Oregon AFSCME is deeply concerned by the City of Portland’s recent announcement to transfer the contract for the Multnomah Safe Rest Village (MSRV) from Sunstone Way—a unionized service provider—to Urban Alchemy, a non-union organization with a troubling record as both an employer and a service provider.
This decision jeopardizes critical services for some of Portland’s most vulnerable residents, threatens the jobs of union workers committed to trauma-informed care, and raises serious questions about the City’s support for ethical, safe, and sustainable solutions to homelessness.
“The disruption in services would be detrimental to the progress of our participants, leaving them to start from the ground up,” said Chloe Hitt, a Navigation Specialist at MSRV. “We cannot allow our participants to be failed by this system again, as they have been repeatedly. Through our housing-first and trauma-informed approach at Sunstone Way, we have been able to foster this culture.”
Frontline workers at Sunstone Way reported that some of their colleagues previously employed by Urban Alchemy left due to unsafe and unethical conditions. One such worker, who requested anonymity, described witnessing substance use on the job, neglect of participants, and a failure to conduct basic welfare checks, leading to overdoses and other serious health risks.
“We have heard from decision makers that this transition is already in motion. But it is not too late to do the right thing” said Joe Baessler, Oregon AFSCME Executive Director. “. “We urge the City of Portland to reconsider this harmful decision and continue its contract with Sunstone Way—preserving union jobs and ensuring care for participants is rooted in accountability, safety, and compassion.”
Oregon AFSCME stands with the workers of Sunstone Way and the participants of the Multnomah Safe Rest Village. We call on city leaders to halt this transition and prioritize providers who are committed to trauma-informed practices and worker protections.
###
