Image # 9958
One Year Anniversary of Dignity Village Dave converses with Ibrahim, the sectretary of Dignity Village, while Ibrahim cleans off a cooler in the portable community center they are building. Dignity Village celebrated its one-year anniversary on Sunday, December 16. Most US cities, including Portland, Oregon, have anti-camping ordinances - essentially making it illegal to be homeless within city limits. While shelters offer some homeless individuals a bed for the night, their capacity is limited, few are family oriented, and most require individuals to leave the premises during the day. Dignity Village offers the homeless an alternative, and members hope that their self- governing model will be adopted by other communities. Although the city of Portland forced village members to move from their previous location, the city is allowing the village to temporarily locate at Sunderland Yard, a city-owned leaf composting lot. Members are building a portable community center and are installing community showers.
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