Woman struggling to survive along I-5 in Portland: Firsthand look at finding help with homelessness
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Vicky Smith is 60 years old. She gave us permission to tell her story. Smith says she's been homeless for ten years after spine surgery that left her unable to pay rent. She's been living just off the shoulder of I-5 in North Portland for five or six years.
"I got an infection in the bone in my foot," said Smith. "When I went to the hospital, they amputated it, and that's how they took care of it."
That surgery was in March. Smith told us she's only had one follow-up appointment with a doctor since then. That was in April. She has no other checkups scheduled and no plans for a prosthetic.
"I usually take the wheelchair and put it up here or take it up with me because it's been disappearing," said Smith. "The last two wheelchairs I had, somebody took them and took off."
Smith's wheelchair has been stolen twice. She says people who live in camps nearby are the ones who've replaced it both times. She has no income, no cell phone, and no plan. She told us she collects cans and finds food somehow.
We asked her if she'd been offered help. She told us people do stop and provide water, but she hasn't had much contact from the city or county. Smith said she does not have a case worker. She has stayed in a shelter a few times. We asked if she wanted to go back. She said she did but didn't seem to understand how to do that.
KATU called 211, the free service that provides referrals to social services and support organizations. They offered to give us information, but told us to call 311 for a welfare check. 311 is for government services in Multnomah County. They connected us to non-emergency. After 25 minutes on hold, the dispatcher told us she'd send someone out. A few minutes later, a Portland Police cruiser showed up, slowed down, and then took off down I-5.
It happened so fast we didn't have time to get video, but we followed up with the Portland Police Bureau. They told us they know Smith and they've offered services. They said she told the officer who drove past she was "fine." They didn't think Portland Street Response would come out because of Smith's proximity to the freeway, but we tried anyway. The Portland Fire Bureau, which manages Portland Street Response, told us the PSR team has interacted with Smith multiple times and tried to connect her with agencies that can get her off the roadway.
"I've called non-emergency. It looks like her foot that was amputated is infected, and they've told me there's nothing they can do at this point," said Pearcey. "There's no enforcement, there’s no reason to go out there unless she's really, you know, dying."
Smith is not dying, but she obviously needs help. At minimum, a checkup.
So, we also reached out to Portland Street Medicine, whose volunteers make rounds throughout the city several times a week. They told us they'll do everything they can to get to Smith.
When we asked the city and county to talk to us about why it's so hard to get Smith help, we got the following statement from the Joint Office of Homeless Services:
"Every one of us can agree that we want to provide something better for Vicky and help support her and offer stability. The conditions you’re describing are appalling. And many people in our system and around our system have engaged - and will continue to engage - to try to change things for Vicky.
"Vicky is known to our outreach workers, as well as teams who work with the city, all of whom have been attempting to provide services or engage for several weeks. At times, she has informed those teams that she has not been interested in care. But they continue to check in and try to work with her.
"That is also the nature of outreach in certain cases - it can take significant amounts of time to gain trust and build relationships and help someone overcome barriers, including barriers affecting their health.
FULL STATEMENT AND STORY HERE: katu.com/news/...
As of this morning, September 5, Smith was in the same spot. Not fine ... but still alive.
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Not being able to sleep, well, or eat well or manage medication’s can really affect decision making for people on the streets. People that are sleeping well and eating regularly their minds work a lot better it seems to be hard for people to understand the ones that are struggling are not capable of making the same decisions as you and me. Being empathetic doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t cost you anything. Help if you can. And try not to judge people. Believe it or not, this is just the beginning of homelessness. It’s going to get far worse.
Why do the fascist Marxists in Portland encourage this nonsense? With 1% of the money wasted in Ukraine we could permanently end all homelessness. Such a joke.
Vulnerable and people with disabilities have been targeted and exploited by the rotten lying landlords and police. The cops in rural counties let landlords threaten, abuse, deceive and trick and steal from paying tenants, making people injured, homeless and worse.
Seems like most politicians simply want to blame the other side. With an impending economic collapse coming, this problem will indeed get a lot worse. Actually, the collapse has already begun. 😕
💯 this. Many people don't realize the toll malnutrition takes on cognition, along side that hazy fever dream of only being able to sleep in 5-10 minute bits. It truly drives you into a hole and I couldn't imagine getting out without help
You are so right -- in ALL you said.
This Uber lady is one of the most articulate and logical thinking Americans I’ve seen on UA-cam!
It gets far worse when the cops STEAL Identification Cards from the homeless population.
(A very huge problem that needs to be addressed.)
Uber driver dropped her off at a Library and leaves like that’s going to help her and then she says this is caused by the liberal agenda - - she might be thoughtful about the homeless woman but she seems borderline MAGA
@floridaviolets9601When does she say this? You are putting words in her mouth. Trust me, as bad as Portland is, I think everyone would rather be here than Florida. That's common knowledge.
Atleast she fucking did something asshole better than nothing
"she seems borderline MAGA" You say that as if it's an insult. More like a badge of honor, unless you are on your knees worshipping that projectile diarrhea CNN is continually spouting.@@gin6752
Vicki needs an SSID advocate. This is a person that should have been placed on SSID in the hospital. they ALL failed her
There should be a Shelter for women. There has to be someone that can help her. Unbelievable!
There are shelters for women. There are limited beds. I just wonder why she wasn't helped while in the hospital? How could the hospital release her to the streets?😢😢
Billions of dollars are going to illegal aliens instead of American citizens like Vicky Smith. She’s living on the streets, and she’s confined to a wheelchair. We’re spending unreal sums of money on ungrateful border-crossers who complain when they finally have to leave a hotel after 90 days. These same ingrates demand that we provide them with their “ethnic foods”, which they’re also not paying for.
All of you who think this woman is NOT mentally ill, need a reality check. Yes, she is mentally ill. No one who is in their right mind would prefer to live in the dirt on a freeway on-ramp with an infected, amputated leg rather than accept help. No one. This is what happens when there are no state mental hospitals, and no laws that compel mentally ill people to live in them. Our laws must change if our society is to survive.
Amen. Mentally ill. And we cannot force help on people that don't want it. How can we help her? If she won't accept help.
You said it so much better than I did thank you.
It’s not like she could fight them or run away. If it’s against the law for her to be sleeping there which it should be because it’s unsafe, why can’t they put her in a car and take her to a homeless shelter?
@@sparklemotion86 because they would be violating her rights according to the current liberal interpretation of our laws. The NCAAP or some such group would sue the rescuing organization for millions for unlawful restraint, discrimination and whatever else could be dreamed up. In addition certain areas especially in "blue" states, nuisance laws are seldom enforced i.e.sleeping in undesignated areas. More profit is made having the homeless grift work like it does than with providing shelter and care to those in need. If tax payers actually see homeless/ill people on the street more tax money is collected to combat the issue, pay millions for ineffective outreach and continue the cycle. There is no real motivation to actually help those in need.
This makes zero sense, her disabilities should warrant social security disability.
I have a feeling there is more to the story. She was made homeless 10 years ago, what has happened in those ten years? Even with losing income and a home due to surgery, there has been time for most people to get out of the situation. It appears that the real issue is mental illness (specifically acute depression). The UBER driver is right the so called compassion of leaving people who are unable to make good life decisions due to mental illness and/or addiction issues is far from humane. I have known people who were forced into addiction treatment and or mental health treatment who after they had 90 days of sobriety or stabilized on mental health medication/counseling and had time to deal with the cause. Not one was upset about jail or whatever avenue that was used to force them into care, they were grateful to get their life back. Sometimes not being able to accept care is a product of the condition they may be suffering. As far as Social Security Disability she would not qualify unless she or a spouse/parent had enough work credits. But she does certainly qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) a Social Security Program that gives a stipend to those without a work history. She would also qualify for state medicade until she is 65 and could qualify for medicare. She certainly needs a social services advocate to help her through the maze of social services benefits. Hope this report will alert the right people to help her out.
@@rustynails8756
I’m a social worker and see all your points. I agree that she needs support, I pray that awareness of her situation will bring out support for her.
I’m sorry. Most of that money has been spent on undocumented people.
No one should have to live like this! Shame on our Government! This is a crime against humanity!
Meanwhile our tax dollars go to pay municipal workers salaries in Ukraine or shopkeepers who must keep there businesses open in Ukraine. Our government is so corrupt it is pathetic, the only dam thing they care about is getting tax payers money so they can f in waste it in other countries.
WE have spent 40 years tearing apart what once was one of the greatest nation/goverment s in the world. At this point what do you really expect? The people who have done this have no shame.
The hospital should not have discharged her to the streets without a care plan. With her disabilities she should be eligible for SS/SSI, Medicare/Medicaid, subsidized housing, SNAP, and other support programs. A caseworker at the hospital can get these services started and arrange placement in a physical rehabilitation facility until housing and supports are ready.
They shouldn’t have hit they did. Hospitals will literally throw people onto the street knowing these people have nothing. It is truly disgusting.
@Kittenpants11 I've seen it at our local hospital in a rural area. I had to advocate for my sister when she went to the ER four times in a month and they kept "treating and streeting" her. She's not homeless. Her doctor was out of town and she was too weak to walk, much less advocate for herself.
@@HildeAzul I remember the Lisa Edwards video :/ the police and hospital worked hand in hand to kill the most vulnerable people
She's tired of the BS and I get it. You can see it when she smiles as she was being asked questions.
I think you nailed it. Everyone has let her down in her life.
@@anitavirginillo not true. This is the worst take on her situation and why so many of these people end up like her. There are endless options and resources out there. Everything to fix her life. Everything to fix all their lives. They will come up with every excuse in the book on why to not accept support. Then people like you will come along and coddle them and look at them like victims.
Getting better begins with her own willingness and desire to make change. You could fix everything in her life, get her an apartment, fund everything and get everything going perfectly and tell her no substances. She will accept it, then a couple weeks later she'll flip and take off. I'm not judging anyone, but you cant accept their excuses at face value. If we went through her medical records, her amputation might not even be connected to getting hit. And even if it is, there could be a big gap of time where it started getting infected and people around her started telling her she better get it looked at before it gets worse. Most of these people have quit on life so they have the attitude of "who cares" and that's often the reaction you get from them. They don't like dealing with officials or professionals. They understand the mistakes they've made, so a doctor or a case worker will ask them " why'd you'd let it get so bad?". This keeps them from getting treatment and they instead mask their reality via drug use/abuse and only get treated once it becomes life or death and someone forces them in.
IMO, the biggest issue in all of this is lack of accountability and excuse making. Imagine having a life where you have to do nothing to provide for yourself or answer for any mistakes you make. This is the life these people live. I'm not asking to consider what it's like to be them or endure what they're enduring. I'm talking more on the mental side of things, where for years and years, no accountability, no introspection, no responsibility, no schedule, no nothing. Roam free without a single care in the world. Good luck trying to get them programmed to operate in a functioning society and even better luck reversing all the emotional scars that come with street life. The coddling and looking at them like victims is the absolute worst. When they end up on the streets, they usually have a small issue to deal with. We help them get their life on track, they're good to go. Instead we have a mob of people saying "poor them" as we let drugs and streets eat them alive. 10+ years of extreme homelessness in portland area. Leadership has had the same approach, billions spent with a problem that's only compounded.
You sound like you’ve never interacted with another human being before.
Just scoot scoot her over
What the bs of living on the streets and trashing them daily she's been offered help 7 years on the streets
Maybe she's also to Blame for where she is and then won't take help when offered.
She will take a wheelchair that the other homeless stole from someone else who is now without their wheelchair.
And “we” feed and house migrants. It’s rotten that Vicky is left outside to rot. I’m with Ms. Toninni. She nailed it. But still, something very thoughtful and sustaining needs to happen for Vicky. I’m damn tired of listening or reading “official responses”. Do something!!! And do it right and make it permanent and supportive for her.
Exactly what I was thinking. Illegals get housing and food but this poor old lady can't get anything? We are so messed up in this country. 😢
I'm 60 years old and I have lived in Portland metro area my entire life. The four times that I have called 211 they were not very helpful, I don't know why they keep pushing that number, they have never done anything for me other than tell me they could not do anything for me. If you are a domestic violence Survivor and do not have children, you are SOLl in this state. Go ahead, and delete this comment too.
They just push the can down the road, so many programs BUT try to use one , worthless! Just a bunch of greedy no good *^%$%** sitting in an office drawing over bloated salaries for doing NOTHING !!
I had called a 211 / 311 but here in Seattle for a homeless friend whose husband just died and she was addicted and alone. All I wanted was help finding shelter and or detox no one knew anything. I had to do all the footwork on my own. Even my mom, who worked alongside social services for kinship caregivers literally just said, “call 211.” That tells me, there are NO resources.
Good coverage of going down the 211 rabbit hole. The "resource lists" provided by 211 are truly maddening. It takes hours to contact all the resources to find out if you qualify, but you won't qualify because each nonprofit is looking for any reason to not help. I'm sure it's probably because need is so high, nonprofits have to prioritize those who are "worthy enough" for help. This lady didn't refuse help to the newswoman so it's hard to believe she refused help but if she did refuse to go to a shelter, I don't blame her. Shelters are especially dangerous for women, not to mention disabled people. Who knows the trauma this woman has endured in 10 years of homelessness.
Yup. Non profits are a money grab.
If she's refusing services, in her miserable condition, what does that say about 'the services'??
This is an absolute failure of our society.
Yes it is God will deal with this nation on this failure
Democrat failure! Nothing else!
No, it's a failure of Democrats.
No it's not! It's a failure of the individuals who made poor choices and got themselves into the mess they are in.
Not all are out there because of wrong choices they made if it be drugs or alcohol there's economic lack of education mental illness yes domestic abuse
We had an old lady like that in my community and she would sit in a chair under a tree every single day. I took her food, and water, and a few dollars every now and then but she was like that. She was not interested in getting help, or didn’t trust people. I moved away but think of her still🙏🏻
I think it's trust issues. She's been abused before in institutional settings, especially those claiming to help people like hospitals.
After the 38720345723481241th time trying to get help and there being none, they just give up and I don't blame them.
These people have substantial issues and need proper care. Helping them subsist on the street does not help them in a meaningful way. As a society we have to have the courage to get these people placed in facilities that help them be as healthy and well as they can be and hopefully allow them to also participate in society and contribute in the ways they can. It costs us so much more to continue dealing with the public health disaster that is vagrancy and drugs. Our police, firefighters and paramedics are needed for regular scale emergencies not this never ending and horrible crisis. When you wake up and a naked junkie is using your backyard and hose water as their shower you’ll appreciate why this needs to be dealt with.
God Bless her. I hope she's safe.😢😢😢😢😢
Vicki is eligible for assisted living under Medicaid. If she refused, they can't force her. Find someone who has influence and she will accept help.
I don’t think she refused. The services said they offered her before and she said no. Somehow this time she wanted services but they weren’t available nor would they help out.
Just wondering if the news crew left her there?
Maybe they should tell Vicky she can’t live on the side of the freeway and then she’ll accept help. Vicky obviously can’t make proper decisions for herself.
I feel like the angle taken here for a local news is extraordinary. I live in LA (been here my whole life, 37 years) and I swear the live/recorded news and publications here could take notes from your coverage. This hits home and it’s not my home. I’m so sad this is how it is…but many of the other commenters are right. She should be taken off the street with or without her permission. And that’s what should be happening to everyone in metal mania who lives on the streets. I’m realizing now, more than ever, treating people as if they are cognizant of the severity is our downfall as society. To not want to make decisions for desperate people out of fear of the woke consciousness canceling you is why it’s so so bad right now. Use the military to humanely and respectfully gather and guide this population to specially designated hospitals and mental institutions, hire amazing/highly educated people to run these places. Why won’t the federal government and state governments clean up the mess they made. That’s all, allocate and then keep on allocating until you’ve cleaned up the mess you made, then you can start spending money on everything else. I’ve all but lost hope here in LA, doesn’t seem like anyone cares or is willing to accept responsibility.
I was born to the fascists that used THAT Exact argument, when they needed to trot it out, to Do THAT Exact thing. You Allies fought a World War against them and won. Your parents/grandparents Claimed you were different. I'm not seeing the difference in much except the speed at which the degradation is taking place. The USA seems to be sliding into that hell a bit slower and more deliberately.
k
Who's life is it anyway? Is it her life, or is it for you to choose for her ?
Sooo…
Rounding people up and putting them in camps is the answer, huh?
You know that, historically, that never goes well…
@@stanleyhape8427 In order to earn the privilege of choosing for ourselves, we must first accept the Responsibilities of Adult Living and not being a Burden to others. You don't get to Chose to be a Burden to others. When you are a Burden to Society, Society will choose to fight back. Being Homeless and Irresponsible is not what we need. The Homeless need to grow up and Accept the Responsibilities of Adult Living.
Help? They need to be institutionalized. We're wasting millions on programs that absolutely don't work. A healthy civilization does not let people live like this, you don't get the choice.
This woman clearly isn't mentally ill. She's run on hard luck & the safety nets society is taking tax money to provide obviously failed.
@@knowone11111she is mentallly ill
Arresting to be institutionalized? Have you heard the motto don't tread on me? In a dictatorship the government would bus the undesirable people out of the city into camps.
How many homeless people do not have an ID Card?
Most people are OBLIVIOUS to the fact that without an ID Card, you cannot:
• Get into a shelter
• Get food stamps
• Get a job
• Get a hotel room
• Get into a Salvation Army
• Get food from a pantry
• Get any healthcare
• Get on Social Security
• Get MediCal/Medicaid
To add insult to injury, the cops STEAL Identification Cards from the homeless population to mess with them.
@@knowone11111 Are you serious? Of course, she's mentally ill.
Crazy taxes in California… give it all to immigrants instead of Americans
I understand. There was no mention of her being a drug addict in the article but is this is why she is still on the street? It broke my heart watching this.
And another Billion to Ukraine ,again, today.
So the only help for her was a police unit. What are we spending billions on, in this country, for homeless services. It seems the money goes to pay salaries instead of going to the people that need it most. That being said, she also isn't interested in help, which is why the problem will never get fixed with money.
The illegals get to stay inside nice hotels with free meals, medicine, clothing, etc. and then trash them out !!
We used to have institutions for the destitute and mentally ill. They worked well and the streets were safer as were the poor and homeless. Bring back these institutions dismantled by Reagan.
Yup. I lived in a college town that had an institution and all of a sudden one day they just closed it and put everybody out on the street. This was part of Reagan’s grand plan. They told these people to just come back every Tuesday for their medication. Which is ridiculous because when someone’s hallucinating, they have no idea what Tuesday is. We used to see a guy we called the suntan man Standing in the winter in these 1960s colorful pants with his shirt off pretending he was getting a suntan on the street corner. Thanks Reagan.
The main reason for dismantling the institutions was the abuse, neglect and mistreatment of the mentally ill, and concerns over forced treatment. When deinstitutionalization began 50 years ago, California mistakenly relied on community treatment facilities, which were never built.
@@wildlifeathome hardly. It was all about the money. Period. Abuses were rare and reformations of any institution is absolutely possible. The streets are certainly not safer for anyone. We see daily examples of why that is.
@@r8chlletters What ever you do, don't do any actual research on the subject.
@@wildlifeathome we know you didn’t do yours.
This breaks my heart! I have no words!
THERE'S ALOT OF PEOPLE NEEDING HELP.
When u R ground level down, it’s exhausting.,it’s petrifying to see her just on the ground, in the elements. Quality of life…if she were mentally lifted up and given a few months to get rested so she could make good decisions instead I see single young , very healthy baby makers having kid after kid to get free housing and food it just makes me so angry!!! They damn sure work at welfare fraud and looking like drag queens! This person and so many more are in need of more than a bottle of water and sandwich.
This is beyond heartbreaking keeping her in my prayers..🙏
I am so tired of lazy homeless people like this 60 year old woman. And also the libs that feel sorry for her.
.
I sit right next to a guy with both legs amputated at the knee. We both do software tech support at a software company.
.
The lady can see, hear, speak. Which means she can get a job.
.
I am 65 and I can work. My coworker is about 45 to 50 and also works but has both legs amputated.
.
Lady needs to get a job.
.
If she got a roommate then she will not be homeless anymore because there are 2 adults in one household.
You are so simple minded. My uncle can’t lift his head off his bed but he has millions and has people working around the clock for him. He’s menatally A ok. He goes and does whatever he decides bc he has a million dollar motorhome with handicap everything and staff to do whatever he desires! He has never been depressed and doesn’t believe in mental illness. If u take that lady and she had been pampered her whole life and didn’t worry about apartment first month, last month rent, credit checks, utility deposits…mentally she is exhausted bf even trying to find a JOB if her leg is ok…her struggle is real. Shame on you for acting like she can just get a job and roommate bc u know one person that does it. Please.
Don’t count on the county to help to many ppl are profiting off the homeless issues in multnomah county.
She's mentally incompetent.
She could no longer make decisions on her health and her life 🤔
She didn't act incompetent to me
She's mentally incompetent because she ran on hard luck & society completely failed her in her time of need?
Some of the ones in the government were incompetent why don't you address that. They had a thousand years in power now that's over. This is the seed they have sown. They created a cesspool. Congratulations. Innocent people suffering because of ignorance and pride. What an opportunity to fix it.
@@LindaMerchant-bq2hpif she has refused help and services, like was mentioned, I’d say she is mentally incompetent. Instead of saying “I’m fine”, she should ask for assistance when it’s offered. Assuming she actually has been asked several times.
a hypocrite who suddenly feeling exposed and trying to take shed mentally illness instead of being help to a helpless woman.
Sometimes, a person says no out of pride. God bless this woman.
Because the services they offer are not supportive . Try it
Come on Portland, this is one of the most terrible situations for this lady. No way to get around and living by a Freeway. Good god, where is the Tax free churches who do not help?
I am so tired of lazy homeless people like this 60 year old woman. And also the libs that feel sorry for her.
.
I sit right next to a guy with both legs amputated at the knee. We both do software tech support at a software company.
.
The lady can see, hear, speak. Which means she can get a job.
.
I am 65 and I can work. My coworker is about 45 to 50 and also works but has both legs amputated.
.
Lady needs to get a job.
.
If she got a roommate then she will not be homeless anymore because there are 2 adults in one household.
There are FOUR categories to which homeless people fall into:
1. Homeless due to mental illness.
2. Homeless due to drug and alcohol addiction.
3. Homeless due to unforeseen financial hardship. (working homeless)
4. Homeless by choice. (to avoid the responsibilities that come with life)
What SHOULD have been done DECADES ago, is the retrofitting of all unused/underused commercial and industrial properties, which today would include these belly-up retail malls, and convert them into what can be described as Containment Facilities. Dormitory style rooms with supervision dictated by the condition of the population. Rooms with a bed, toilet and sink for the mentally ill and severely addicted, since these people often have to be forced to keep themselves clean. Stall showers can be added to rooms for people able to keep up with themselves without having to be told.
The mentally ill need to be taken off the streets first, in conjunction with the severely addicted, and so on. Micro apartments can be retrofitted at these retail malls, for affordable housing for the working homeless. It's not that the solutions are there, they've always been. What we lack is common sense leadership to implement them.
God, please bring common sense help to the mentally ill. They arent capable of making decisions !
I read some of these comments and it makes me sad. Sometimes in life, the "Test" life throws you win, and you lose a will to even live.. I pray 4 u Vicky, may you get the help you need and want... We all need help Sometimes..
Just a short time in this earth school experiment to see where we end up either the promised land or lake of fire. I'll focus on the kingdom and not these worldly possessions. People do need help sometimes but so many are worried about their nails and hair rather than reality. May God anoint those that anoint God.
Wrong...its called CHOICES.
I really feel like she should get a psych evaluation done and possibly a nursing home would be a good place for her and I'm not saying this to be cruel or mean or heartless I feel like health-wise it would be the best place for her so she could get food and bathe in have a community and not worry about her wheelchair being stolen I have been homeless before with a child we had to live in the van and Midwestern Winters are cold so my heart is broken for this woman because I truly understand😢
Heart breaking.
Politicians and public servants have a way to lie but make it sound like they have tried to help and care! 😞
Two parties are still being owned by the corporate lobbyists. The problem is American voters, not candidates
So you think that avg voters, busy with medical, school, work, etc are responsible for the lies, tricks of their political leaders who have lawyers, and are paid to serve the public??@@ahsanurr4219
Horrible to "allow"someone to "say no" when they clearly need services for safety-they are not making an informed choice and cannot function. It should not be an option to fail to provide needed services when the person cannot provide basic necessities for themselves, are at high risk and breaking laws because they have no options, and clearly need intervention and assistance. It is too easy for less scrupulous entities to get the vulnerable person to "refuse services" like some parents run into if they do not know to conserve their disabled child before their first meeting for services after the child turns 18. I imagine this is also a factor with disabled homeless population if they have no legal advocate to help them make safe decisions. There are also those who knowingly say no to help, but there are those who are simply not capable of making informed choices who are falling through the cracks and it is shameful.
So what is the answer? Does she need a legal guardian appointed?
How many homes does Ted Wheeler own these days? I lost track.
I'm convinced he doesn't even live in Oregon anymore.
Thank you for such a thorough investigation into this lady's life ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I pray that Vicki will get all the help she needs.
Figures that Portland, Oregon, Multnomah county, has this situation. I lived there once, and it's next to impossible to get help. I do NOT want to return this terrible city/state. A brief visit to my brother, but that's it. My parents are buried there in Willamette National Cemetery. I don't want to go there because it's in Portland.
We need mental institutions
Most of the mental institutions were closed in Washington state
And in California by Ronald Reagan
Main issue, mental illness. Drugs, second.
They were closed down because of the abuse that went on in the institutions. If we could have it with our phycos running them, that would be great.
They say hang tough how can Americans treat one another or anyone like this??
It’s the VOLUNTEERS that make a difference for the homeless, for the animals in homeless encampments, shelters ect... The people who get paid don’t do anything because there really is no accountability anymore because the govt does not care. Things are so out of hand. Here in Cali too ! Complete lawlessness
I have rescues…I also feed skinny whatever that come to my yard. I donate and watch animal channels to bring revenue for all the pets being dumped. It’s a cluster fluff everywhere u look and I have very little $ left over but these people in their big houses and 80 thousand dollar vehicles don’t have the time, $$ or heart to reach out and help. So many narcissistic sociopaths. It’s sickening. Would Jesus not help the hungry?
Well what the damn hell is Portland going to do to help their homeless people.?! Shame on Portland.
No one is surprised. She should've gotten a job answering the phone for the 211/311 help line and transferring calls in a circle. I bet business there is booming!
The truth is if they dragged her off to hospital and gave her the care she needs against her will, you would do a story about her rights being violated.
well said and so sadly very true...
Because her Rights Would be violated if it was a 'mental hospital' as many are suggesting. The Thing that is Wrong is the so called 'Help' she's been offered. The woman is not "mental" she needs A Home and Social Security Right off the starting line, Then immediate PHYSICAL Help That does Not Sink her into debt. You however seem to need to find your Empathy, the Real kind, not the 'alt-right' kind. "Housing First" works, it has been proven, and it Adds Honor to a society instead of severity and disgrace.
you honestly think she can handle an apartment, neighbours, cooking cleaning, shopping, budgeting, health care appointments? You really believe she can handle all of that? She can't- it's not easy! She needs to be in a care home where everything is done for her and her meals put in front of her, bed linen washed for her, etc. @@daniellow426
Are you nuts? This is America, nobody spirits you away and takes care of you.
@@daniellow426The crazy thing is we had both mental institutions and “real” low income housing that was free to nearly free in the past. They were called “projects”… but people didn’t want these people around lowering real estate values and almost all of these apartment buildings have long since been leveled and built over with luxury apartments. Society always does things in phases. We are on a down phase where things are really bad for low income people, drugs are cheap, available, and legal and prospects for the poor and felons have never been worse due to 100% background and drug checks for even the most mundane jobs. Really hoping for things to improve. My brother and Mom are both in the care of the state, being mentally disabled and have their expenses paid and are housed when they choose to be. They are the lucky ones compared to the long term homeless.
The problem is also when someone is too proud to accept help. It's a denial of how bad things really are because they afraid of being seen as a bad person. I've known several people who ended up homeless who said they didn't want anyone to judge them, so they tried to pretend they were okay. Sadly, the same mentality showed up for a couple women I knew who were being abused.
Help them women.
And then there are people that choose to live the way they want. Like the lady that left government housing because she couldn't smoke in her apartment... homeless by choice.
Some of the male staff at those shelters see the homeless women as desperate and easy prey. They know cops believe staff over a "crazy street person".
It just makes me sick. Our politicians sends billions of dollars to foreign countries and this is disgusting. Our politicians don’t give a crap about the peons. It has become so apparent. Heartbreaking and sad.
Obviously you don’t know that the largest line item in the budget is for Health and Human Services.
Foreign aid is a fraction and most of that money is used to buy American goods so it helps people like farmers.
Plus, the local government has been trying to help this woman but she doesn’t want it.
Ignorance can be fixed, but stupid is forever.
Why are you using ‘sending aide to other countries’, why not say, “ our politicians vote to keep giving the ultra-rich more tax breaks” or how about using the example that our politicians refuse to make the rich pay taxes at all?
When the average Joe pays more in taxes than someone who has millions upon millions, now THAT is an example to use here! 😡
@@williamwilson6499I thought our government spent the most on defense? 🤔🤔🤔
@williamwilson6499 looks to me like largest item is military complex, Ukraine
Government isn’t the solution . Caring people like those in this clip are . We have to band together as citizens to end this .
Banning together as citizens means nothing when your government tree is rotten too it’s core, Take out the unnecessary middle man then ban together too rebuild what has been stolen and abused!!!🙏🏾🌷💯
yes but then we should not pay tax to government right?
Tragic.
Excellent reporting.
I'm so glad this made the news..God Bless Vicky and the lovely Uber Driver along with the kind Gentleman and the News Reporter. People are literally dying in the streets. People wonder why I'm depressed all the time and I talk about issues just like this. Single women always dread a future like like poor Vicky. She's only 60myears old and that's so hard to believe.
Conservatives call this “freedom”.
211 does nothing in anywhere it is. They provide n7mbers from a list that is quite often antiquated. All you will get is excuses. It is about making money first. Help is second. Quite often areas for service are not safe. Shelters can be quite dangerous, and safe parking is not always very safe. It is not just in Oregon, it is in California, and other states as well.
All the agencies talk a great talk, but if you look at ACTUAL help, it is dismal. Again, it is about making money first, and often hiring clueless individuals.
I do hope with the spotlight on this lady, she is given REAL help, and not just housed like a criminal, or a number. I saw that more times than I could count.
Pathetic. If it was a dog, it would be rescued.
But the.migrants in n.y is sleeping well in that hotel and geting a allowance EVERYDAY..WTF
I pray Vicky will receive what she needs. ❤
Why didn’t one of these concerned people take her to their home and support her until they can help her get disability and housing. One of them could have done this. The system is overwhelmed and inadequate. Or connect with a big wealthy church who could do the same. Where are the wealthy churches who could provide housing and case management for those desperate folks, especially women and children
Well there are plenty of people and agencies apparently tried to help her...but she obviously refused the help. You can lead a horse to water ...but you can't make 'im drink!
. .✨the lady would probably agree to having a shed if shown one, but I’m led to believe there’s a habitable tiny house somewhere she’d be agreeable to if only the CITY WOULD CAVE IN FOR HER ‼️
This situation is the result of 40 years of Reaganomics that closed mental institutions and other facilities. 'The private sector will take over.' Still waiting, Ronnie.
If it were me, the headline would read, "Vagrant Arrested Tresspassing Along I-5".
Smoking cigarettes surrounded by waist-high dry brush is extremely dangerous.
It should be you and people like you in this situation instead of this poor woman!
They are only talking about helping one,just one person that's homeless and in need of services and the local government can't even do that!
It's all because of that law
I've made this comment a million times but here goes again
Doctors and judges used to just commit these types of people and others to facilities....... Nursing homes, Damasch etc
Then in the 90's Democrats in Oregon working with Barbara Roberts made laws to get these people more freedom
Good law in a sense, as my own cousin was choked to death by workers at Damasch, and the malicious cops would probably send me there if they got half a chance, just because
So good law ....... But these kind of stories are a consequence
Personally I think corporate greed is a main culprit to, treating the housing market as a rich man's commodity etc etc
We need good, clean functioal SAFE housing with medicl help
But we must give migrants shelter?
This story just explained why people are out on the streets. The majority of them refuse help. You can't take them against their will. The people who really need help are the working people. Working people need help with grocery and rents to come down. A tax break would be nice also. What used to be a good paying job now is just a job getting by. Help the working poor who go to work everyday
this type of behavior would 'not' be acceptable, say, 15 years or so ago, she would have been removed, but with more and more liberalism permeating every fabric of culture and government this is 'their' end product...
The report said that She Did have a home, WAS Paying rent, UNTIL a bone infection took her foot. Then she could not pay rent and was kicked to the streets. All of you are about one disaster away from being on the streets and Instantly classified, by the rest of you, as THEREFOR mentally ill with drug issues and; "Get A Job, LOOSER".
You make me sad I ever supported this country.
@@forgottenman8629Remember when shop lifting or walking out on a restaurant bill was a big deal with serious consequences? Things are very different now. Pretty soon we will be funneled to the door through security gates with the checkout stands because all trust in society is diminished. This is very similar to what I saw in the Philippines and that pretty well sums up where we are headed, a 2nd or 3rd word society where the homeless build huge shanti towns because low skill work no longer pays enough to survive otherwise.
she is out on the streets because she got bankrupt due to medical bills. In your country over 60% of bankruptcies are caused by exactly that. Shame on the USA, that has the most expensive health care than any other high-income country but still has the lowest life expectancy at birth and the highest rate of people with multiple chronic diseases.
Agree.
Makes you wonder how all that taxpayer money that's supposed to be spent on the homeless and mentally is actually spent
but you HOUSE THE MIGRANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its a ring around the rosy, If she goes to doctor appt, how does she follow up? Someone needs to help her, not just pretend to.
Poor people that don’t seem too interested in trying to help themselves. Why is that? Perhaps they get by just fine picking and choosing what help they want to accept. Crazy.
it is a disgrace that people go bankrupt because of medical bills. Which is what happened here. Shame on the USA, that has the most expensive health care than any other high-income country but still has the lowest life expectancy at birth and the highest rate of people with multiple chronic diseases.
This woman has lived with trauma PTSD etc for ten years surviving by her wits now has one foot totally immobile. Needs housing ASAP but maybe she gave up believing in the system
This situation is growing daily.
Tiny houses might slow the growth of this big city problem.The bare basics, bed, roof, water, electricity and good neighbors. Very few of our homeless could turn their back on an opportunity that would drastically change their life .
The main problem with government is the size of their note. They are afraid of running out of money!!!
Probably doesn’t want to feel like a burden on people!
So, what's been done for Vicky?!?
Two things I want absolutely no one in charge of: 1) how I live, and 2) how I die. Those are mine.
That is the truth. Having said that then when they decide to live like that well then there you go.i just wish the didn't trash the ground they sleep on.
@@boxerblvd3514 Yeah, garbage pickup service for the homeless is atrocious.
There is nothing wrong with that as long as your choices do not affect the quality of life for others that choose not live in the same manner or make the choices some individuals make.
As long as you don’t pose a danger to others or yourself that’s great. These people aren’t able to do either.
@@boxerblvd3514 I live in a beautiful forestry area and the homeless here and others who don’t want to or can’t pay dump fees are destroying the forest with their trash. They cut through the fence around our apartment and come in and break into cars. So sick of this crap. We have people who live here as well that just live like pigs and neglect their animals. Don’t get me wrong you can live any way you want to until it affects the quality of my life and others who want to live like a decent human being. I get it life is tough but you have to at least try to maintain your health and space as one issue affects the other and everyone around you. We have parents that just allow their children to run around unsupervised that cause damage to cars that don’t belong to them an throw trash all over! Grow up people and start acting right😡🤬and where are the city workers or forestry clean up crews. I guess I can’t blame them I wouldn’t want to have to clean up after grown azz people who don’t care about the area they live in.
211 has no services
This woman qualifies for SSI/SSD, Medicare/medicaid, food stamps, housing, ie wrap around services.
Where are the services paid by taxes that are to help US citizens!!! Outrageous how many millions of dollars are poured into the homeless. Who’s pocketing the change?
This is heartbreaking ugh I can’t believe this.
Generally disabled people have access to federal housing. Terrible this poor handicapped elderly woman living rough. No social security? Sometimes they just give up trying to navigate the system.
Bring back mental institutions
The city of Portland SUCKS! Message for the mayor… clean up you town. I literally cried the last time I drove through the so called city of roses! 😢
Well said uber driver thank you fore your mercy its contagious. N great story finally a Joyrnalist who treated vicki with respect. Keep the good Journalism up. May your pen be as mughty as a sword
Where's all these good hearted Christian people I thought it was a Christian nation 😢
Sending money to Israel and Ukraine
Should be on disability, that can take years to be approved.
Low income housing, that can take years
Our system is so broken 😞
Maybe a solution would be to established a senior living home for homeless disabled elderlies with no to low income like this lady here to provide 24/7 care. Instead of wasting money to endless fruitless temporary bandaids, why not use taxpayers money for permanent solutions!
Meanwhile there are city people collecting huge salaries for their title of "helping the homeless. If you want to see someone who really helps homeless people see youtube interviews of John Paul DeJoria. He has built 250 tiny houses for the long term homeless in Austin Texas
Shame on the community that leaves her there if I saw this I would have her in my own home.
Those of you that claim to be Christian your beliefs say you must open your door to needy strangers.
Send her to me in Indiana.
This is America. Seriously? Those of you who have money to burn can help her. I would if I could. I hope someone can help her!
Why Doesn't She Have Income? She's definitely eligible for SSI
If she were a Ukrainian politician she could just buy another villa with US cash.
Yep when you have given up all hope and lost your faith in humankind.. you stop asking for help cause you already know the answer!
I too am missing a leg i am 56 yrs old and i had 20 year olds with no disabilities and 2 legs asking me for my ssi money i worked mywhole life for to buy drugs with they have no souls i reciently moved to washington i had to leave the state i was born and raised in because of it i am ashamed to admit i am from se portland oregon
All of Oregon is like this
Why isn’t there any wealthy residents in the Portland area that can help this 60 year old amputee with getting the proper medical care; and a new prosthetic foot; and a new wheelchair; and dental care etc?
I'm curious as to why he foot was amputated? I get there was something with a bone infection, but how did that happen?
being homeless is like
drowning...you need HELP or you wont get out of it
She should be eligible for medical n foodstamps at least! This is tragic!
I hope to God they help her get help. She should be getting disability Living in senior living. That is so sad to see that in our counthat is not right.
Americans should be ashamed this kind of thing is allowed to happen.
That’s so sad 😞 I hope Vickie gets some help, and that she accepts it. I’m not sure what she’s afraid of
I think, like many homeless, that she is afraid she won’t be able to continue living like she is. A shelter would make her take baths, keep her space clean & tidy and probably not let her smoke. I’m not saying this in a critical manner but have heard from some who prefer to live rough that they don’t want to be told what to do & how to live.
@lzrd8460 of course you're not. You've never taken the time to ask...
Did you ever notice how there's no Mexican people in the homeless camps 😮