Former Wapato Jail, now Hope Center, this rescue operation for Portland’s homeless finds success: Steve Duin column
The story of Alan Evans and the success of the Bybee Lakes Hope Center are sufficiently compelling that folks are lining up to enlist with them.
Million-dollar checks from Jordan Schnitzer, Joe Weston and John Niemeyer helped Evans open the 155,000-square-foot facility. Columbia Sportswear is offering jobs to individuals who complete the re-entry program, and Pacific Landscape Management has provided exterior maintenance for free over the last 18 months.
Read more at Oregon Live here.
This is wonderful news! The real question is why did the city let it sit there unused for years while the situation got worse and worse? This happened even though numerous knowledgeable people and organizations were pleading with them to use it.
The simple fact is that this issue requires some tough choices to be made if we want any chance to reclaim our beautiful city. The mayor and city council need to Grow a Pair!!