Belinda Estermyer is one half of a sister duo selling papers for Street Roots. She and her sister, Karen Fleming, moved to Portland from Missoula, Montana, and had previously been victims of flooding in Texas.
“When my sister and I first came to Portland, I kept hearing about a newspaper called Street Roots,” Belinda said. “So we decided to check into it. We wound up getting an apartment right across from where I sell papers (at Southwest Second Avenue and Oak Street). It’s been good. We’ve been able to stay in the same building. It has been three years — four years in July. That’s pretty good for us.”
Living with her sister makes Belinda happy.
“My sister and I take care of each other,” she said. “She’s a very good person.”
Belinda worries that they might be able to stay only another year. She said it depends on their income from Social Security Disability. She also worries that the pandemic has made it hard on people and that workers aren’t coming back to downtown offices. She relies heavily on the customers from the federal offices in the nearby towers. But some customers have persisted throughout the pandemic, and she is grateful for the people at Portland Burger, a corner restaurant. She said they faithfully buy two papers every week.
As much as the income, she also relies on the community and friendship that Street Roots provides.
“Street Roots has meant finding friends,” she said. “It brought my sister and me out of our shell a little bit. Everyone around us has been nice. One of my favorite customers heard that we got our first apartment. She helped us out a lot to get stuff we needed: blankets and towels. And she loaned us some air beds so we didn’t have to sleep on the floor. I thank God for her every day. We returned the air beds to her when we got our beds.”
Gratitude drives Belinda’s own actions.
“I try to pay it forward now. I thank God for some of the people we came across. They were helpful, meaningful and very nice. Whenever we get someone new in the building, sometimes they are just coming in off the streets, so we give blankets, dishes or whatever extra we have, even food. We figure out how to give what we can,” Belinda said.
Belinda creates community wherever she is.
“Community is important. If everyone would just quit their crazy fighting, they would realize they get to wake up every morning and see the sunshine, or the clouds,” she said, “and realize they are lucky.
“My biggest hope is that we find some place for people to live safely outside. You could allow people to rent a small amount of land, a tiny spot, but give them their own space and pride. Because once there is stability, you can grow community.”
Belinda has plans for when the pandemic is over. She is excited to be back out selling papers to her customers.
“I can’t wait to be back full time on my corner. I claimed it! I miss seeing the customers I have. I have a few who still make the trip just to see if I’m out,” she said.
Belinda sells Street Roots downtown, and her sister, Karen, sells papers in the Alphabet District, at the Fred Meyer on West Burnside on the weekends.
