Hope throughout Beaverton: share blessings with others

#MessageFromTheMayor

November, a month that brings falling leaves and family gatherings, is also a time when we are reminded to give thanks for our many blessings. Yet, as we enjoy our warm homes and meals, it’s crucial we remember not everyone in our community shares the same comforts.

In Washington County, over 800 of our neighbors, friends, and fellow community members, from young children to seniors, are experiencing homelessness. These are men, women, families—people who, through a variety of circumstances, find themselves without a place to call home.

Shockingly, many of us are just one unexpected event away from a similar fate. The stability we often take for granted is fragile, particularly given the housing pressures our community faces.

The Portland metro area boasts a distressingly low rental vacancy rate of less than 2%. To compound this, median rent in Beaverton for a two-bedroom apartment has surged by $800 per month in just the last eight years. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent real challenges faced by our friends and neighbors.

As we reflect on what we are thankful for, let us also consider how we might extend our hand in compassion and support to those in need. The season of thanks is not just about recognizing our blessings but about sharing them with others.

Let’s open our hearts and minds to understanding, volunteering, donating, and genuinely seeing those who often feel invisible. By doing so, we can ensure that the spirit of gratitude and giving transcends well beyond the Thanksgiving table, creating ripples of change and hope throughout Beaverton.”

Lacey Beaty was elected Mayor of Beaverton in 2020. Prior to serving as Mayor, she served for six years on the Beaverton City Council.