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PEEPs, the Portland Environmental Engagement Program went to Dignity Village for a day to learn about homelessness in our community. When we visited we helped pull nails from wood that will be reused to build houses, and we painted the donation center. We worked side by side with the residents and had a great time learning and goofing around. We wish all the people at Dignity Village the best of luck, and we hope to see them again soon!
Dignity Village
Have You Been To Dignity Village? We have! It’s the only legal community of its kind in the world. The people that live here recycle everything, even themselves! They build a community out of recycled materials that have been thrown out, and make their homes from it.
When we visited Dignity Village, they told us that before we visited, it used to be a tent camp, and now they build their homes together, and work together to help there community thrive. When we visited, all of the people there acted like brothers and sisters, and they treated us the same way. They don’t treat anyone differently, everyone has to work to build and maintain the community.
Dignity Village offers a place for homeless to get back on their feet. It’s a community that helps each other make the right choices. Before Dignity Village, they didn’t have a place to stay; many people lived on street corners or doorways. The community at Dignity Village takes in these people and gives them a place to stay, until they can take care of themselves again. This is what we mean when we say they recycle themselves, they take in people that need help, help them build a home and work on restoring themselves. Once people get back on their feet, they are able to work on getting a new home, and they are able to leave Dignity Village.
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