No Place to Grow Old

This film has brought me to tears multiple times. "No Place to Grow Old" flies in the face of those critical of our unhoused neighbors in Portland, distinctly humanizing and championing each one and their unique story. This short doc feels like a love letter to Portland with so much of the city beautifully on display throughout. Those who live here are rocked by having such attention called to the plight of those who are underserved in the same physical places they call home - the Portlanders watching will recognize the Starbucks around the corner from their house, the park they walk through on their days off of work, and the streets they shop through downtown.

Getting to know the stars of this film is a true joy - the filmmakers let you into their past, their present realities, and hopes or fears for the future in ways that make them feel like family. I'm cheering for each one of them, and I'm cheering for my city after watching this film - that we, and the rest of our state and nation would continue to fight for all people to have a safe place to lay their heads at night.

This is a doc for those who have hearts that have grown cold and calloused as a call to hope. For the advocate, an artful expression of the people they already spend so much time fighting for. For the indifferent and uninformed, a wakeup call.

This doc is for the city of Portland, yes! But I strongly recommend it for all who care, or want to care, for their city... that they might see the older adults in their community, especially those who are unhoused, through a more compassionate lens that leads to decisive action.