Following years of contentious proposals and lawsuits aimed at moving them out of a gentrifying neighborhood, the Right 2 Dream Too rest area for homeless people has moved temporarily to the Rose Quarter, in the shadow of the grain elevators along the Willamette River. Organizers say volunteers helped them move out of their West Burnside and NW 4th Avenue location of five years as of June 6, 2017, one day before an eviction deadline.

Sarah Chandler, a resident and board member of Right 2 Dream Too, says here on the eastside she wakes up to birds chirping. They may have traded one late night ruckus for another, though.

“We swapped Dante’s (nightclub) for the train,” Chandler explains, minutes after some railroad cars a stone’s throw away went screeching by. “It’s the horns that wake you up at least once through the night.”

But the neighbors, including the Lloyd District Community Association and the Moda Center, have set out the welcome mat, not to mention students in a Benson High School class donating tiny houses.

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Out with the old

This is all that's left of the old Right 2 Dream Too camp next to the Old Town Chinatown gate. A security officer was stationed there recently. This space accomodated about 75 homeless people. The new space can accept 100 maximum.

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In with the new tiny houses

Dennis "Mack" McKenzie, Sr., stands in the middle of his tiny house at the new Right 2 Dream Too site.

After earning membership in Right 2 Dream Too by following a code of conduct, working volunteer hours and passing several rounds of approval by fellow members, he's earned full-time lodging in this tiny house. Non-members sleep on the floor of a general population area for 12 hours in each 24-hour period.

Mack usually lives in the mountains, but agreed to put his carpentry skills to use helping Right 2 Dream Too resettle.

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Creature comforts

Mack always has "the two best books" with him: a bible and a Western novel. He was on his way back to life in the Three Sisters wilderness when it was clear Right 2 Dream Too needed him to stick around. The spring, summer and fall are the time he is preparing for winter in the mountain by stockpiling wood and food.

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The little things

Jonathan Chandler (right) stops to chat with Mack, sitting in the doorway of his tiny house. The old location of Right 2 Dream Too was on a gravel lot. Here, across from the Moda Center, it is located on the edge of an asphalt parking lot. The hard surface will be great for people in wheel chairs and walkers, according to member and resident Sarah Chandler. Also here, by the river, the air smells fresher and they can see the sunset and moon hang in the night sky. “It's the simple things, the little things you forgot you missed.”

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Make it your own

This bell was hanging on a fence when they first arrived at this new site. Mack is making it into a doorbell for his tiny house. He's also customized his living space with hand-me-down items, such as a mirror, broom and American flag. He found some rough-cut pine wood and added window trim to stop a draft.

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Bare necessities

Mack hikes down from the mountain with three main packs: fishing gear, clothing and camping gear (bedroll, coffee pot, skillet, saw, ax, etc). The fishing pole is only for practice while he's in the city, where he says the fish are too dirty to eat. "Don't eat any (fish) west of the Cascades." He's heard the Salmon River might be okay, but he still can't cook a catch since open flames aren't allowed at Right 2 Dream Too.

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Progress and setbacks

“We’re moving forward from a blank site," says member Sarah Chandler, of their progress.

But some complications mean they can't open to the general population yet. They're waiting to hear back from the fire marshal about their emergency exit plan. Even though the city has flushed their water line and set up electrical conduit, Right 2 Dream Too hasn't been allowed to store gray water (so no dishwashing) and the power company wants them to cut back a tree too close to the conduit.

They need the electricity to run their computers which contain vital paperwork, such as who is checking in and out, security logs, incident reports and who is banned from staying.

Thanks to private donations and grants, Right 2 Dream Too pays for all their utilities: water, electricity, portable toilets, garbage and laundry for sleeping bags.

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Being a good neighbor

Right 2 Dream Too meets on a regular basis with a conglomeration of interested parties as they put together a Good Neighbor Agreement.

This group includes Moda Center management, the Lloyd District Community Association, Union Pacific, Louis Dreyfus Company (grain elevator owner), the City of Portland and Portland Police Bureau.

According to Sarah Chandler, the Moda Center and Lloyd District representatives have been "very supportive and helpful. We've been pushed away from other places because of neighbors. We really are blessed to be working with them here."

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"We're not scared of change."

As Right 2 Dream Too rises at its new site, any questions from businesses and residents are being answered thanks to orchestrated communication helped along by the neighbors.

After learning from media outlets about the city's decision to relocate Right 2 Dream Too there, Lloyd District Community Association chairperson Brian Griffis says they immediately got in touch with Mayor Ted Wheeler's office and have had a productive relationship.

As for any concerns regarding the camp, Griffis says there's "no evidence other than they'll be good neighbors. We’re (an) evolving (area). We’re not scared of change."

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Welcome to the neighborhood

“We’re treating (Right 2 Dream Too) like a neighbor," says Lloyd District Community Association chairperson Brian Griffis. "We want to make sure they have what they need and that the communication is open between Moda Center, the grain elevator operator (Dreyfus) and Union Pacific Railroad." Those are the adjacent properties to Right 2 Dream Too now.

“I hope people start to focus on how to find a solution. It’s not just a Lloyd District problem or a City of Portland problem. The solution has to come from everyone, not the city or non-profits or shelters, but from neighborhood associations as well.”

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"We're in the middle of a housing crisis."

Keith Jones is the chairperson of Livable Lloyd, the Lloyd District Community Association's residents' committee. He moved here in 2010 from Detroit, where you got things done by rolling up your sleeves and pitching in.

“We’re in the middle of a housing crisis. We can push (Right 2 Dream Too) off or we can invite them in and create a model that other neighborhoods can pull off too.”

Jones says community organizations are stepping up. Lloyd EcoDistrict has plans for showers at Right 2 Dream Too. Neighbors in the adjacent Sullivan's Gulch area have been helpful. Talk of food drives abound.

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Out of sight, not out of mind

Livable Lloyd chairperson Keith Jones was volunteering on a Saturday during Right 2 Dream Too's big move to the eastside when he saw that an unruly man presented a problem for the camp's organizers. Member resident Sarah Chandler says this man was not welcome, he was belligerent and had no interest in following Right 2 Dream Too's code of conduct. And his vehicle was blocking emergency access.

Jones made some phone calls to the city and to Moda Center, trying to figure out who would have jurisdiction.

Chandler credits Jones and Moda Center security for eventually vocalizing to the Portland Police Bureau what was happening to have it taken care of.

"It's terrible that this happened," says Jones. "But, this happening early on gives us the opportunity to figure out where the lines of communication are open. Who are our primary contacts? When do we contact them and for what reasons? How do we want to resolve a conflict?"

"I represent other residents and (Right 2 Dream Too), they're residents," explains Jones. "They have an organization and are willing to work, as opposed to an unsanctioned camp. Who do you go to there?"

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Giving back

These tiny houses were designed and built by freshmen students from Benson High School over the last two school years.

At the beginning of this school year, their storage shed was broken into and $8,000 worth of material and tools were stolen.

Lowe's replaced all their tools and donated a new shipping container for storage. Strangers chipped in $9,000. Construction teacher Tim Hryciw says a family living out of their motor home gave tools and a gift card, explaining that what they have is greater than what the Right 2 Dream Too inhabitants have. Benson High School is 70% free and reduced lunch, according to Hryciw. Ten tiny houses were built.

"No matter what your stage in life, you can give back," he says.

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Benson High students see their work in action

Benson High School freshmen in Tech Geometry class visit the new location of Right 2 Dream Too on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. Two classes of 45 students each worked on these tiny houses, now being inhabited by voted-in members of Right 2 Dream Too. Benson started building tiny houses four years ago during a project for Dignity Village.

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"My job is helping people."

Trinity Webber (lower right) says taking part in building these structures solidified her desire to help people. She wants to be a doctor. Her work in this class stoked her passion. She thinks that was a surprising part of the class.

"I'm making a difference, slowly putting the pieces together and solving it. People who could die on the streets now have shelter."

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Building community

Kayla Stolte speaks to her Tech Geometry students during a visit to Right 2 Dream Too to see the tiny houses they built in action.

"I'm inspired daily by (the students') work. They went from not knowing how to use power tools to building ten units from the ground up."

But Stolte knows something intangible was also growing.

"It's their kindness for each other and the community. They do this for the community, and it also builds their community."

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Transitions

Despite the solid walls and mattress, Right 2 Dream Too is not meant to be permanent housing, according to member resident Sarah Chandler. Her husband agrees. The creature comforts of a real home, such as plumbing, are absent here.

"I like showers and flushing toilets," says Jerry Chandler. "I like my wife being able to cook me enchiladas."

At Right 2 Dream Too, water comes from a single spigot jutting out of a shipping container. It's for drinking, hand washing and teethbrushing only. Showers are taken off-site, at one of the social service agencies. Portable toilets are onsite. The only kitchen appliances are a microwave and coffee pot. Meals are usually accessed at Blanchet House, Portland Rescue Mission or Union Gospel Mission.

Jerry says he got laid off from his dishwashing job at a Pearl District restaurant, but he's following a lead on another job right now. Sarah mentions there's an opening at the Moda Center that he should look into.

Moda Center management, for their part, is keeping an open mind about Right 2 Dream Too. According to Michael Lewellen, Vice President for Corporate Communications:

“We continue to work with Right to Dream Too, and the City of Portland, on their transition to this temporary location, and how we can be good neighbors in helping the homeless population they serve.”