Houselessness & Nature
Two Intertwine Summits ago, we began a coalition-wide conversation to understand the regional houselessness crisis, its impact on parks and conservation organizations’ work, and our role in healing the region. We launched a Houselessness & the Environment peer support space in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, which has been serving the region and beyond for 1.5 years.
Adding further complexity, a recent Supreme Court decision has created uncertainty about how cities will respond to houseless camps and what impact that will have on our greenspaces, our work environments, and our collective humanity.
So what now? Join this session to hear from peer support group participants about strategies & tools they have developed, discuss innovative policies and programs around the region, and discuss ways we can collaborate to avoid burnout while advancing policies that fix root causes.
Facilitator: Shilo George, Lush Kumtux Tumtum Consulting
Presenters:
- Jeremiah Hayden, Reporter, Street Roots, will brief us on the Supreme Court case Grants Pass v Johnson, its implications for the Portland-Vancouver region, and current challenges/opportunities in addressing the root causes of houselessness.
- Marlee Eckman, Volunteer Program Manager, Johnson Creek Watershed Council. Reflections on The Intertwine Alliance's peer support group for land & water stewards struggling with the houselessness crisis, and how institutions can better support their on-the-ground employees.
- Holly Thompson, Communication Director at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District. Case study: Safe Parking program, a public-nonprofit partnership providing safe parking for families sheltering in their cars.