a clean slate!” |
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You’re invited to SOLVE’s Downtown Portland Cleanup, sponsored by The Standard and Swire Coca-Cola with additional support from the City of Portland and the Portland Lodging Alliance. Litter cleanup supplies and safety orientation will be provided by SOLVE. Feel free to bring your own reusable gloves, bags, and buckets if you’d like!Project locations include The Standard, The Benson, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and Providence Park. Check-in for these events begins at 9:00 AM. The events end at 11:00 AM.Join the grassroots effort to pick up Portland, one piece of litter at a time. Click on a location of your choice to sign up!September Downtown Cleanup DONATE! Stay Connected     SOLVE1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland, OR 97201 info@solveoregon.org solveoregon.org |
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Food insecurity
The weather is beautiful, fall is approaching, and my garden is giving me fresh produce for my table. Some folks aren’t as fortunate and have challenges purchasing fresh produce to feed their families. The need for fresh produce in our community is real, and our neighborhood can help fill the gap. Again, this summer, the East Columbia Neighborhood Association is running a Surplus Garden Produce food drive.
How it works: When your garden produces more than you can use, it can be collected and delivered to a bona fide food distribution charity. You grow and harvest it. We will pick up and deliver it. Over the past two years we have supplied food to the St. Johns Food Share, the St Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Dignity Village, and the Oregon Food Bank.
I’m gathering produce to make a donation in the near future. To donate contact Sally Beck 503-453-5864 or Gary Kunz 503-799-1803. We will pick it up from you, or you can bring it to us.
East Columbia Neighborhood Association 