Dignity Village in Portland, Oregon was founded by 8 homeless people. In 2001, city officials granted them rights to live on a selected plot without interference. Now with a population of about 60, the community has a village council, 24-hour security, and a website. deputydog calls it “the most organized shantytown on earth.” http://deputy-dog.com/2008/02/08/the-most-organised-shanty-town-on-earth/
Dignity Village in Portland, Oregon was founded by 8 homeless people. In 2001, city officials granted them rights to live on a selected plot without interference. Now with a population of about 60, the community has a village council, 24-hour security, and a website. deputydog calls it “the most organized shantytown on earth.” http://deputy-dog.com/2008/02/08/the-most-organised-shanty-town-on-earth/
Since the are a 501c3 non-profit, pay taxes, utilities and insurance, the IRS is already familiar with them. Thanks for paying attention.
If people here are genuinely curious, look into this place. Homelessness is not a disease, it is simply a matter of not having a home. Not every homeless person is a smelly drunk. And it's not just a matter of getting a job.
Some people in this society are unable to work, and the social safety net is full of holes. There needs to be more places that don't require residents to pay more than they can afford.
Having said that, people at Dignity Village work 10 hours a week for their stay there, some have outside jobs, and most only use it for a place to transition. They are able to get cleaned up, or get a job or whatever they weren't able to do sleeping in a shelter or on the sidewalk.
If you have issues with this camp, you haven't looked at the whole story. the only issue you need have is that more people don't donate to this place or create more of them.
If they're that good at organization, why can't they get a real place to live up and running?
60 people with 60 incomes would have a lot of buying power, if they put their minds to it.