Mission StatementMy name is Daniel Sartin, and today I am here to discuss creating and providing a community for homeless folks within Portland. This is something I am incredibly passionate about, because at one time in my life I was homeless. Some of the most difficult parts of that time of my life was reaching out for support. I mainly fought that battle alone; I had just started college and was working on top of that. It was just too much to handle. Battling an addiction on top of that. I think the situation humbled me, I think it is why I have become such a giver. I think that is something most people don’t realize, that if you sit and talk with homeless folks they are some of the most generous people I have ever met, because they understand what true hardship is.
My first goal is to find an abandoned building to renovate into a safe dwelling for folks. I would hope for it to be relatively centrally located for most people. I know that can bring up some concerns, but it is important to remember that houseless folks are still people. What I envision is a space for people to live on some kind of loose contract, where they are taking classes and getting support from the staff to eventually move out on their own. Once the shelter is completed, I want to bring in mental health, addiction, and job counselors to help people gain advocacy over their lives again. I want this to be a place for beginnings, where someone can stay as they work towards a more independent life. While this will be a space for people to live and eventually work, I also want to provide an open pantry, dining room, and kitchen for anyone off the streets to come in and use. I want to create a community, a place where people can go to feel safe, get a good meal, and maybe take the first step to gaining control of their lives again. This is a huge undertaking, of course, and something that I am new to. I am trying to get this idea off the ground. I have big dreams that I realize will take a while to fully form, but that doesn’t mean I am going to work for any less. Right now I am focusing on reaching out to other organizations that have a similar mission statement to my own to learn more from them. This is the first step in my overall plan. |