We’re all part of an intersecting web: Daniel and his customers, his landlord, and maybe even you.
Daniel’s the kind of person who signs up for a sales job even though he’s introverted and shy…Each morning Daniel clutches his stack of Street Roots newspapers and walks to his assigned beat, outside of our neighborhood bakery. And waits.
One of 160 vendors who sell the alternative paper, he braves sweltering summer days and bitter freezes. Sometimes there’s a half hour between customers. Occasionally they line up. For each paper he sells, he keeps $0.75.
As you round the corner and see Daniel with his Street Roots badge dangling, it might seem like a familiar Portland sight. But it’s a fantastic feat of sheer determination.
If you don’t know Daniel well, you might have to wrestle for more than one word from him. It takes immense courage to overcome his shyness and reserved nature. Daniel says Street Roots has given him confidence in speaking with others. And with that, self-respect and self-sufficiency.
And now he can pass it on, one-person-at-a-time. With every newspaper, he’s offering his neighbors a glimpse into the social justice issues that line the paper.
And with each paper, Daniel extends a small kindness offering - a brief connection that leaves his customer’s day a bit brighter.
While we want to think of ourselves as independent and in charge of our own lives, the reality is that everything in our world is connected by a wild and intersecting web. For months, one of our visitation volunteers would run into Daniel as he stood outside the bakery.
Last August, she finally persuaded Daniel to take another courageous step and join Maybelle Center’s Visitation Program.
After selling his papers each morning, you can often find him in the Community Room. Chatting with fellow members, enjoying a cup of coffee, and always ready to lend a listening ear.
Then there was a wrinkle in our web of interconnectedness...
The death of Daniel’s landlord sent him into a panic last summer. He learned the building where he lived was going to be shuttered.
Many of us might have considered the building to be an eye-sore, and it had a history of building code violations and pests. But it was home.
Single Room Occupancy Hotels (SROs) like Daniel’s building, are an uneasy sanctuary for people of very low income against skyrocketing Portland rent. It is one of the few low-barrier housing options left in Downtown Portland. And Daniel had little hope he’d qualify for housing elsewhere.
The threat of homelessness was becoming real.
That’s when he reached out to our Support Services team at Maybelle Center. Maegann, our Support Services Navigator, walked alongside Daniel as he completed housing applications, helped him with fees, and wrote letters to appeal denied applications.
And finally, in September a landlord said, “Yes.”
A December Street Roots article asked its newspaper vendors what they were grateful for. Daniel replied: “I’m grateful for my new place” (Dec 21, 2017). We’re beyond happy for you too, Daniel!
Because of your support of Maybelle Center, there was a happy ending to a story that doesn’t always end so well.
Now that there is no imminent housing threat, Daniel can focus on stability and recovery. And bringing joy to others on his little corner of Portland.
We hope you’ll continue to partner with us to show others, just like Daniel, the power of community in a tangible and transformative way.
Because who knows? We’re all part of a great web, and you too might be connected to Daniel.
