Press and News

Right now, we’re facing a tough challenge. Many of Portland's most vital nonprofits are facing the same financial and structural crises and in turn,  it’s affecting essential services across the city,

The organization’s executive director is departing as the nonprofit scraps plans to reopen its cafe in the former House of Louie building.

Aug 20, 2024: Sisters Systemic Change Director Lauren Armony is interested to find out what the City of Portland will be looking at in their enforcement of the city’s camping ban. “Is it going to be people who are able to show up for their court dates? Is it going to be repeat offenses?”

July 3, 2024: “The current lack of shelter for those seeking it out makes service providers bristle at a particular facet of enforcement that may actually reduce broader shelter availability . . . Lauren Armony, Sisters of the Road systemic change program director, told Street Roots holding beds open for emergency situations is an existing practice, but holding beds open to enforce the ordinance is counterproductive.”

June 28, 2024: Sisters’ Executive Director Kat Mahoney spoke to KOIN’s Joelle Jones regarding the Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court decision this June. “This does not change the problem. It merely just hides the people,” she said.

May 15, 2024: Sisters’ Systemic Change Director Lauren Armony and Hygiene 4 All Executive Director Sandra Comstock spoke with OPB’s Dave Miller in May regarding Portland City Council’s latest camping ordinance. Despite testimonies from service providers and people most impacted by the ordinance, the ordinance passed unanimously in early May.

May 8, 2024: Sisters Systemic Change Director Lauren Armony told KGW, “We know from our community that there is not enough reasonable shelter options . . . We do fear that the claim that there are shelter beds available will be weaponized against our community and that the narrative of ‘service resistant’ will be used.”

April 24, 2024: “Several members of the public who testified echoed this concern, calling the rushed amendment “legislation by chaos” an disrespectful.” Many of them rejected both Gonzalez’s and Wheeler’s proposals for prioritizing penalties for people experiencing homelessness over offering social services and shelter.”

April 24, 2024: People demanded leaders not criminalize homeless camps on public streets. “If you are not sure how to make this pass legal muster, then perhaps you should just give up on it, at least until everyone has a home,” Brenna Fawson, an advocate with the organization Sisters of the Road, told city leaders.

April 4, 2024: Sisters Systemic Change Director Lauren Armony explained to KGW this week that that new proposed ordinance shifts from the more direct and precise Time, Place, Manner ordinance introduced over the summer, to a much more ambiguous one. “It’s really unclear how and when they are going to be enforcing these rules,” Lauren told KGW.

Feb 21, 2024: "We have a lot of ethical concerns around our funds going to ... further traumatize and entrench our community in poverty." - Lauren Armony, Sisters Systemic Change Director

Jan 9, 2024: “This is willful negligence. … We can allocate resources more effectively if we have data on what types of shelter work best for unhoused residents.” - Lauren Armony, Sisters Systemic Change Director

Jan 11, 2024: “Kat Mahoney, the executive director of Sisters of the Road, said this isn’t a case of ‘a few bad apples,’ adding, ‘Are the good apples doing anything to get rid of the bad apples? It looks from what I’ve seen: No.’” - Kat Mahoney, Sisters Executive Director

Dec 21, 2023: Community members and homeless services organizations gathered on the night of Dec. 21, 2023, for a Houseless Day of Remembrance memorial in honor of people who lost their lives while homeless this year. The event is recognized annually on the first day of winter — the longest night of the year.

Nov 9, 2023: “A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge has blocked enforcement of Portland's daytime camping ban. ‘We can’t tell them how long it's going to last, but just having more time where people are not as forcefully displaced is good.’ - Sisters Systemic Change Director Lauren Armony

Nov 1, 2023: “There’s no simple answer. Portlanders are frustrated at seeing the violence of poverty outside their window. However, when the solution is to remove ‘inconvenient’ people from the visible places, we’re reducing their humanity. We’re choosing not to see them.” - Kat Mahoney, Sisters Executive Director

July 5, 2023: After Sisters of the Road’s non-profit cafe closed during the pandemic, the organization announced Wednesday they've purchased another home. And it happens to be one of the most historic landmarks in Chinatown.

Dec 10, 2009: “We believe if you want to solve homelessness, do more than satiate the immediate, urgent needs of homeless people, build community and share power with them.” - Genny Nelson, Sisters Co-Founder