Joining Together for Housing Justice
Collaborating for Change: How Street Books and Welcome Home Coalition are working to address the root causes of houselessness
Photo courtesy WHC
What does it take to make a difference? How do you achieve big, structural change? Street Books has been working for 15 years to bring the transformative power of books to individuals living outside, meeting folks where they are and cultivating meaningful relationships by showing up every week.
But our vision is even bigger: we are committed to a platform of systemic change, to address the root causes of houselessness. We believe that organizing for collective action is the best way to bring about the kind of change we really need. That’s why Street Books is a member of Welcome Home Coalition. WHC is an alliance of nearly 70 organizations and more than thirty individual members in the Portland Metro area that leverages our collective resources and knowledge to build a movement for everyone to have an affordable and stable home. Through a steering committee and monthly work groups, WHC strategizes actions and public policy priorities to advance a future of housing options that meet the real needs of people in our region.
Central to this vision of systemic change is the elimination of inequities based on race, class, and other historic barriers that have prevented entire communities from accessing stable and safe housing. In alignment with Street Books’ organizational equity statement, WHC’s movement for housing justice is committed to redressing harmful gentrification practices that continue to unfairly impact Black Portlanders.
WHC has already had some important wins since their beginnings in 2014. In addition to holding regular community education events, letter-writing campaigns, and advocacy work, WHC helped support two major bonds in 2016 and 2018 to increase affordable housing stock in the Portland region. As the coalition looks to the future, long term goals include ensuring that public investments prioritize long-term housing solutions, and challenging policies that employ fees and jail time as a response to unsheltered homelessness.
Want to learn more and find out how you can support WHC in working to advance housing justice in our region? Visit their website to see how you can get involved, or donate to WHC by clicking this link today!
Want to support the involvement of Street Books representatives in WHC? Click the button below to donate today and help build our collective power to secure housing for all Portlanders.
Street Books Welcomes Our Newest Team Members, Squier and Martha!
Street Books is thrilled to welcome two new faces to our wonderful crew: Street Librarian Squier Squier and Communications Coordinator Martha Daghlian. Click here to read a little more about Squier and Martha, and say hello if you see them on a Street Books shift around town!
Did You Know…
Street Books founder Laura Moulton in her element
Street Books has been showing up for folks who live outside and on the margins for 15 years! You can help us continue to be a resource for our community by becoming a monthly donor. As we celebrate 15 years of providing books and building community on the streets of Portland, we’re asking our friends to start a monthly, recurring donation or to consider a special gift to honor this milestone.
Regular, monthly donations provide steady income and help us throughout the year. Click the button below to set up your monthly donation now! If you have already become a monthly sustainer or made a special gift in honor of our 15th year of care, thank you. Consider increasing your monthly contribution and telling your friends about why you love Street Books. We can't do all we do without you. :) Thank you!
If you've already given to our campaign, thank you so much! If this is your first donation, welcome to the Street Books community–your support sustains all of us.