Sisters Of The Road

TO PROVIDE LOW COST MEALS TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOUSELESSNESS AND POVERTY IN A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHILE SEEKING SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.

CAFE HOT MEALS/BARTER PROGRAM: SISTERS OF THE ROAD CAFE PROVIDES LOW COST MEALS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR HAVE LOW INCOMES, TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM. THE COST OF THE MEAL IS $1.25, WHICH MAY BE PAID FOR IN CASH, WITH THE OREGON TRAIL BENEFIT CARD, A MEAL COUPON, OR WITH CREDIT EARNED BY WORKING THROUGH THE HOT MEALS/BARTER PROGRAM IN THE CAFE. MEALS ARE SERVED FREE OF CHARGE TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY AND UNABLE TO WORK DUE TO AGE, HEALTH, OR PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES. THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, THE CAFE IS ABLE TO SERVE THE FRESHEST FOOD POSSIBLE AND BECOME MORE SUSTAINABLE IN ALL OF OUR PRACTICES. FROM MARCH 2020, THE CAFE STARTED SERVING TO-GO MEALS FOR FREE FROM THE PERSONALIST CENTER ENTRY WAY. BARTER WORK WAS PUT ON HOLD FROM MARCH TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 WHICH IS WHY MEALS WERE MADE FREE OF CHARGE. YET WE CONTINUED TO SERVE THE SAME HOMECOOKED MEALS WITH 40% FRESH PRODUCE/SALAD WITH VEGAN, VEGETARIAN OPTIONS ALONGSIDE FEW MORE DIFFERENT DRINK OPTIONS.

OUR SYSTEMIC CHANGE TEAM WORKS TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMING THAT EMPOWERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE THEIR OWN ADVOCATES, AND SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY AND HOUSELESSNESS. WE ARE GROUNDED IN THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE FROM OUR CUSTOMER COMMUNITY SHOULD BE LEADING THIS WORK IN ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND WE PROVIDE FOLKS A SPACE AND THE AUTONOMY TO TAKE ON THESE LEADERSHIP ROLES. SISTERS IS COMMITTED TO WORKING TOWARDS SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS TO END HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY FOREVER. WE DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY IN THE CAFE BY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND ALSO THROUGH OUR SYSTEMIC CHANGE PROGRAM, WHICH CURRENTLY ENCOMPASSES OUR FOOD JUSTICE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR WRAP INTERN AND PROGRAM. SYSTEMIC CHANGE WORK THIS YEAR HAS INCLUDED OUR POPULAR EXCHANGE PROGRAM WITH PORTLAND FARMER'S MARKETS, WHICH ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO EXCHANGE BARTER CARDS FOR FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE AT LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS. OUR SYSTEMIC CHANGE TEAM HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OTHER LOCAL GROUPS TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO HYGIENE FACILITIES AND DECRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS. REGULAR STYSTEMIC CHANGE PROGRAMMING HAS EVOLVED THROUGH COVID IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE GREATEST SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS MEANING WE NO LONGER HELD ORGANIZING MEETINGS INDOORS. DURING THE DURATION OF 2020 THIS TEAM FOCUSED ON ORGANIZNG WITH WESTERN REGIONAL ADVOCACY PROJECT AND STOP THE SWEEPS AS WELL AS PROVIDING ON THE GROUND SUPPORT FOR HOUSELESS NIEGHBORS WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE PROTESTS GOING ON IN THE CITY FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.