Meal Provider Cuts Services Due to Safety Concerns

Two major sites providing nutritious meals to vulnerable elderly populations in Portland, Oregon, have closed primarily due to rising crime rates. The closures, which happened at the beginning of summer, involve the Court Center in Hillsboro and the Elm Court site downtown. Particularly, the Elm Court site has faced significant safety concerns.

CEO Suzanne Washington remarked that it became difficult to ensure safety for both staff and volunteers. Issues, including drug trafficking and violence, made the environment too risky. “If you’re here yourself, don’t come here at night,” she advised. Moreover, the reality was stark; there were hazards like needles and open drug deals occurring regularly. In one instance, officials reportedly had to navigate past a corpse to access the Elm site.

Residents in the area acknowledged that crime and drug activity have dramatically escalated. Sean Meath, a former tenant of the Elm Court, echoed the sentiment, saying, “If you’re here, don’t come here at night, because within a mile or two radius, it’s not a fun place to be yourself.” Since its opening in 2007, the Elm Court location has supported over 300 clients but paused in-person meals during the lockdowns. It functioned instead as a distribution hub for food deliveries to senior citizens.

Washington explained that they were essentially paying for a space they couldn’t safely utilize. “We got to the point where we were paying for the space for a gathering meal, but we couldn’t use it because we were afraid people would come in,” she stated. The national Meals on Wheels organization has refrained from commenting on specific factors affecting meal provisions, but released a statement acknowledging the difficult choices providers must make due to inadequate funding, especially with dwindling COVID-19 emergency funds.

Dining providers across the country are faced with tough decisions daily, driven by increasing demand and insufficient resources. We currently have a waitlist for every three meals served. While our program has shown success in addressing senior hunger and isolation, we need more community-based resources to reach everyone in need.

Washington’s team is contemplating finding an alternative location but has prioritized budget efficiency, stating, “Instead of paying elsewhere, we want to continue feeding people.” They’ve managed to cut over $1 million from their budget due to expiring federal funds and looming cuts, aiming to direct remaining resources toward food rather than overhead costs.

Despite challenges, their new budgeting approach seems effective so far. They continue to meet food demand without having anyone wait. However, Washington underscored the ongoing need for donations and volunteers, appealing for support as the organization aims to help elderly individuals who are increasingly relying on their services.