Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: I'm Alex Stone, former military service member and law enforcement officer, now CEO of Echelon Protected Services, one of the fastest growing private security firms on the west coast. And this is ride along, where our guests and I witness firsthand the issues affecting our community.
It I believe our proven method of enacting meaningful change through compassion and understanding is the best way to make our streets a safer place and truly achieve security through the community.
The people that we partnered with, like, might be like different people want to come in and video and even do, like, smaller commercials to what we're going by.
Look at this.
Here's a testimonial of someone that went through their program that actually did us at CHRCs.
And I think because on the street, it's all about building trust. And so having those little windows into someone's transformation process is going to help us a lot. So that's kind of what we do. Lace is really McCall, I call the street commander. He runs the streets, and I try to find money, so he might be better off explaining it.
[00:01:56] Speaker B: Well, Jason, I'd tell you our main goal, honestly, as a nonprofit, is to put ourselves out of business. That's what we want to do. We can put ourselves out of business. That means everybody on the streets getting everything they need. Now, we know that we are very far from that. What a cutie there.
But our goal is to meet people on where they're at on the street every single day. So we may contact the same tent, the same person 30 times in one week, and the first 29 times, they may not want any services. But that 30th time, and this has happened to me many times, that 30th time, they're like, hey, man, I can't be out here anymore. I got to get off the streets. I got to do something. And that's why we partnership with a lot of different people so that we're able to do that, whether it's a drug treatment program, mental health facility, a shelter, or even getting people short term housing. And we've gotten several. I got a guy back to New York with his family. He's now clean. He's off the streets. And so those are the things we're trying to help transform people's lives. We want them get them back to where they can function in society again and be happy with who they are. And if we could take a small part of that and plant a seed, that's all we're trying to do every day out here, man.
I call it a labor of love, and really, that's what it is. So that's kind of what we're doing every day now. We provide the temporary need as well. So we have an outreach center where we have clothing, shoes, sleeping bags, tents, food, where they can come and get the daily necessities every single day that they need. But the goal is obviously long term. That's the goal. And I'm sorry that my voice sounds so weird right now, but I'm losing it. So that's kind of where we're at, man. It's just been a passion. I started off, I was a mental health therapist on Emmanuel psych unit for four years. Did not like what was going on there. Went into law enforcement, was in law enforcement seven years. Could not help the people the way I wanted to help them in law enforcement. I thought law enforcement should be more community based, and it wasn't. And so I ended up with Alex and Reed, and we developed this beautiful partnership with the community down here. I know 90% of the people on the streets, which right now, if you look in the background, we are down here in what they call the pit. It's off of NATO, where I've developed relationships with every single person down here. And they know me by first and last name. And we come down here, we're providing today, we're just providing the daily necessities for them, what they need. So this isn't just about giving people something. It's about giving them hope.
[00:04:26] Speaker C: Thank you so much, Alex and Spencer.
I just want to commend you ahead of time. I'm not sure how this ordinance is going to roll out, but I would imagine that if it gets passed this morning, that you're going to have a lot more work to do. And I'm so happy that you do have trusting existing relationships within the community, because hopefully you'll be able to interrupt or at least heal instead of retraumatized. So thank you so much for all the work that you have done and are doing.
I'm curious to know what Jason's thinking right now, but we have just opened. Maybe, Jason, if you could provide an update on how the shelter is opening, what the plan is for your bridge programming, and then maybe comment on what you've heard thus far.
[00:05:12] Speaker D: Yeah, I like what I've heard. So I'll start there. I'll unpack that part first. I like what I heard. I like the mission that you all are on and doing every day. Frontline workers don't get enough credit for the stuff they go through touch bases on.
I love the community partnerships you already have built I would like to add to that, however, with a caveat. We are brand new. I have 56 people on a waitlist for 33 beds, so it's already starting in the hole. When we open up our bridge housing, most of the Parkinson's will be coming from the third floor referred up to the fourth, and then we'll start transitioning space.
We started at a five person a week transition, and I found out that wasn't working. When people missed, then five more people had to wait a week. So I've now transitioned to three intakes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So we can get nine in a week with the hopes of being, by July 1, ready to move a good portion upstairs. Some will be going up. I would like to move more than probably possible to open up more spaces, but again, I got to touch back up on that. There's 56 people on a waitlist for 33 beds already. So we started behind the eight ball on this one. But I think over time, as it starts to mellow out and people either show up for intakes or don't show up, that number will drop significantly. And then when we move into the full entourage of all beds are full, 52 beds are full. As people start to transition out day by day, we'll start doing daily intakes, and I think that's where this would come in. I think that the phone call saying, hey, I got this person and they need a bed today. I think that transition will be easier versus what I'm working with right now and taking all referrals for the most part, 95% of the referrals from the day center.
So that's kind of where we're at. This is week three, four working on week four of being open. So it's still transitioning. We're still getting everyone together. I just held my first community meeting today with 14 participants we have on the third floor, and getting them all aligned, like, hey, we're coming up on that mid mark of the 30 days, and I'd really like to promote you guys to move up. Here's what we need.
[00:07:38] Speaker A: Awesome.
[00:07:39] Speaker D: Coming together as a team, not just with staff, but with the community that we serve, to let them know we're here for them, we're here to support them. We want them to succeed so they can go that 90 day program, and then we get some more folks in the 30 day. That's our goals. We hope to reach them. And I strive really hard.
I got a hard head when it comes to this stuff. I've been doing it since 2017 in recovery, and now, I'm a mental health and addiction specialist, so I strive every day to continue the work that you gentlemen are doing on the front line out there indoors.
[00:08:12] Speaker A: That's amazing.
[00:08:13] Speaker B: Well, we're here to support you in any which way we can, regardless one way or the other. We're just here to support.
We're going to volunteer our time at least 4 hours a week to come in and do what we can inside to be able to help you guys and help you guys moving forward. So we appreciate the opportunity to work with you guys.
[00:08:34] Speaker D: I do have one question, and I could be mistaken, but are you all veteran centered veterans?
Yeah. Like veteran centric? Is that your scope of work?
[00:08:46] Speaker A: Well, I am a veteran, and I was homeless as a child and an adult after I discharged from the military. And so, yes, I would definitely say we're veteran centric for sure.
Cool.
[00:09:01] Speaker D: So I'll check on that. Because duvin willnoma, we are a veteran centric program and an organization. One of the things I'll throw out there, and I could probably connect you with the program manager at our Y East men's shelter, because if you have a veteran population, their congregate is specific for male identifying veterans. And they have more opportunities than anywhere, I think, in the Portland region for veterans. So I think that'd be good to touch bases there so I can at least get your foot in the door.
[00:09:33] Speaker A: Awesome.
[00:09:34] Speaker D: To that congregate. Because that one has 80 beds.
[00:09:36] Speaker A: That would be legit. We would love that.
[00:09:38] Speaker D: So I'll set that up with Scott. I'll reach out to him today.
[00:09:42] Speaker A: Awesome.
[00:09:42] Speaker D: And you're also more than welcome to stop by old parole and probation building on 122nd, right off market. I believe in between Stark and division. Right hand side. If you're going towards division, more than welcome to go to the door and be like, this is who we are.
[00:09:58] Speaker A: Awesome. Okay. Yeah, we'll do that. We'll go introduce ourselves for sure.
[00:10:05] Speaker C: I have more or less comment. I know that Spencer had mentioned coming to the BHRC and doing volunteer hours at the BHRC. I need to provide an update. So we have a new senior director down at the day center. And we're also transitioning, like, on site services over to Mhao. So one thing that we want to do is we want to get you introduced to new day center director and then make sure that they're aware of when you're going to come on site. And then we also want you to be aware of our queuing process. So we'll send you some information and make some connections. After this, I failed to mention to Jason that Spencer and Alex had already offered to kind of come down to the day center and connect with people and start having a presence and then making those connections, which I highly encourage to continue.
And then one thing that I was going to mention was, Jason, thank you for telling us about how many folks that are on the waiting list.
What is the most appropriate referral as of right now, recognizing said long term plan? Would you suggest self referral, warm handoff to the day center? Day center through up? Or is there another process that you have for external provider?
[00:11:22] Speaker D: I don't have an SoP for external right now.
Ideally we can shoot my email in the chat box.
I can get back to emails Monday through Friday for external. I don't have a bill to yet. We're still doing internal from the day center. And until I've completed that task, I'm going to always fall back to that process of getting them in the Q in having to meet with the peer support downstairs and then getting referred up to me.
[00:11:58] Speaker C: Definitely.
[00:11:59] Speaker D: But I'm also always all for the email. Like you can shoot me an email straight across, I'll throw my email in the chat box.
[00:12:06] Speaker A: Perfect.
[00:12:07] Speaker D: And if I can do something, I'll do something. If I'm not skipping people over or being unequitable with the decision, it will be based case by case scenario.
I hate to see people out there and if I can wiggle someone in on a fly, I will do my best to accommodate all parties.
[00:12:26] Speaker A: Nice.
[00:12:29] Speaker B: Sounds great. Sounds great. And Desmond, I filled out all that paperwork too, so hopefully you got that that you sent me.
[00:12:38] Speaker D: This is wonderful.
[00:12:39] Speaker C: This is wonderful.
So we usually have this meeting monthly and it's in person at VHRC. So Jason, I'm going to keep you on the invite just in case so we can run into each other intentionally next week, I mean next month if we don't run into each other sooner. Okay, totally optional. I would love for us to continue the conversation about how we can collaborate. So let's continue to make sure that we're sharing information in between time and I think we can go from there. Are there any specific requests from this group right now or any specific support that loving one another needs from BHRC or vice versa that we can think of?
[00:13:21] Speaker B: Not that I could think of right now, but going forward, we'll probably have some more of those questions and stuff as we get together and do some more volunteer work.
[00:13:32] Speaker C: So I'll definitely get you connected to the new day center director and then get you aware. Spencer and Alex, if you ever plan to just float down there, send me Demon and demon a ping and then we'll meet you down there too. If you're ever like your 4 hours a week, we're down there periodically too. We can expedite the then, you know, Jason left his email in the chat so let's make sure to utilize that and we'll just refer to the Jasoner right now and then we'll go from there.
And I'd also love to continue to figure out how loving one another can intersect in the other elements of the BHRC. We do not have an outreach team right now and that's one of the action items that I'm hoping to be able to work with, folks. We have a good neighborhood agreement. We want to be able to adhere to that. And you have experience of direct, like, like Jason said, we're like in the office and we're trying to accomplish the same, but we're here and you're out on the street. So we would love you to collaborate with you and utilize your expertise and figure out how we're going to solve this.
Serve our people, not solve it because we're not going to solve it.
[00:14:45] Speaker B: Yeah, we can make it.
[00:14:48] Speaker C: Cool beans.
[00:14:48] Speaker B: We can make it dent. We can make it dent though.
[00:14:50] Speaker A: Yeah, we love it.
[00:14:51] Speaker C: Yeah, we can. Right?
Moving mountains inch by inch.
Well, this is a shorter meeting, but I'm hoping everybody is okay with that because I'm pretty sure that all of us got things to do. One thing that Spencer did mention Jason in a phone call on Alex and Demon is in the future, I would love to figure out how we can market this partnership as we figure out what that looks like. So in what ways can we utilize that? And then we can use the media and all the scrutiny and all that. How can we manage that together and paint this new picture of the real work that we're doing right now. So we'll put a pin in it and continue it and we'll see each other next month, if not sooner.
[00:15:33] Speaker B: Okay. Okay, sounds great. Thank you.
[00:15:36] Speaker A: Nice meeting Jason.
Okay, let's go to work.
[00:15:42] Speaker B: There we go.
[00:15:44] Speaker A: That was awesome.
[00:15:45] Speaker B: Have you heard of the walk? We were doing a walk of when they were first doing it and I don't know if they just had people that were going through with the city that were just trying to complain.
[00:15:58] Speaker A: That's really good. We're really close.
[00:16:00] Speaker B: If this works the way that was.
[00:16:02] Speaker A: Good, what do you think about that?
[00:16:03] Speaker B: That's good. No, it's really, really good getting connected with Jason, too.
[00:16:06] Speaker A: I think two or three months, we're going to have beds there.
[00:16:09] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:16:09] Speaker A: Yeah. Because if they only have. They have 33 beds and they got 56 people on the waitlist, a lot.
[00:16:15] Speaker B: Of those people are going to fall.
[00:16:15] Speaker A: Off and they're going to burn through. They're going to burn through that quick. And people don't usually go more than ten blocks anyways, so they're going to burn through that real quick. I think two months, maybe.
[00:16:25] Speaker B: I'm going to pass out some water and stuff.
[00:16:27] Speaker A: Yeah, we got some food. Let's go.
[00:16:29] Speaker B: Let me grab my grab and stuff real quick.
[00:16:31] Speaker A: All right. You want to grab some water?
So I know y'all are off camera, but there's some off camera folks here today, news people and professionals in their fields, and a lot of stuff is going on right now. So, like in Portland, there's a serial killer on the list. One of the victims actually used to be a prostitute here in old town. Her body was dumped park along ways away. You probably know about that. We know things like this because we're connected. We go to these meetings and we get this information. And so a lot of what we're doing here is we're gathering information as well. So you're doing outreach. Right. But there's a lot of important things that people need to know that usually comes through relationship. You need a water, bro?
All right.
[00:17:21] Speaker E: Checking it out.
[00:17:22] Speaker B: All right. How are you doing?
[00:17:23] Speaker A: Good.
[00:17:24] Speaker B: Well.
[00:17:28] Speaker A: Anytime, bro.
[00:17:29] Speaker B: People in the pit down here are watermelon. Cool pit.
[00:17:39] Speaker A: You got? Yeah. You got a lunchable, though?
Oh, you already hook you up? They hook you up already?
Hey, jay, she needs the water.
[00:17:50] Speaker E: That's what's up. Here you go. You want a couple of them? Yeah.
[00:17:55] Speaker A: There you go.
Hey, anybody home?
We got some food and water for you.
[00:18:04] Speaker E: Take one more.
[00:18:05] Speaker A: There you go.
Spencer, you want to do a circle? What do you want to do?
[00:18:09] Speaker E: Hey, bro, you want some water?
[00:18:11] Speaker A: Oh, nice.
[00:18:13] Speaker B: So this, you want some water back here? Yeah, this is a little bit, like, rougher area. All right, let me go back, talk to these cats real quick. Give us some stuff.
[00:18:20] Speaker A: Go do your thing, homie. Go to your thing. That's a no go zone. That's a no go zone. We should not go back there.
[00:18:27] Speaker E: There you go.
[00:18:29] Speaker A: He's going to spend five minutes back there. But if they see cameras, chicken get crazy.
Remember these old school lunchables?
[00:18:38] Speaker C: Yeah. You got a couple more?
[00:18:39] Speaker A: Yeah. Hey, you all need to get into a shelter?
[00:18:42] Speaker C: No.
[00:18:45] Speaker A: All right. Anyone fucking with you all? No one's coming and fucking with you. All right.
[00:18:48] Speaker C: No, we all fuck with each other, and we're all good with it.
[00:18:51] Speaker A: All right. If anyone's fucking with you all, you all let us know.
[00:18:55] Speaker E: Go this way?
[00:18:58] Speaker A: Yeah, let's go. He's back in there?
Yeah. That's a no go zone. That's a special area because it's more hidden. So that's where people that are going.
[00:19:09] Speaker E: To have relations and such.
[00:19:13] Speaker A: You know what I'm saying? You feel me?
[00:19:15] Speaker E: Okay, so what are we doing to try to clean this up?
[00:19:17] Speaker A: Nothing cannot be cleaned. This is going to be a skate park. The money has been allocated prosper. Portland, you probably already know about is already. They already slotted this for a skate park five or six years ago. The money is basically in private. It's a private public partnership, but it's really unmanageable. I don't even know who owns this.
I don't know if it's OdoT, pbot, if it's city property and not part of the Bureau of Transportation. I have no idea, to be honest. These on ramps have been closed for. Gosh, I have no idea.
[00:19:55] Speaker F: There was a guy in there. It was burned out.
[00:19:58] Speaker A: All that.
[00:19:58] Speaker C: That was an enclosed space. And the fire department.
[00:20:02] Speaker A: When was that?
Yeah, it's been closed for.
This street will be randomly open and closed.
[00:20:15] Speaker E: Okay.
[00:20:17] Speaker A: So today our guest is.
We'll go by JJ. We'll go by JJ. JJ is from that life. So he was in the criminal lifestyle and enforcer for a very well known larger organization.
Yeah, we got you, cuz. We got you.
We got you, cuz. Don't worry.
[00:20:52] Speaker B: Now, if you.
If you all decide that you want to go into. Get inside, get off the streets.
[00:21:01] Speaker F: I have disability.
[00:21:05] Speaker A: Okay?
[00:21:07] Speaker B: Are you on SSI. Disability or anything? Okay.
[00:21:09] Speaker A: You are.
[00:21:10] Speaker B: Have you ever wanted to just get off the streets?
[00:21:11] Speaker A: You need some food in there?
[00:21:13] Speaker B: Oh, you are?
[00:21:15] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:21:16] Speaker B: How long?
[00:21:17] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what's up. Kim folk, you want to get into a shelter?
I mean, okay. I ain't talking about program, bro. I'm just talking about getting you into a shelter, bro. I ain't trying to control your life.
[00:21:32] Speaker B: We don't care about felonies.
[00:21:34] Speaker A: All right.
Do you mind giving some information?
All right, what's up? So where. Where do you. Where can you get into? Do you have any felonies? Right?
Are they persons crimes or are they just like, bullshit like drugs, drugs and shit like that? All right.
Yeah. You want to call Tiffany? All right, we're going to start looking for a shelter right now. If we find you something, would you be willing to go today? Okay.
Yeah.
[00:22:19] Speaker B: Because I haven't seen you down here that often.
[00:22:21] Speaker A: All right, we'll work on it. What's your name? Dwight. All right, I'm Alex. Nice to meet you. We're going to be walking around. We're going to come back as soon as we have information. Okay.
So Dwight, 50 year old.
[00:22:32] Speaker E: Sorry, guy named Dwight, 50 year old.
[00:22:34] Speaker A: Hey, y'all get a meal.
[00:22:36] Speaker E: He's not.
[00:22:37] Speaker A: You hungry? Yeah, it's lunchable, man. It's the best.
[00:22:41] Speaker E: No worries.
[00:22:43] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:22:47] Speaker B: So we need to look at why it's taking so long while you're on that list. Yeah, we need to look at that.
[00:22:52] Speaker E: What did you say, brother?
[00:22:53] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure, man.
[00:22:55] Speaker A: I'm to going go get some more food. I'll be back. I'm going to get some food.
I didn't.
[00:23:00] Speaker E: Not yet, because we went ahead and came out here on this podcast.
You need a couple more though.
Yeah. Okay. So Dwight, what's the last name though? He says that he's not addicted to any drugs. Six years, ready to get into a spot. He's sitting in the tent right now.
That's what he's saying. You're not on no drugs, right?
[00:23:25] Speaker A: Okay, cool.
[00:23:26] Speaker B: Yeah, that's what he said.
[00:23:29] Speaker E: Yeah, that's what he's saying.
Yeah, hold on, real quick.
[00:23:37] Speaker A: Here you go, doc, across the street.
[00:23:39] Speaker E: Talk to her real quick on speak.
[00:23:40] Speaker A: They have like sheltering, not really services, but they do a lot of you can leave your stuff there. So some sheltering, storage for supplies and then showers. They'll do shower facilities, bathrooms. So this is usually why this area that is on the street they call the pit. Yes, it's so packed. It's because there's so much going on across the street over here. Get that real quick.
That's why this area is usually as packed as it is there.
[00:24:08] Speaker B: You'll be talking. I'll be seeing you tomorrow. Okay. And by home, come back, talk to you tomorrow. See why you've been on that list for so long. Okay.
[00:24:22] Speaker E: How long you been on the list for?
[00:24:25] Speaker B: Six years.
[00:24:26] Speaker E: Are you shitting me?
[00:24:27] Speaker B: No. Six years.
[00:24:31] Speaker E: Hey brother, they've had you on a.
[00:24:32] Speaker B: List for six years.
[00:24:34] Speaker E: What's the point of the list, right?
[00:24:36] Speaker B: What? Candy bar.
Hey, Spencer, you home?
We don't want to talk right now.
[00:24:49] Speaker A: Anybody here? We got some food in water.
[00:24:52] Speaker E: That's the hard part.
[00:25:00] Speaker A: I know, right? It is the bump.
[00:25:03] Speaker B: Just making sure you eat them before they melt.
[00:25:06] Speaker A: He's out, he's breathing, but he's out. This dude over here.
[00:25:11] Speaker B: Who is it?
[00:25:11] Speaker A: I don't know. I didn't recognize him. You recognize him?
Say, bro, you good?
Just got food and water, man. We're just checking in on you, man.
[00:25:22] Speaker B: You want some kit?
[00:25:23] Speaker A: Here?
[00:25:27] Speaker B: Some water, too? Water, brother.
[00:25:29] Speaker A: And here's a lunchable, right?
[00:25:31] Speaker B: Hey, man.
[00:25:39] Speaker A: It.
[00:25:39] Speaker B: Yeah, I just live over there, man.
[00:25:40] Speaker A: You get a call, please, too.
[00:25:42] Speaker B: Are you going to come down and get some clothes later?
[00:25:45] Speaker A: You hungry, man?
[00:25:46] Speaker B: You want shorts, no t shirt?
[00:25:48] Speaker A: You got food already. All right. You need a water, man?
[00:25:50] Speaker B: That's new. Yeah, that's legit.
Clean that up. That's worth some money right there.
[00:25:58] Speaker A: Why are you on the streets, man?
Doing your thing? Yeah, you don't want to get into a shelter or nothing like that? They put me here. Protected custody. Oh, for real? Yeah. Are you on paper? You just got out? Yeah, man. Yeah. You're good? These people came here today. They're part of, like, a new.
My name is Alex, man. Nice to meet you. You good? There's a candy bar in there. Are you sure?
Old school. Lunchable, man.
[00:26:27] Speaker B: It's the best I got. Center, low first.
[00:26:30] Speaker A: And cooch, hungry.
[00:26:31] Speaker B: So we have a resource center.
What size are you?
[00:26:35] Speaker A: How are you all doing tonight?
I'm Alex.
You all okay? You all don't need nothing else?
[00:26:41] Speaker B: I get clothes, get shoes, whatever you need.
[00:26:43] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:26:43] Speaker B: We got water.
[00:26:44] Speaker A: Are you sure, spencer?
[00:26:46] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:26:49] Speaker A: Tents? We ain't got no tents, homie.
[00:26:51] Speaker B: I do. I got one.
[00:26:52] Speaker A: Oh, there you go. Chocolate bars, man.
[00:26:54] Speaker B: How you doing, bro?
[00:26:55] Speaker A: Chocolate. Chocolate's the best.
[00:26:57] Speaker B: Doing all right. You need a tent?
You can follow me back to my truck in a minute. You want water?
[00:27:03] Speaker A: You had a lunchable brother? All right, Ken folk. Hey, we got you. We got you. Don't call me sir, bro.
[00:27:09] Speaker B: Where are you staying at now?
[00:27:11] Speaker A: Nice to meet you.
[00:27:13] Speaker B: All right, which one over here? Oh, that one right there.
[00:27:17] Speaker A: So I know that you're not on camera, so we got someone off camera that has a specialty in the field of mental health. And so, as we talk about this, usually when you go out and you do a one hit like this, you have, like, an 85% to 90% resistance.
[00:27:30] Speaker B: Rate to sheltering or by lucky in that.
[00:27:34] Speaker A: But usually within a seven day period.
[00:27:36] Speaker B: You know, if lucky's home or no.
[00:27:38] Speaker A: Everyone wants to be somewhere or in a shelter at least twice during that seven day period. So if you're doing this every day, you have 100% rate. You just have to be doing this every day. You have to make these contacts every single day. Does that make sense? So I'm being asked, what changes for them? What makes that dynamic change? It's the level of desperation. They either got robbed, something happened, they're usually a victim of a crime. People that are houseless are three, four, five times more likely to be victims of crimes, and they're usually likely to go unanswered. And also, no one's notifying the law enforcement about it. Right. Unfortunately, people on the streets just being homeless causes PTSD. So there's always going to be a mental health piece, short term or long term, or some psychosis due to drug induced psychosis. Well, he knows more about than I do, but you add all that together, basically, we're waiting to find people at their end of the rope. We're waiting to find people saying, hey, I'm ready. I know I've known you all for two, three years, but today, let's do this.
[00:28:38] Speaker B: Well, and, you know, until they're ready, it doesn't matter. We can come by and provide them the daily basics every day, which is what we'll do. Until they're ready to make that commitment. All we can do is plant a seed.
[00:28:50] Speaker A: That's it?
[00:28:51] Speaker B: That's all we can do?
[00:28:52] Speaker A: Yeah, we made ten solid contacts. We got one dude over here. His street name is Dwight. He wants to get into a shelter. You make ten contacts, you get one into a shelter. That's how it works.
The current model right now is the field of Dreams model. This is what the city and the county built. If you build it, they will come. So they want these people to pack up. They want them to abandon their tents, they're going to get robbed, go steal a shopping cart, come back, pack up their stuff in a stolen shopping cart, push it an hour in the rain or in the sun, wait for four or 5 hours in a line somewhere to be told, yeah, you're on a waitlist, and that don't work. You got to go buy the tent every day, and then when they're ready, then they're ready.
[00:29:32] Speaker B: How you doing? What's your name?
[00:29:34] Speaker A: I call it the field of Dreams model.
If you build it, they will come. Why are we making these people walk across town to wait outside an office building?
Now, we were just on the phone with the BHrC behavioral health. So it takes partnerships, it takes the street work.
[00:29:48] Speaker B: You want to go back to Florida?
[00:29:49] Speaker A: Along with the partnerships with the people that have the actual housing and sheltering facilities. Let's do this.
[00:29:54] Speaker B: You what?
[00:29:55] Speaker E: Sorry about that. So what happened over there? Yeah, he got offered four different locations and turned them all down.
[00:30:05] Speaker A: He got turned down?
[00:30:06] Speaker E: No, he turned them down.
[00:30:08] Speaker A: Do I did why?
City team.
[00:30:10] Speaker E: He turned that one, man. Can't do that one.
We're trying to tell them, hey, they cleaned them up, this and that. They don't care. They say they're shit. They don't want to be in them.
[00:30:19] Speaker A: Which ones are you talking about?
[00:30:21] Speaker E: There was three or four different ones. I know city team was one. I don't want to be putting names.
[00:30:25] Speaker A: Out there like, okay, city team is.
[00:30:27] Speaker E: A great program, but he was making excuses, man.
[00:30:30] Speaker D: He wasn't serious.
[00:30:30] Speaker A: You don't think he's serious?
[00:30:31] Speaker E: He wasn't serious, man.
[00:30:33] Speaker A: So we gave him three options. We had three open beds. We gave three open bed options, and they eventually said what he said was.
[00:30:41] Speaker E: He wanted his Social Security to be approved so he can get his own apartment.
[00:30:44] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:44] Speaker E: And that seems to be what everybody.
[00:30:46] Speaker A: Wants, housing first, which is a good model, but when there's no housing, you have to bridge.
[00:30:52] Speaker E: Yeah, I guess.
[00:30:54] Speaker A: Let's roll. Yeah, have a good day.
[00:31:03] Speaker E: Oh, snap.
[00:31:04] Speaker A: We got a little.
[00:31:16] Speaker E: I told Tiffany, I was like, there comes a point where you got to just be honest with them and be like, man, you're bullshitting.
[00:31:22] Speaker A: Yeah, and they appreciate that. Honesty is appreciated on the streets. This isn't politics, where it's not appreciated.
What else? Vince, what's up?
[00:31:34] Speaker B: Sorry, I'm wandering around.
[00:31:35] Speaker A: No, you're good.
[00:31:36] Speaker B: I'm not good at this.
As far as what?
[00:31:39] Speaker A: You're great at this, bro.
[00:31:41] Speaker B: What are we doing?
[00:31:42] Speaker A: I don't know. It looks like we're done here. We pretty much go.
[00:31:44] Speaker B: You want to go someplace else?
[00:31:46] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:31:46] Speaker B: I'm thinking we could just go walk. You just want to go up and walk?
[00:31:50] Speaker A: You all good with that? Yeah, let's go.
[00:31:53] Speaker B: How you doing, my man? What's going on, brother? How you doing, bro? Good to see you, man.
[00:31:59] Speaker A: Good to see you, bro.
[00:31:59] Speaker E: What's up, man? JJ.
[00:32:00] Speaker F: How are you guys?
[00:32:01] Speaker A: All right.
[00:32:01] Speaker E: Nice to see you guys.
[00:32:02] Speaker A: You look good, man.
[00:32:04] Speaker E: Fresh and clean, too, bro.
[00:32:07] Speaker F: Process. Almost ten months now, and I still ain't got a housing.
[00:32:10] Speaker B: They still have housing. Ten months?
[00:32:12] Speaker A: That's fucked up.
[00:32:12] Speaker B: Ten months.
[00:32:13] Speaker F: If I wore a skirt, I might be able to get housing, but I don't wear skirts.
[00:32:17] Speaker B: You could. I can get you one of those scottish ones, right?
[00:32:21] Speaker C: You would be.
[00:32:23] Speaker A: Get him a utility kill.
[00:32:24] Speaker B: You would be.
[00:32:26] Speaker F: I'm just going to transfer to. All good. But then they said, you have to start over. I'm like, man, I can't start over.
[00:32:30] Speaker A: No, you got to stay in one.
[00:32:31] Speaker B: Program, work the program is, you know that we do the nonprofit thing, right?
[00:32:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:35] Speaker B: So we're just trying to figure out. We're just trying to talk to people. And I was wondering, since you just pulled up, man, it's kind of like godsend. Would you be willing to talk about your story a little bit? You good? Okay. He's a great one to talk about, man.
[00:32:47] Speaker A: All right.
Hey, so we just rolled up with red dog here. We're going to talk to him a little bit, kind of figure out what his life's about, how he ended up on the streets, and just how his life is going right now. Red.
[00:32:59] Speaker F: My name is Red Dog, and I'm from Watts, California, Crenshaw High School 87. I came out here after my wife for 15 years got in an accident. Her and my son were killed.
[00:33:15] Speaker A: You got it. You got it.
[00:33:17] Speaker F: So I came out here to do damage control. Been the addict most of my life. Been clean now for a while.
It's so hard every day.
There's a lot of things out here for the homeless, clothing, food.
They ain't going nowhere, man. But they got to do something besides letting everybody just stay out because people are dying every day. The fentanyl is killing everybody. I lost over ten friends this year. It's hardcore.
I stay out here on the streets, but I stay in a shelter. They're taking their sweet time to give me housing. Most of the homeless people don't want housing. They're going to do whatever they do, do drugs, get high, and mess it up for everybody.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: How long have you been in the shelter?
[00:33:58] Speaker F: I've been in shelter for ten and a half months.
[00:33:59] Speaker A: Ten and a half months. And so there's been no opportunity to get into housing. That's their job.
[00:34:03] Speaker F: Basically, the only housing they offer me is the motel, and I don't want the motel because there is no visitor. You can't do nothing. And I've already been locked up, so I'm not going back to San Quentin. So that's just like a prison for me.
[00:34:14] Speaker A: No conjugal visits in the shelter, right?
[00:34:16] Speaker F: Nothing.
[00:34:16] Speaker A: So you're sleeping at the shelter at night. You got a day camp here to chill during the day, right? Because there's shit that you got to do. You got to be able to meet with me, have a lady and have a girlfriend.
[00:34:26] Speaker F: You don't want to sit in the shelter all day because it means nothing there.
[00:34:30] Speaker A: Yeah. Had they helped you get into any type of work program?
[00:34:33] Speaker B: Nothing.
[00:34:36] Speaker F: If I don't get up and do it, myself and try to find it. It just don't get done.
[00:34:40] Speaker A: So what's the point of the shelter if they're not pointing you and giving you direction into getting into different programs, right?
[00:34:46] Speaker F: I don't know. I actually don't know that part. I mean they did help me get my birth certificate, all that stuff and appreciate that, but food, housing, even communicating is very poor level.
[00:35:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
So you're clean now? Yes. How long you been clean for?
[00:35:04] Speaker F: About 62 days.
[00:35:06] Speaker A: Oh, that's legitimate. Good job.
[00:35:09] Speaker F: Smoke trees every day.
[00:35:10] Speaker A: Yeah, well that's legal here.
[00:35:13] Speaker F: 420 baby.
[00:35:14] Speaker E: So you know, that's what's up.
Really?
[00:35:16] Speaker A: For real? Yeah.
[00:35:17] Speaker F: 420, 69.
[00:35:19] Speaker A: So you're talking about different criminal organizations. How do criminal organizations, street gangs, how do they make it difficult for the homeless? What's the number one barrier?
[00:35:28] Speaker F: They don't make it really difficult too much for the homeless because they're just buying all the drugs.
[00:35:32] Speaker A: So those are their clients?
[00:35:34] Speaker F: Yeah, basically.
[00:35:36] Speaker A: How are they paying for those drugs?
[00:35:37] Speaker F: Well, they got different hustles. Most of them get some kind of Social Security or pick up trash for the ground. What is it? Ground score. You pick up trash, get paid daily. So you're still ways bottles, cans and all that stuff. Bottles and cans take away stolen merchandise to people that will pay for it. Like the buffalo exchange, stuff like that.
[00:35:58] Speaker A: Yeah. I got a question.
[00:36:00] Speaker F: Me, I don't do all that steal from the corporation or nothing like that.
[00:36:03] Speaker E: I have a question, bro. So if somebody came through and they're like hey, let's try to find what's your passion? What do you think you could be good at? Or what's your work history? No one's ever come through like that.
[00:36:13] Speaker F: And try to help what I do for a living. My last job was working for the Martinez Raj. I'm a gangster cowboy. I work on a damn black Agnes form.
Okay.
Nobody even asked.
[00:36:24] Speaker A: So you're straight, Yellowstone?
[00:36:26] Speaker F: Yeah, but I'm also from West California. I'm an old bounty hunter, blood, you feel me? But I haven't gang bank since five. I lost my rug because they didn't do nothing for me inside years. My wife's from Cinderloo, Mexico. And when I lost them in Medford in the lake of the wood accident, I just went kind of crazy. Yeah, that's what's had to sell my house because bank owned it. She was the majority of the cash.
[00:36:49] Speaker A: So what's next for you? How are you going to next for.
[00:36:52] Speaker F: Me is the housing because I got three sons that are under twelve years old that still need their dad?
[00:36:55] Speaker A: Yeah. How are you going to get into housing? Have you met with anybody who is there to meet with?
[00:36:59] Speaker F: Not one person.
[00:37:01] Speaker E: But if you could get on the.
[00:37:02] Speaker F: Waiting list for HUD and section eight and on the waiting list for some Hollywood apartments, but I ain't never seen it. Never talked to nobody that has the apartments.
[00:37:13] Speaker E: What about cowboying again? You two out of shape?
[00:37:15] Speaker F: I'm still in shape, man. I'm 54.
There ain't too many ranchers out here in downtown Portland.
[00:37:21] Speaker E: Well, I'm saying. But if somebody. You know what I'm saying?
Because I'm idealistic in the sense that I'm like, if you have the chance to do something you love, that you're going to be like, let's do it.
I feel like the problem is that's not coming to you. You know what I'm saying? It's other things.
[00:37:36] Speaker F: You can't wait for it to come to you anyway. You got to go get it. You got to get off your butt and get it.
[00:37:41] Speaker E: Yeah, because that's what I'm like. You know what I'm saying? What if you had the opportunity do something you love? Would that change?
[00:37:46] Speaker F: Improve my life? I mean, get off the streets and do something? Well, I'll be up there 100%.
[00:37:52] Speaker E: Yeah, I feel like that's not.
[00:37:54] Speaker F: I'm like a working Mexican. I'll give 100% no matter what.
Spanish, too.
[00:37:59] Speaker E: Oh, no shit. All right.
[00:38:00] Speaker F: Like I said, my wife's from son in law.
[00:38:01] Speaker E: That's what's up. Yeah, well, I'm from Houston. Houston, yeah. Born and know. So, no, I was just asking, man, because that's what I feel like. A lot of different people that I run into on the streets, they say consistently, like, man, no one's ever asked me about a job.
And so they get caught in this spiral, give you a job when they.
[00:38:20] Speaker F: Want you to hustle on the street and go back and get locked up.
[00:38:25] Speaker E: I know people did. They think differently, bro. They want to help people speak up.
[00:38:29] Speaker F: Yeah, I speak up always for the street people out here. I protect the women and shit. They get raped, but you can't protect them all because some of the women like it, and they're used to it, and they go back to it.
[00:38:38] Speaker E: Really?
[00:38:38] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:38:39] Speaker E: That sounds horrible.
[00:38:40] Speaker F: It is horrible. It's hard out here for the women.
[00:38:41] Speaker B: Trust me.
[00:38:42] Speaker E: Damn.
[00:38:43] Speaker A: I got a question for you, Red. So when you were on the streets, before you got into a shelter, how many people came by your tent and offered you a program or sheltering?
[00:38:53] Speaker B: Not one. Not one.
[00:38:55] Speaker A: What about Spence.
[00:38:56] Speaker F: Spence is know, seeing what you cash, cigarettes, you know, beat a man out here.
[00:39:04] Speaker A: So does it make sense that if the county and the city were going to spend millions of dollars, that they should probably go to the actual tent where the people live and then offer them sheltering at the tent?
[00:39:16] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, you're going to find out who's about it, who wants it real quick. You're going to find out the first five minutes, but most of them are going to be like, oh, man, get clean.
[00:39:26] Speaker B: You feel like a lot of the people that work in these places are just doing it for the money or doing it because they love doing it.
[00:39:32] Speaker F: No, they just do it for the money. Most of them had to go to.
[00:39:34] Speaker C: School to learn this.
[00:39:35] Speaker F: But you get people like me, people like you have been on the streets, man. There ain't no stopping us. We might even create a whole different situation.
I can go around, like, get a dopine crew called the Narcan crew, go around saving people's lives. How many CPRs I've done this year already?
[00:39:50] Speaker B: So when I was down here in the streets with you guys doing security stuff, I was getting people into shelters all the time.
I think there's more organizations like that that can do that if a security person could get somebody into a shelter.
[00:40:02] Speaker F: Yeah.
[00:40:03] Speaker B: You think we should have more people on the streets, man, they need it. Walking the streets every day, they need more.
[00:40:08] Speaker F: Yeah, people that's been there, like you said. You've been there?
[00:40:11] Speaker A: I've been there.
[00:40:12] Speaker F: We get some of that, man. Ain't no stopping us. And like I said, you'll find out who wants it and who doesn't want it. Quick majority is going to be they don't want it.
[00:40:20] Speaker E: That's what's up.
[00:40:21] Speaker A: Why are they on the streets then? What are they doing on the streets?
[00:40:24] Speaker F: Most of them are running from, like, maybe physical pain, mental pain, bad situations. Maybe a woman that's been molested by her father. I mean, just a lot of stuff going on. Drug history in the family. There's a lot of stuff that people run away from, like me, my mental pain ran away because I lost my family, lost my family. My wife, she knows my best friend. Never even called her a c word in my life. Never raised a hand to her. So when she gone, I lost.
[00:40:47] Speaker A: That's what's up.
[00:40:49] Speaker B: That's real.
[00:40:51] Speaker F: I came down here, slammed some heroin. Never did hero in my life, did it? It did do nothing except for woke me up and I never did it again.
[00:40:58] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:41:01] Speaker F: Both of my parents were heroin junk. So maybe they're up there saying, you.
[00:41:05] Speaker A: Want to walk to the store and get a drink? You thirsty? Sure.
[00:41:08] Speaker B: You all want to walk to the store?
[00:41:10] Speaker A: Yeah. Let's roll.
[00:41:10] Speaker B: All right, let's go. Straight up.
I've known you probably the longest as I've known anybody down here.
[00:41:17] Speaker F: Well, yeah.
[00:41:19] Speaker B: Hey, when you first met me, you were standoffish. You didn't know what to say.
Yeah, they used to think I was a fed or something down there.
[00:41:29] Speaker A: Right.
[00:41:32] Speaker F: You might want to eat me or something.
Like you said, don't judge the book by the COVID If you know somebody, you might find out you got something common.
[00:41:39] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:41:42] Speaker F: You care about the people. You don't care about the damn situation or the job money. But there ain't that much money into it anyhow.
[00:41:47] Speaker B: No, you ain't meant to that.
[00:41:48] Speaker A: Nah, ain't no money out here.
[00:41:49] Speaker F: No, but the guy that's the head of the Dublin, he's driving a convertible Audi brand.
[00:41:56] Speaker A: Maybe we should edit that. No, we'll keep that in. They wrote me up the first day.
[00:42:00] Speaker F: He said, what you doing out here, white boy?
[00:42:03] Speaker E: He said, what?
[00:42:04] Speaker F: And he took that really negative.
[00:42:06] Speaker A: Told you real.
[00:42:07] Speaker F: You know, I earned that word after 20 years. You don't have to say that word.
[00:42:09] Speaker A: Yeah. Hey, man, that's not here. If you're on the streets, man, you're on the streets.
[00:42:16] Speaker F: It's hard out here, especially for the girls. I can't imagine being a woman out here, man.
[00:42:21] Speaker A: Yeah.
They say about 20% of the homeless in Portland are identify as female.
[00:42:28] Speaker F: Yeah, right.
[00:42:29] Speaker A: So you're talking one out of 520 years ago, it was less than 5%.
[00:42:33] Speaker B: How are you doing, ma'am?
[00:42:34] Speaker A: 20 years ago, less than 5% now.
I like that dog.
[00:42:41] Speaker B: No, they steal from everybody now. There's no respect.
No respect.
[00:42:45] Speaker E: Really?
[00:42:45] Speaker F: Yeah.
[00:42:48] Speaker B: There's jazz, man. I've been looking for Jazzy for two days.
Jazzy?
Jazzy.
[00:42:58] Speaker E: He's on some.
[00:43:01] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, he's on it.
[00:43:04] Speaker E: Who.
[00:43:10] Speaker F: Got good bounce?
[00:43:11] Speaker B: So I see one dude.
[00:43:14] Speaker A: Crazy, right? Like, for ten minutes.
[00:43:18] Speaker B: He was just talking about that.
[00:43:23] Speaker A: Five partners. No, ain't no one out here ever. People will hand out meals, and that's it. That's all you get.
[00:43:31] Speaker B: So did your tent get ruined there, too? No.
[00:43:48] Speaker A: Stone. They're doing a documentary.
[00:43:50] Speaker B: You know Red Dog?
[00:43:51] Speaker A: You know Red from the street? We've been down here with Spence for, like, three years now, doing outreach. We're trying to figure out what it's going to take to help people that are actually on the street that need help.
[00:44:01] Speaker B: I got to go buy some more.
[00:44:02] Speaker A: Though, because from what I can see, they're just trying to ask people to show up at a building, but then you don't really get no help.
[00:44:08] Speaker E: Hey, it's about to go down.
[00:44:10] Speaker A: We got it.
[00:44:14] Speaker B: Jay.
[00:44:16] Speaker A: You got to go for.
[00:44:22] Speaker B: How you doing, bro?
Man, so good to see you.
Hey, Jazzy, come here, man. Hey, come on, man. Come on, punk ass. Come on. Grab yourself a punk. Come on.
I never robbed her.
[00:44:38] Speaker A: I've been looking out for her for.
[00:44:39] Speaker B: 24 hours, and I didn't. Jazzy, come on, man. I don't want no girl. Jazzy, come here, man. Come here. Talk to me. Come here.
[00:44:45] Speaker F: Come walk with me.
[00:44:46] Speaker B: Come here. Come here.
Come here.
[00:44:50] Speaker A: I know.
[00:44:53] Speaker B: Right there.
[00:44:54] Speaker A: He already walked away, though. He already walked away, though. He already won. Robbed her for $1,000. You won. She let him have it.
[00:45:01] Speaker B: She let him keep the 700. So she's nice, but people take advantage of nice around here. Come here. Walk me for a second. I want to get away from the shit. Hold on.
Come here, come here, come here.
[00:45:16] Speaker E: Everything all right?
[00:45:17] Speaker B: Regardless.
Okay, but let's just chill for me.
[00:45:23] Speaker E: Listen to some nipsey hussle over here.
[00:45:25] Speaker B: Last 12 hours, a $4,000 motorcycle missing, cell phones missing.
[00:45:33] Speaker A: Who's ever stealing from over there is making a killing.
[00:45:36] Speaker E: Let's go walk over by fence.
[00:45:38] Speaker A: No, let him de escalate.
Three would be bad.
[00:45:43] Speaker E: It is de escalated. He's already de escalated it.
[00:45:46] Speaker A: It's good.
[00:45:50] Speaker E: He walked away.
[00:45:50] Speaker B: Done.
[00:45:51] Speaker A: All right, so this guy with no shirt on in the khaki pants, way over here, like 20 meters this way. He actually does have a mental health illness.
He's on drug induced. He lived at one of our properties over here, actually, right there. I'm not going to say the name.
And he is actually an Iraq combat.
[00:46:12] Speaker B: Just a second. Okay.
[00:46:13] Speaker A: We did.
The VA should be here taking care of.
[00:46:17] Speaker B: Okay, I'm going to get some cigarettes.
[00:46:18] Speaker A: I'm not going to give out his name for him.
[00:46:20] Speaker B: Bring some cigarettes back. You know what I'm saying?
How are you doing, bro?
[00:46:23] Speaker A: He is diagnosed.
[00:46:26] Speaker B: They just want to see what we're doing for nonprofit. That's all it is.
[00:46:30] Speaker A: So we call this.
[00:46:34] Speaker B: Those dudes work for the nonprofit.
We just saw a big dude. We just saw big deal.
Yeah, everybody's cool. Everybody's cool. All right. The federal to camp on public property.
[00:46:53] Speaker E: Yeah, but if you're covering, like, where people are on wheelchairs and stuff, bro, you got to move out the way. You know what I'm saying?
[00:47:01] Speaker B: How are they going to fucking trump up some shit to overrule?
[00:47:05] Speaker A: Yes, bro. Yes, I know.
[00:47:06] Speaker B: See who that is?
[00:47:07] Speaker E: Yes.
[00:47:09] Speaker A: I was just telling them about it.
[00:47:10] Speaker B: That's incredible.
[00:47:13] Speaker E: Saw you going through before.
[00:47:15] Speaker B: That's James. Yeah, look at him. Completely different guy. Hold on, one more, dude. Real quick, my boy. Real quick. Hold on.
[00:47:22] Speaker A: So that's what we're talking about. The Iraq veteran right over here. He's not high.
[00:47:29] Speaker B: And let him fucking take us to jail, man. They can't keep us off.
[00:47:33] Speaker A: Ain't no one wants you to go to jail, bro. How? They ain't going to help nobody.
[00:47:36] Speaker B: That's exactly right.
[00:47:37] Speaker A: They're not going to start arresting people for camping.
[00:47:40] Speaker B: Why don't you come down to my shop?
[00:47:42] Speaker A: Hopefully. Hopefully it's going to get people on the street, though, with real resources that can help people get into really good homes. Because that's what people need.
[00:47:53] Speaker B: I can't believe it, bro. You look so good, man. I'm so happy for you.
You look good. I wish I could get housing. I would love to eat one of them little tiny fucking James.
[00:48:04] Speaker F: You hungry?
[00:48:05] Speaker B: Thirsty?
We got to walk down the store over there that they just built. Come on. It's as small as a fucking jail cell, if not smaller. I'd be happy with.
[00:48:17] Speaker A: Tiny home. No, that's right.
[00:48:26] Speaker B: You just got to be here all day.
[00:48:28] Speaker A: Yeah. So James, man, he's gained some weight. Looks good, but he's not all there, man. I don't understand what the VA. Why the VA isn't taking care of.
He's an Iraq combat veteran.
[00:48:44] Speaker B: See, that's what I like. You go from wanting to stab me one day I can go and walk up to that guy, give him hug. Yeah, I thank him.
[00:48:51] Speaker A: I know when Portland rolled in with a stack of rifles. Yeah, what's that?
[00:49:03] Speaker B: So they're doing their blues like that now.
[00:49:05] Speaker E: Would you say that?
[00:49:06] Speaker A: Yeah, so they don't lose the smoke.
[00:49:09] Speaker B: They get to get it all.
[00:49:11] Speaker E: What do you think would happen if.
[00:49:12] Speaker A: They got rid of all. So they got a trash bag over here, a clear bag to keep all the.
So you don't lose any of the opiate smoke. So you feel like I've never seen that.
[00:49:26] Speaker B: I know.
[00:49:27] Speaker A: What's up, bro.
[00:49:28] Speaker E: I'm just saying, like, I wonder what would happen.
[00:49:31] Speaker B: Hey, Ruby. Good. How you doing?
[00:49:33] Speaker F: You say it wouldn't have no jobs.
[00:49:35] Speaker E: Well, but I mean, what would happen with the attic?
[00:49:39] Speaker F: Because I grab a response. If there's no more homeless, there ain't no job for them.
[00:49:42] Speaker A: There's a dog at your sick.
[00:49:42] Speaker B: That's why I call it the homeless industrial complex.
[00:49:46] Speaker E: That's a dope dog, though.
[00:49:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:49] Speaker E: So beautiful little baby.
[00:49:52] Speaker A: That tinting. Spencer was just saying that tinting that bag is to encapsulate all of the smoke so you don't lose any smoke when you're inhaling.
When you're cooking your blues or your.
[00:50:03] Speaker F: Whites, they do too, if you see them. They use balloons, so when they blow their head out, they blow it to balloons and suck it right back in.
[00:50:09] Speaker A: Oh, for real?
[00:50:09] Speaker E: Yeah.
[00:50:10] Speaker A: Oh, so they get a double pop. Oh, wow.
[00:50:13] Speaker F: You know them blues, they smell like burnt popcorn.
[00:50:15] Speaker A: You know what I'm saying?
Yeah. That transition happened real quick.
[00:50:21] Speaker B: Hey, Steven.
Steven. How you doing?
Good, buddy. Where's your other shoe at?
You want to come down to the resource center after 04:00 we'll get you some new shoes, okay?
[00:50:36] Speaker A: Yeah, homie, you need a shoe for sure.
[00:50:42] Speaker B: Brother. How you doing, man? Doing all right.
[00:50:52] Speaker A: You want to get a bunch of drinks for everybody?
[00:50:54] Speaker B: Yep, drinks. I'll buy some smokes. Oh, here. I want to give this to you before I forget.
[00:51:00] Speaker A: Now do your thing and then use that card.
[00:51:02] Speaker B: I know, but I want to give you this receipt.
[00:51:05] Speaker A: Someone's got to do the paperwork, right? You want to trade jobs? You want to trade jobs?
[00:51:11] Speaker E: No.
[00:51:14] Speaker B: Fred. Job. What you want?
What's going on, man?
How you doing, brother? Good to see you, man.
I got shelter now. Whatever you get put up here.
[00:51:30] Speaker A: Congratulations, bro. That's legit.
[00:51:35] Speaker B: I buy when I come, and I just buy whatever.
That's why you get those big bills from the market.
[00:51:41] Speaker A: I know.
[00:51:42] Speaker B: That's me. I'm like $88. Damn it.
I gave red Dog a 20 as well.
[00:51:49] Speaker A: That's good, man. Good. Put it on the list.
All right.
[00:52:05] Speaker B: No, they're just doing. Looking at the nonprofit.
How you doing?
[00:52:10] Speaker A: Good.
[00:52:12] Speaker B: We got it. Whatever it is, we got it now. We got whatever you guys want. I got it.
[00:52:23] Speaker A: Alex.
[00:52:24] Speaker E: Whatever, bro.
[00:52:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:52:34] Speaker A: Just needed a shelter. Yeah. A lot of these people don't even.
[00:52:36] Speaker B: Know what her shelter is around here.
[00:52:38] Speaker A: They don't even know what they are.
[00:52:40] Speaker B: That's it?
[00:52:41] Speaker E: Yeah.
[00:52:42] Speaker B: Whether it's medication or whether it's self.
[00:52:44] Speaker A: Medication or whatever, they don't know.
[00:52:46] Speaker B: Oh, sorry. One more.
[00:52:47] Speaker E: Yeah, we're trying to help them get it.
[00:52:48] Speaker B: You want something to drink?
[00:52:50] Speaker A: You thirsty? Actually, that's what I came down here for, but it's all right.
[00:52:53] Speaker F: I can get it.
[00:52:53] Speaker B: I got you what you want.
[00:52:55] Speaker A: I'm good.
[00:52:56] Speaker E: Gin C. Thank you.
[00:52:57] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:53:00] Speaker B: Who are you guys with?
[00:53:02] Speaker E: My name is JJ, I'm just a dude. You know what I'm saying?
[00:53:05] Speaker A: I'm Spencer.
[00:53:06] Speaker B: I'm just loving one another. It's a nonprofit. I've been down here. Yeah, I've been down for about three years. You've seen me. I drive the black truck.
You've been down here long? Hey, no worries, man. We just try to do down here, do what we can, right? Somebody's got to, man, try and bitching about. The problem is it's going to take more than just a few. It's going to take a lot.
[00:53:25] Speaker A: That's right.
That's right.
[00:53:27] Speaker F: Thank you.
[00:53:28] Speaker A: Appreciate you, bro.
[00:53:29] Speaker E: You want something to drink or.
[00:53:30] Speaker F: What's up?
[00:53:35] Speaker A: Thank you, sir.
[00:53:36] Speaker B: It's not frozen, right? It was better get a new one.
[00:53:40] Speaker E: Oh, when you grabbed it. Yeah, you might want to get.
[00:53:45] Speaker F: Thank you.
[00:53:47] Speaker B: Oh, signature. I'm sorry.
Oh, yeah. You know, I need a receipt.
Welcome. Hey, what you want, bro?
You sure? Okay.
All right, man. Y'all have a good day. Okay.
[00:54:03] Speaker A: Oh, these folks. So there's a company called Opsec Media Group, and all we do are documentaries on the streets. We're trying to get the word out that what's going on right now, and the way they're doing it, it ain't working. No one's really getting help on the street level. They just keep inviting people to these parties at these office buildings.
[00:54:22] Speaker B: No one goes doing all right, man.
[00:54:25] Speaker A: Because you're high, and then you wake up late and it's already 10:00 a.m. And then you got to spill a shopping cart, pack up all your stuff that you own.
[00:54:32] Speaker B: Sorry about that. I don't sell drug, bro. I just said if you needed, like, something to eat or whatever.
[00:54:37] Speaker A: That's funny because I got a whole bunch of cans I need to give away. I got, like, six bags of cans.
[00:54:41] Speaker B: I need to give somebody.
[00:54:43] Speaker A: All right. I got them back that way. It's in the van.
[00:54:47] Speaker B: I'm sorry to hear you said you lost your wife.
[00:54:50] Speaker A: Good.
[00:54:53] Speaker B: I.
Two days later, he turned himself in, but it doesn't mean no.
[00:55:24] Speaker A: You want to walk to the corner?
[00:55:28] Speaker B: Spencer, by the way, I haven't met you yet.
[00:55:30] Speaker A: Honor the contact number.
[00:55:32] Speaker B: Okay. You are able to talk.
[00:55:34] Speaker A: A conversation has to end just right.
It's disrespectful.
[00:55:38] Speaker B: When he's ready to get in, help go treatment program. When he's ready.
[00:55:42] Speaker E: What happened?
No, I was asking if you're okay.
[00:55:54] Speaker B: Hey, man, we all have our bikes, man. We all have our crosses to bear. You know what I'm saying?
You want to get in. You got a phone?
Where do you stay at?
Okay, so you want to eat? I don't have a car, but I'll get you one. Okay?
[00:56:17] Speaker A: From the shelter?
[00:56:22] Speaker B: Yeah.
My office is off of first and cooch. I'm there every day.
[00:56:29] Speaker A: Every day.
You don't have a locker there?
[00:56:34] Speaker B: So if you guys need shoes, blankets, whatever you need, come down. What size shoe you wear?
[00:56:42] Speaker A: That's crazy.
[00:56:45] Speaker B: No, you come down today, we'll hook you up. See what time it is.
Almost 330. Come down about four. I'll be down there.
Laundry there tomorrow. They don't know laundry there.
I have to get some may. I don't have any right now.
[00:57:09] Speaker A: They don't do any laundry at the do good shelter. Okay. Right here.
[00:57:11] Speaker B: All right.
[00:57:12] Speaker A: The greyhound. Anyway. No laundry service.
How can you have a good mental health when you don't have clean clothes on? How about you?
[00:57:19] Speaker B: Hey, man, I just appreciate you. I've always appreciated you, man. Much love.
Whatever you need.
[00:57:26] Speaker A: Thanks for a dog. We appreciate you, brother.
[00:57:28] Speaker B: Thank you, man.
[00:57:28] Speaker A: Thank you. Yeah. Appreciate it, bro. Have a good day. One. Love you.
[00:57:31] Speaker E: Out of here, bro.
[00:57:34] Speaker A: Hey, man. The ride along today, we're going to be out here every day. This is what we do. We appreciate Red for showing up, representing the streets, telling the truth about what's really going on. Because people need to hear this, otherwise, this is real shit going on, really, right now.
[00:57:48] Speaker B: Thanks, Red, but you good, though. Okay.
[00:57:53] Speaker A: All right.
[00:57:54] Speaker E: That's what's up.
[00:57:54] Speaker A: That's what's up. So what happened to do with the end of wheelchair?
What's his deal? I've never seen him.
[00:58:01] Speaker B: He's from Detroit.
[00:58:02] Speaker A: Excuse me. When did he get here?
[00:58:04] Speaker B: Eight months ago.
[00:58:05] Speaker E: Excuse me.
[00:58:05] Speaker A: Shit.
[00:58:06] Speaker B: He said he came out there after his wife got killed.
[00:58:09] Speaker A: For real?
[00:58:10] Speaker B: Yeah. Hit and run.
[00:58:11] Speaker A: And came out here and lost his legs in the hit and run.
[00:58:14] Speaker B: His wife was killed in the hit and run.
[00:58:19] Speaker A: Someone just put him on a bus out here?
[00:58:20] Speaker B: No, he said he wanted to come out here.
[00:58:22] Speaker A: Check it out, check it out.
[00:58:23] Speaker B: And he got out here and got cooked on clear.
[00:58:25] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:58:26] Speaker B: And now he's using.
[00:58:28] Speaker A: So he's been on the street eight months.
[00:58:30] Speaker B: Eight months.
[00:58:31] Speaker E: What about the other dude that wants to play?
[00:58:32] Speaker B: And he stays at 181st. That's why I don't.
[00:58:34] Speaker A: That's why I've never seen. Yeah, I've never seen him either.
[00:58:36] Speaker B: I've never seen him before.
[00:58:37] Speaker A: I was like, who's that guy? How'd he get out here today? Bus action? Yeah, free bus pass.
[00:58:42] Speaker B: They're giving out free bus pass and the street routes is crazy. Let's try to avoid this right here again, because.
[00:58:49] Speaker A: No, we'll look around. We'll do a hook.
[00:58:51] Speaker B: Let's go this way.
[00:58:52] Speaker A: Yeah, I agree.
[00:58:53] Speaker B: And if I need to, I can.
[00:58:54] Speaker A: Come back here, but that's smart.
[00:59:00] Speaker B: Otherwise, I'm just going to get stopped again. Watch out.
[00:59:04] Speaker A: We'll roll.
Okay.
And so Red, man. Red's doing really good, bro.
[00:59:11] Speaker B: Red Dog's great, man.
[00:59:12] Speaker A: He got some weight on him, too.
[00:59:13] Speaker B: You know, he was arrested in a stolen vehicle with a gun about a year ago.
[00:59:16] Speaker A: I did not know that.
[00:59:17] Speaker B: No.
But good thing for him is he didn't know.
[00:59:25] Speaker A: So he didn't get any time on that.
[00:59:26] Speaker B: He got off, man. How do you get off on that? That was a third strike, too, and he got off.
[00:59:31] Speaker A: Damn, bro. How do you get off on that?
[00:59:32] Speaker B: It's Portland, man.
[00:59:34] Speaker A: Right.
[00:59:34] Speaker B: It's Portland.
They even ran over a tent.
Yeah, that was similar.
[00:59:42] Speaker A: Rafiki. Yeah, Rafiki and Big E, right? Yeah, that's right.
You okay?
You ain't got too much in you, right?
Okay.
You don't need the EMT or nothing like that.
I can tell, bro. You got your bracelet on still.
You sure?
[01:00:09] Speaker B: Yeah.
[01:00:11] Speaker A: All right. Someone fucked you up pretty good.
No shit.
Yeah.
[01:00:23] Speaker B: Push the hair in.
[01:00:25] Speaker A: Is that from inside that rune?
Your rune, is that from inside? I got it from a tv show.
Damn. That's all? Dude, you're too young to know. Twin Peaks, bro.
That's funny. Twin Peaks.
It is a good show, though. What's your name?
[01:00:46] Speaker B: James.
[01:00:47] Speaker A: James. Alex. If you need anything, ask for Alex or Spence. All right.
If you just increase the level of community engagement, drug dealers will feel too uncomfortable to be out here selling dope because there's too many eyes on the streets. There it is.
[01:00:59] Speaker B: Interesting. So there it is.
[01:01:00] Speaker A: It's like the civil rights movement. If you own the streets, you change culture.
[01:01:04] Speaker E: That's what's up.
[01:01:05] Speaker A: They're owning the streets, so they're changing our culture. We need to be like civil rights leaders, and we need to own the streets. And we need to change the culture back to a community where people feel safe.
[01:01:13] Speaker E: I agree.
[01:01:14] Speaker A: We don't need more policing for that.
[01:01:15] Speaker B: When we took over land, too, this whole place was surrounded.
[01:01:18] Speaker A: 27 tents. And it was two criminal organizations.
[01:01:21] Speaker B: Two criminal organizations. So what do we.
[01:01:22] Speaker A: Prison gang over here. Prison gang on that side.
[01:01:25] Speaker B: Trafficking. Trafficking.
[01:01:26] Speaker A: Trafficking.
[01:01:27] Speaker B: Prostitution.
[01:01:28] Speaker A: Yes. Bikes.
[01:01:29] Speaker B: We inundated it.
[01:01:30] Speaker E: So what you're saying is you start from the grassroots.
[01:01:33] Speaker A: It's like the civil rights movement, bro. You get people in the streets. You own the streets. And then people feel ashamed for their behavior. Drug dealers aren't going to deal drugs, man. The people are out here giving historical tours, architectural tours, you know what I mean? People are here visiting Lancey chinese garden. If we had 300, 400 people visiting here every day, you would have dope dealing right here.
Because they don't want people's eyes on them when they're doing drugs.
[01:02:00] Speaker E: But what about those that are blatant and they don't care?
[01:02:02] Speaker A: They do care because they know they're going to get killed or shot, and it's going to happen in front of people, and then they're going to end up in prison because of witnesses. Eyeballs are witnesses to crimes. That's what brings down crime. Community engagement. And when we no longer take ownership of our public space, we rely on police, and then we over police, and then we create segments in society. Right.
[01:02:27] Speaker E: And that was my first instinct, because.
[01:02:29] Speaker A: Urban cultures will always be over policed.
[01:02:31] Speaker E: That was my first instinct.
[01:02:33] Speaker A: When you were a kid, how many times did the. As a crip, growing up as a 60s, how many times did the police fucking push us over to the side? And I had a cop grab my balls, bro, and just hold onto my balls for like 10 seconds when I was like a teenager, just push me up against the wall. How many times did that happen to you?
[01:02:49] Speaker E: Constantly.
[01:02:50] Speaker A: All the time.
[01:02:50] Speaker E: For walking on the wrong side of the street.
[01:02:52] Speaker A: Correct.
[01:02:53] Speaker E: But you're right. If the right people are engaged, behaviors can be curbed. Curbed?
[01:03:00] Speaker A: Yes.
They'll choose somewhere else to go.
[01:03:03] Speaker E: So you all are here all the time. Like, do you think that it's beneficial to have legal drugs like that?
[01:03:08] Speaker A: I don't think drugs are beneficial for anybody, but I don't think that putting people in prison where they're going to be abused and develop more mental health issues, that's not the answer. There has to be a third answer. But no one wants to create an answer. They just want to not have answers anymore. No one wants to have answers anymore, bro.
[01:03:25] Speaker E: Yeah. I think everybody's afraid to try to look for the answers because they're afraid of offending somebody.
[01:03:32] Speaker B: And I think sometimes going to jail, I don't think somebody should go to prison. If you do any recreational drugs, but if you get picked up using, say, drugs on the street, right. It's a Friday night. You go the whole weekend, you get to detox, and you go see the judge on Monday, the judge is going to ask you, do you want to do drug court? You want to do rehab?
[01:03:52] Speaker A: Golden handcuffs.
[01:03:53] Speaker B: And by then, they can make a rational decision because their mind's clear.
[01:03:57] Speaker A: That's right.
[01:03:58] Speaker B: But if you're constantly using drugs every day, your mind's never going to be clear enough to make that decision. You know how you want to get off.
[01:04:03] Speaker A: You have no self agency.
[01:04:04] Speaker B: Correct.
[01:04:05] Speaker A: You have no self worth.
[01:04:06] Speaker E: You want to keep walking.
[01:04:10] Speaker B: Yeah. There's definitely no one answer to all this, man. It's a complex situation, man.
But it starts in the community. That's where it starts.
[01:04:19] Speaker A: Yeah. See, like, people picking up, like, that's good. Spence, what do you think?
[01:04:27] Speaker B: I'm just taking it all in, to be honest with you. I agree with all of know. I definitely think more policing is not the answer. I just think that allowing police to do their job is part of the answer.
[01:04:36] Speaker A: That's right.
[01:04:37] Speaker B: And then organizations like this and other organizations can bring the community together.
I think if Portland had more police officers, too, where they could actually be on the streets doing like we were doing, learning names every day.
[01:04:51] Speaker A: Every day you got to know everyone's name and everything.
[01:04:53] Speaker B: Then you could walk up to a situation, be like, hey, Tom, you know what? Hey, let's do this. Let's get you something to eat. And they know who he is.
[01:05:00] Speaker A: That was really one of the first rules we came up with five years ago.
[01:05:03] Speaker B: Learned two names a day.
[01:05:04] Speaker A: Two names a day. Every name, every tent.
Yeah.
[01:05:07] Speaker B: You learn two names a day after six months.
[01:05:10] Speaker E: Watch out behind you.
[01:05:11] Speaker B: That's a lot of names.
[01:05:12] Speaker A: Yeah.
[01:05:15] Speaker B: Because the bottom line is, people just want to be acknowledged that they exist. Right.
They want to know that people see them.
[01:05:22] Speaker A: Hey, Carrie.
Hey, Carrie. Yeah.
[01:05:28] Speaker B: Even if it's just a smile or saying hello, man, if you just say hi to somebody on the streets, somebody could be suicidal. And you say hi to them, that may be just enough to say, hey, somebody acknowledged me today. That's right. And that could be enough. It's basic stuff, man, but it's basic humanity stuff. But it's like, we've kind of gone away from that.
[01:05:47] Speaker A: Hey, guys, we got some cancer, Red. Do you want to grab these cans? Help me grab these cans.
[01:05:50] Speaker B: Some cancer, red.
Bam. Just like that.
[01:05:56] Speaker A: Just like that, baby.
Yeah. Matt told you I like cans. Wasn't playing.
[01:06:11] Speaker E: A couple of them, bro.
[01:06:11] Speaker A: Yeah, there's a black one up there, too.
[01:06:17] Speaker B: Wish I could have gave some of these out to some of those people in the alleyway.
[01:06:20] Speaker A: I totally forgot about it.
[01:06:26] Speaker E: To him.
[01:06:27] Speaker A: Dad, these are for Red.
Hey, so, JJ Lape, I want you to want to say I appreciate you all coming out today, letting us see what you all do, especially seeing where you're coming from, from that rolling 60s, from that life. Better understand the criminal organizations also, dude. You're here every day. You're always in the trenches. And that's why we call you the street commander.
[01:06:52] Speaker B: I'm just blessed to be down here doing.
[01:06:55] Speaker A: We're going to get these off to Red and then we can split up. But anything, I want to say. But we're done.
[01:07:01] Speaker E: No, we're good.
[01:07:01] Speaker B: Appreciate the opportunity.
[01:07:02] Speaker E: Yeah, thanks, man. Be safe out there.
[01:07:04] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[01:07:04] Speaker A: For real.
[01:07:08] Speaker E: Ego, bro.
[01:07:09] Speaker A: What do you want?
[01:07:09] Speaker E: Right here.
All right.
Hey, stay up, man.
[01:07:20] Speaker F: I will, man. I appreciate you guys, man.
[01:07:22] Speaker E: You say you smoke weed?
[01:07:23] Speaker D: Yeah.
[01:07:24] Speaker E: I'm going to come by and smoke with you sometime.
[01:07:26] Speaker A: For real?
[01:07:27] Speaker E: If you're here, chip.
All right, that's a bet.
[01:07:29] Speaker A: See, Red. Hey, take care, brother.
[01:07:31] Speaker B: I'll be hooking always.
[01:07:34] Speaker F: Thank you.
[01:07:37] Speaker B: All right.
[01:07:38] Speaker E: Be safe, man.
[01:07:41] Speaker A: All right, let's roll out.
Close.
