WHOVILLE – Keeping People Warm

By not being allowed the use of fire to keep warm, unhoused people suffer from many preventable illnesses.  Flus and viruses that travel in the unhoused community are often caused by weather exposure.  Because of the nature of an airborne sickness, these illnesses effect the health of everyone in the city.  Because they have no place to warm up, unhoused people lose fingers and toes from frostbite every winter–while it is unheard of in the housed community.  It is the overall health of our whole community that is most important but the financial cost is heavy also.  Preventable Emergency Room visits cost money and the unhoused cannot pay for it, so it is again our whole community eventually paying the price.

Whoville provided vital warmth during the frigid winter months of 2013/2014.  The simple fire that they were allowed there, increased the quality of life for many people all winter.  It is inconceivable how to survive the winter in Oregon’s climate without being allowed heat.  If you visit a Protest Camp during the winter, you understand how vital the need for warmth really is.

Photos by Jana Thrift

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