JOHS RESPONSE TO WILDFIRES AND POOR AIR QUALITY

In early September 2020, the Pacific Northwest was ravaged by devastating wildfires that burned over one million acres of land in the state of Oregon alone. As a result, the air quality in the region increased to such hazardous levels that our skies were orange, and the air outside was almost unbreathable. 

Recognizing the urgent need at hand, Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) partnered with The Joint Office of Homelessness (JOHS) to help reduce the impact of poor air quality on our most vulnerable community members. The JOHS serves as a partnership between Multnomah County and the City of Portland to address homelessness in our region; therefore, it was only right to work together to provide temporary shelter for individuals with minor children experiencing homelessness.

Through many community relationships, SEI was able to identify vacant hotel rooms when inventory was almost obsolete due to mass evacuations and families seeking refuge in hotels in Multnomah County. With a contract amendment from the JOHS granting the agency permission to provide emergency shelter services, SEI staff pivoted to reach the most vulnerable in our community. Taking around-the-clock shifts, our team coordinated services for incoming households by overseeing the intake process, providing emergency food items and necessities, helping families get ‘settled in,’ as well as managing daily needs.

At SEI, we believe in the power of collective work and responsibility. As a family, as a collective, as a village, we believe that together, we can make a dynamic impact on our community.