Mercedes Elizalde

Housing and human services advocate, public policy and civics nerd, MNPL

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

Watching people complain that Measure 110 is not working while actively defunding and recriminalizing, picking it apart constantly, is hurting my head and breaking my heart. We will never build this house if we keep knocking over each brick just as it is laid. 💔

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

Watching the congressional hearings about TikTok on TikTok is probably exactly what these legislators don't want me to do....

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

There are no "short-term" solutions. There is only the long-term commitment to housing stability and we are either doing the work or debating the work

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

People ask, why it is taking so long to address homeless: exhibit A - the hot and cold/go and stop of political mood swings do a great job of delaying results. We need a consistent and sustainable commitment to healthy and stable communities.

[HereTogether @HereTogetherOR]

BREAKING: Clackamas County Chair Tootie Smith just RESCINDED her vote approving $8M in state money to purchase a hotel for transitional housing. This is an utterly senseless decision that will further set back the work to bring our unhoused neighbors indoors.

[Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse]

Bob and Eric are ready to move out of their shared room at Blanchet House but no one will rent to them. They did the tough work of getting off the street, gaining sobriety, securing employment, and saving up money for a deposit and rent. The problem is that they have criminal records, bad credit, and no rental history due to their past homelessness and addiction. Landlords and management companies see that and flag their applications despite the positive changes in their lives. Like everyone, they want to live in a safe neighborhood without open drug use, but find it impossible to secure. It's a barrier to ending homelessness that we need to address. How do we expect people to better their situations if it's nearly impossible to do so?

[Daniel C Hauser @DanielCHauser]

I mean, that's not exactly how I would put it, I'll take the endorsement, @TimNesbittOR! BTW: with new data, the Working Families Kicker would take the median kicker from $790 to $1,740!!! #orpol #orleg https://t.co/1hFGozYWma

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

But it makes me so sad to explain again and again... No it's not scary, no it's not empty, yes it's busy and yes it's fun... Having constant media coverage of people saying my neighborhood is dead is starting to hurt my feelings

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

As someone who lives #downtownPDX, I feel this so much. I love my neighborhood, my community is vibrant, creative, loud and exciting. There is always something new to try and my feet/hop pass can take me almost everywhere I need/want to go

[Jim Russell @ProducerCities]

The problems in the urban core are not economic, but political (e.g. tax regime) & social (e.g. perception of crime).

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

Bootlegging in 2023

https://t.co/O9yyQyGB4Q

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

Great interview!

https://t.co/v9ihG5UyGF

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

There is not an "end" ...there is a change in who we are and how we treat each other.

[Israel Bayer @IsraelBayer]

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but ending homelessness in our community &/or American isn’t about setting a target number of people we house. It’s about changing systems, holding corporate actors responsible & building the necessary housing for our most vulnerable citizens.

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

Well said indeed
https://t.co/kJfyAosaGv

[End Homelessness @naehomelessness]

Per @urbaninstitute, it costs taxpayers:

💰 $31,065 a year to criminalize a single person experiencing homelessness
💰 $10,051 a year to provide supportive housing instead

Which do you think is better for a city budget?
https://t.co/9LnfyNg6Na

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

@skermanpdx @blanchethouse Thank you for being open

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

Shelters aren't enough and they are never going to be enough. #housekeysendhomelessness

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

If you have been wondering why we need to give out tents and tarps - this is how we save lives when people aren't able to use the vacant housing in their community, when people can't afford it or when landlord screening denies them access even when they could afford it

[Multnomah County, OR @multco]

Severe weather shelters closed at 8 a.m. today.
Temps will not reach the severe weather thresholds @multco & @portlandgov officials use — in consultation with @multcoEM, @MultcoHealth, County Human Services, @multco_johs, & @nwsportland — to jointly decide shelter plans.1/2

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

@mkaiasand @USICHgov @tedwheeler @jeffolivet Hopefully there are some experts whose word still means something

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

@dkafoury @multco You will be missed ❤️💪

[Mercedes Elizalde @Mercedes0_o]

@hardlynormal Every year the housing choice voucher isn't made an entitlement program, congress chooses to maintain homelessness

[Mark Horvath @hardlynormal]

And we can’t end homelessness because…