So...here's the deal --- it's rough out there...
You don't have to look far to see all the ways our institutions are crumbling. The impact made at the federal level is straining so many of our usual means of support.
Storyline has always been lean. We've always been scrappy. We've never relied on government money or federal grants, but that doesn't mean the cuts don't impact us, because that means the competition for private grants has skyrocketed as bigger organizations whose funding is impacted by the cut flock to those, creating more competition.
Furthermore, federal and state changes have created incredible strain on our mutual aid...
Storyline has always been lean. We've always been scrappy. We've never relied on government money or federal grants, but that doesn't mean the cuts don't impact us, because that means the competition for private grants has skyrocketed as bigger organizations whose funding is impacted by the cut flock to those, creating more competition.
Furthermore, federal and state changes have created incredible strain on our mutual aid...
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Cost of Living Increases
As the cost of gas, groceries, and rent rise, our neighbors continue to face impossible choices and decisions, and more and more find themselves moving closer and closer to being one disaster, one medical emergency, or one job loss away from becoming unhoused. Some of the most common things we hear from the families we accompany: "I never thought this could happen to me."
And with no end in sight |
75% Cut to Eviction and Prevention
Last year, the Oregon Legislature voted to cut 75% of the funding for eviction and prevention services --- in a state that is number one in country for unhoused families with children. This means that your neighbors who are right on the verge of being unhoused are often unable to access any resources until they are literally homeless --- and sometimes not even then.
This creates a huge gap in our support systems, where very minimal resources are allocated to preventing our neighbors from becoming unhoused. |
Targeting of Immigrant Neighbors
Any one of these may have been manageable for our mutual aid, but this year, we found ourselves serving a whole new population. Our immigrant neighbors have never been the primary recipients of our mutual aid, but in the wake of ICE terrorizing our communities, many of our immigrant families are so fearful to leave the house they can't go to work, or their primary bread-winners have been kidnapped (most often on their way to work). This puts our immigrant neighbors particularly vulnerable to becoming unhoused.
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This has resulted in a 108% INCREASE in our overall mutual aid spending, and for the first time, we are starting to have to say "no" on a some of our mutual aid asks. .
Who does our Mutual Aid Go to?
Most of our mutual aid goes to families in the school district! When counselors, McKinney-Vento Liasons, and family advocates are unable to get emergent help from the county, they know that Storyline's mutual aid is nimble, quick, and is not caught up in a bunch of red tape.
However, as the need has risen, we now get cold calls from neighbors who are between jobs, have lost jobs due to illness, or who are fleeing domestic violence situations.
Here are just a few stories of neighbors who have received help from our mutual aid network:
However, as the need has risen, we now get cold calls from neighbors who are between jobs, have lost jobs due to illness, or who are fleeing domestic violence situations.
Here are just a few stories of neighbors who have received help from our mutual aid network:
- A family of four, living out of their car, who were told when they called for assistance: "We have nothing for families at this time." We used our network of connections to get this family into temporary housing in a few months. The mother expressed to us: "You have no idea what it means to me that my babies will have a roof over their heads on Christmas."
- An unaccompanied youth at a local high school was able to find temporary housing with one of our staff until she could be reunited with her mother
- A formerly unhoused mother was finally able to find housing, but her $11,000 in back rent seemed like an insurmountable obstacle that would keep her from her being able to actually get back on her feet. Our collab of faith communities were able to collectively cover $8,000 of it, making it possible for her to secure housing for herself and her kids.
- A family with two high school students in a local school whose parent had not been able to work because their workplace was raided twice by ICE. She has fallen $2,000 behind on bill. We were able to keep her lights on and help keep her housed.
- A single mom who had just started a new job with two elementary school students in NCSD who needed over $2,000 in assistance to keep her and her kids housed.
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Our goal from now until Giving Tuesday is...
What does general operating mean at Storyline?
Almost all of our budget goes to staff: staff that lives and works local in Clackamas County, directly benefiting the community of Clackamas County through:
- Mutual aid coordination, fundraising, and distribution
- Community organizing around housing, immigrant rights, and protection for our LGBTQIA+ neighbors
- Migra Watch Trainings
- KYR trainings
- Leadership development of impacted folks
- Work with the SE Portland Youth Collective
Bottom Line...
Storyline has always been small; it's always been scrappy, but we need the help of our community to continue serving Clackamas in the way we have and at the same level we have. Our mutual aid likely won't last through the end of the year, and Storyline is facing a $40,000 deficit in our budget going into next year.
$5,000 may seem small when you look at those numbers. But it's not for us! $5,000 can go a long way in an organization that is used to making a little go a long way!
$5,000 may seem small when you look at those numbers. But it's not for us! $5,000 can go a long way in an organization that is used to making a little go a long way!
How can you help?
1) Get the word out! Follow us on Social Media (Facebook and Instagram) and share our posts far and wide! You never know who is going to see it.
2) Bring us cans! We opened a non-profit account with the Bottle Drop to help us meet our goal! So if you love your Diet Coke, your sparkle water, or your energy drinks --- bring us the cans! We'll not only make sure they get recycled, but also assure that the funds go to serve the community of Clackamas County.
2) Bring us cans! We opened a non-profit account with the Bottle Drop to help us meet our goal! So if you love your Diet Coke, your sparkle water, or your energy drinks --- bring us the cans! We'll not only make sure they get recycled, but also assure that the funds go to serve the community of Clackamas County.
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3) Give!
We keep saying that Storyline is scrappy. We are held together by small grants and small donations from our community. So even if it's $5 , you can give toward our $5,000 goal; we consider it a huge honor that you trust us with that $5. <------- Hit this button to donate! |
4) Let us know what you think!
None of our staff expertise is fundraising! But we are good community organizers, and we love hearing from our neighbors! Let us know if you have an idea of ways to help us meet our goal or you want to brainstorm with us, don't hestitate to reach out to let us know!
None of our staff expertise is fundraising! But we are good community organizers, and we love hearing from our neighbors! Let us know if you have an idea of ways to help us meet our goal or you want to brainstorm with us, don't hestitate to reach out to let us know!
