What is this? Where am I? How did I get here?
This is a handwritten guide to the HYC, or Homeless Youth Continuum, for people in the Portland, Oregon, US area. Quite specifically. If you are not homeless, under 25, and in this city, I'm not sure what to tell you. There are more resource areas being added as this site is built, but this is a resource meant to serve youth in the Pacific Northwest.
Don't fall into those categories? Feel free to check this site out anyway. You can find resources, stories, and ways to help in the menu at the top (or on the side for some devices). It's an ongoing collaboration in a growing movement to actually do something to end homelessness. We are in an age of information where many youth on the streets don't have the street knowledge or social supports to find out critical information about meeting their needs. Many of us lack phones. This guide (and accompanying zines, discussions, and events in-person) are one step forward in a world that wants us to suffer. Knowledge is power. Sharing it helps everyone survive.
Who runs this thing, anyways? Why is this site important?
It started in the hands of a 22-year-old wheelchair user who was fed up with not having a central resource where people can access this information. Where is safe and accessible to sleep? Where do I go when I'm hungry? How the hell do I find my way around here? These problems have solutions, and putting the power back in the hands of the youth who need it by providing answers at a quick glance is exactly why this site exists.
Why are there blank pages?
We are unhoused youth with busy lives and this site is an active commitment we make, so things are added, edited, or expanded as we go. A feedback form is available here.