Having lived there myself for 4 years, I found Dignity Village to be a blessing. I can't speak for everyone that lives there as people come and go as they better there lives, and move on with it. I can speak from my own words, and feeling , I could of lived on the streets, with no shelter, in the rain, cold , and been wet, dirty, hungry, or Have a roof over my head, been dry, warm, and was able to shower , and have clean closes to wear everyday, What would you do? giving these opportunity. Not everyone is perfect, some need help, which isn't all ways available to people on the streets. People at the village help each other, some do fall back wards , but all you can do is help them forward again . I know as a rule , Controlling interest in a human life is a had task. You give the best , in hopes that with guidance they will change. I personally seen many homeless people come to dignity village and better there own lives. Its not an easy road , as some have said, but without the village many of the people who have changed there lives , may of not gotten the chance, that Dignity Village offers the homeless that come in off from the streets. Yes these are people that have had no place to go for the help they need to turn there own lives around . I am blessed Dignity Village was there for me when I need a place to go to.
I have worked here for 7 years as a macro MSW, supporting their self-governed, self-operated administration and as a professional researcher. This is the very first democratically operated village (intentional community) for unhoused people in the world, since 2000. The villagers are not only the elected board officers, they are the legal voting members of the incorporated 501c3. They literally created the Village Model and have been refining it ever since. Their democratic power is literal, rather than euphemistic as in the fauxvilles. Research study after research study vindicates us time and again as an ideal model for shelter. At Dignity, people find their strengths and abilities by being given lots of democratic leadership development opportunities. They often come to us in pretty rough shape with low self esteem, and yes some even addicted to drugs. But Dignity Village gives people a sense of pride, value, and purpose, a reason to hope and work toward a better life. Dignity Village helps people heal from the isolation of long term homelessness and re/grow social skills through bonding and navigating the complex social system that is a democratic village. We sometimes get blamed for the encampments a few blocks away, which we have no control over and were directed by police officers to go there to be left alone by police and to get into the City's SRV site. But inside our gates, we are the safest neighborhood in Portland. We operate like a very tight-knit small town.
There is more drugs (meth), theft, prosatution there than any were else in the Nortneast Portland and the city is doing nothing about it. I would like to get it cleaned up , By removing the board also the admin with certafied persons. johneasom@msn.com thank you very much
VatDignity 10/24/2024
I believe this person was referring to an encampment a few blocks away that was informally created by police officers directing people to camp there. This encampment no longer exists and Dignity Village remains one of the safest communities in Portland.
Review from Guidestar
I am a current member here at Dignity Village. I have lived here for almost 3 years now and if it weren't for the homeless encampment, I would have been on the streets here in Portland, Oregon. We are a self Goverened Community, membership ran, ran by the homeless community for the homeless citizens of our communities. I have held various positions during my stay here at the village. The following positions are: Office Manager, Secretary of the Board, Village Intake Committee (VIC): Secretary & current Chairman. The village houses 60 homeless individuals on a daily basis, we are self sufficient and self supporting. We give the homeless a safe place to call home and the ability to take the steps they need to become a productive citizen in our society. We have 3 micro business's currently operating to assist/support the village and the residents with job skills and experience, self confidence, etc. I could go on about how the vilage has inspired me, as a homeless citizen, to regain myself esteem within society I also have my own micro business at the Saturday Market, setting up about 12 venders there and I also employ a couple of the villagers. Without the villager's generosity,I wouldn't be where I am at now in life. Please feel fre to come and visit us at 9401 NE Sunderland Ave., Portland,Or. or www.dignityvillage.org