Personal safety community resources

How to create a street that makes you and others around you feel safe

• Continue to be active and engaged on our streets! We're talking about walking, biking, and rolling — as well as driving slowly and alert. This helps keep eyes on the street and makes sure a helping hand is always within distance for people in need.
• Start with PDX 311 for help with any questions or service needs (except emergencies - call 911!) for local government within Multnomah County. Staff are fluent in English, Spanish, Romanian, and Tagalog and have resources to assist community members in additional languages. PDX Reporter is a similar resource. You may also reach out directly to:
  • Report non-urgent traffic safety concerns such as unsafe crosswalks, speeding, lack of infrastructure, etc.
  • Report problems with traffic signals, potholes, sinkholes, or other emergency road hazards.
  • Request a new streetlight.
  • Request a wheelchair-accessible ride through Portland Bureau of Transportation's PDX WAV.
  • Report an abandoned or junk vehicle.
  • Report a work zone or constriction hazard.
• Learn about safety tips (in multiple languages) for those experiencing or witnessing hate with Stop AAPI Hate.
• Stand up against street harassment and learn how to de-escalate and intervene conflict with help from Right To Be.
• Check out this tiny survival guide from the The Trauma Stewardship Institute.
• Listen to better understand how Black people and people of color can face obstacles and risks on our streets created by Arrested Mobility.
• Learn about how historical racist land use planning contributed to racial segregation and inequity for people of color in Portland in the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's History of Racist Planning in Portland.
• Learn about how we can make our streets safer for our Black pedestrians in the PedPDX Walking While Black Focus Group Report.
• Deepen your knowledge about racial justice with a Learning for Justice podcast. 

Participate in a training or workshop

• Bring traffic safety education to your students with Safe Routes to School.
• Sign up for a personal safety workshop with Rose City Self-Defense.
• Request a personal safety training through Safe Blocks Program.
• Participate in a no-cost training on communication and conflict resolution through Constructing Civic Dialogues.

Report bias, hate, and threats to safety

• Report a bias incident or hate crime through the Oregon Department of Justice Non-Emergency Bias Response Hotline. Note: This hotline is not for immediate emergency response; emergency situations should always go to 9-1-1.
• Report threats to school safety on SafeOregon's 24/7 tip line. Note: This tip line is not for immediate emergency response; emergency situations should always go to 9-1-1.
• Portland is a sanctuary city. The City of Portland's Immigration & Refugee Program offers free legal services and has information about how to report violations of Oregon's sanctuary laws. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center created “Red Cards” to help people assert their rights and defend themselves. 

Access crisis support

• Get crisis support with Call to Safety.
• Access bilingual support programs (including a 24/7 bilingual crisis line) from survivors of domestic and sexual violence with Linéa UNICA.
• Access emotional aid and practical support and resources for victims of traumatic events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy big or small with Trauma Intervention Program NW.
• Get crime victim advocacy, referral, and information services from Lutheran Community Services Northwest.
• Access support emotional support in response to the impacts of racist violence and microaggressions, as well as emotionally impacts of immigration struggles and other cross-cultural issues from people who have lived experiences with racism with Lines For Life.
• Get help opening up about mental health and take action with Find your words (Centro de apoyo)
• Get help identifying, navigating, and connecting with local resources with 211.