like Bill and his dog Buster shown here —
use bicycles to carry their belongings.
(Photos © J. Maus)
Project Homeless Connect is a city-funded program that provides services and information to Portland’s homeless population via a series of annual events.
Among the many types of help offered is a Transportation Area which offers a variety of services to help folks in need stay safe and mobile on two-wheels.
Local organizations (bike shops, non-profits, etc…) provide volunteers and the event is always a rousing success. At Friday’s event, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) will provide a classroom-style, bike road safety lesson. Upon completion of the class, participants earn a free bike helmet, a free bike tune-up and a set of lights.
a customer at Project Homeless
Connect last winter.
As a recent story in the Portland Tribune (Downwardly mobile, 6/26/08) helped illustrate, a growing number of Portland’s homeless are getting around by bike. For a few stories about Portlanders living on the streets with their bikes, check out my “Street Life” series.
Project Homeless Connect didn’t make it into the Mayor’s last budget forecast, but organizers are hopeful funding will be restored next year.
Project Homeless Connect
Waterfront Park
Friday, August 22nd from 10am-4pm
For more information, visit the Project Homeless Connect website.