Would it be possible to identify properties within our local neighborhoods that could be purchased by agencies with the city’s help and, perhaps with some repairs, be turned into housing for the homeless?
Such was the challenge posed by Alison Stoll, executive director of the Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) coalition, to neighborhood association representatives on the CNN board of directors. BWNA’s representatives on the CNN board, Vice President Kathy Campbell and Secretary Barb Strunk, report that Director Stoll is looking to assemble a working group comprised of two residents from each of CNN’s nine coalition neighborhood associations to collaborate on “finding real and creative solutions to homelessness.” Members of the group would become educated about existing programs and strategies in Portland, what works and what doesn’t, read articles and investigate research, brainstorm ideas, arrive at recommendations, and then engage the press.
The date of the first meeting of the group is on Wednesday, March 21, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at the CNN meeting room, 4415 NE 87th Avenue, between Prescott Street and Sandy Boulevard. If interested in serving as one of BWNA’s two representatives, contact BWNA President Tim Hemstreet (president@bwna.us) no later than March 16. If you have questions about the project, phone CNN at 503-823-3156.