Homeless Village

Yo Erik,

I found something unique here in Portland. There is a homeless community calling themselves, "Dignity Village."

I have not actually gone to the village, and just to note: the homeless population is high in the Portland area.

Anyways, Dignity Village seems interesting. First, they have thier own website, and all of you should check it out. Here is their open remarks:

"On December 16th of the year 2000, a group of eight homeless men and women pitched five tents on public land and Camp Dignity, later to become Dignity Village, was born. We came out of the doorways of Portland's streets, out from under the bridges, from under the bushes of public parks, we came openly with nothing and no longer a need to hide as Portland's inhumane and Draconian camping ban had just been overturned on two constitutional grounds. We came armed with a vision of a better future for ourselves and for all of Portland, a vision of a green, sustainable urban village where we can live in peace and improve not only the condition of our own lives but the quality of life in Portland in general. We came in from the cold of a December day and we refuse to go back to the way things were."

They also have a Poetry and Writings section and there is a white rastafarian dude named Jack Tafari that has some interesting stuff.

I'll have to visit one fine day. And give my own interpretation of the Homeless Village.

Later,

The Chris Man