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My Turn by Maileen Hamto

From The Asian Reporter, V17, #40 (October 2, 2007), page 6.

Homelessness is one of the more visible manifestations of the toughest social issues in our beloved City of Roses. One does not have to wander far from the posh art galleries and condos in the Pearl District to see people enveloped in blankets, sleeping on sidewalks.

"Many people who are chronically homeless have severe mental illnesses and co-occurring addiction disorders, which often go untreated," says Clifford Higuchi, a staff member at Cascadia Housing’s The Royal Palm, which offers safe and low-barrier transitional housing to homeless men and women who are struggling with mental health and addiction issues.

Royal Palm’s Housing Outreach Team is one of several programs funded by the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette that address homelessness and affordable housing in the Portland/Vancouver four-county region.

According to Higuchi, the main goal of the program is to get homeless people the help they need to become stable so they may be placed in permanent housing. Isolation and self-esteem issues are critical challenges among the homeless.

The Royal Palm provides counselling, case management, and support groups to help people develop coping and living skills, connect to community resources, and with conflict resolution. About 80 percent of those placed in permanent housing have maintained their housing after a year.

Providing necessary social supports for our most vulnerable neighbors is at the core of the work of the United Way. Meera Batra, director of the Parenting Program at Neighborhood House, helps parents of children entering kindergarten become more engaged in the school system. Many parents served through the program are newcomers to the United States, and most have lived for years in refugee camps in Africa.

Batra says many need help understanding how U.S. school systems work and how to best advocate for their children during a time of transition.

Since CEO Brent Stewart took the reins of the local United Way, the organization has undergone dramatic changes in the past few years. "United Way has changed how we do business to create an organization that does far more than just raise funds," said Stewart, addressing an audience of more than 600 at the recent Community Partners Breakfast.

Indeed, one of the biggest draws for me in working for and giving to United Way is its focus on measurable results and emphasis on solving tough local issues. Its business model recognizes the importance of making connections, promoting collaborations, and forging the right partnerships to achieve results.

The United Way board of directors boasts some of the most highly respected names in banking, finance, and other industries. One of the most impressive things about our United Way is the leadership’s emphasis on diversity and engaging communities of color to be part of the solution.

The United Way board includes some of the most prominent leaders of the local Asian-American community: Sho Dozono, CEO of Azumano Travel; Jaime Lim, P.E., Asian Reporter publisher and owner of United Engineering; and Simeon D. Mamaril, chairman of the board of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon.

Few philanthropic organizations in the region have the breadth of focus and depth of service provided by United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. "In 2006, we funded 72 programs that involved 52 agencies and more than 100 collaborating partners," said Stewart. "Most importantly, we helped change the lives of more than 100,000 children, individuals, and families."

United Way’s focus on helping people, changing lives, and making every contribution count remains the same, but with much more focus and accountability to partners and supporters. Thanks to companies that have chosen to underwrite operating costs for our United Way, 100 percent of contributions received will be invested in programs that help the community. Through the leadership of Cornerstone founding members Intel and Bank of Clark County, 13 other companies are now part of the Cornerstone Partners program, to help our United Way raise funds to provide shelter, food, jobs, and healing to those in need.

To learn more, visit <www.unitedway-pdx.org>.