Is your bank accelerating the climate crisis? Take time to find out

By Daniel Hiestand

Lane County Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator

Imagine being unhoused during a recent Lane County heat wave, a freezing weather event, or when wildfires created some of the unhealthiest conditions on Planet Earth in 2020.

The climate crisis will have a disproportionate impact on our most vulnerable community members: the unhoused. This recognition—climate change impacts marginalized communities much more severely than others—is often called “climate justice.”

So, who makes up the unhoused population? 

Per a National Alliance to End Homelessness article: “Most minority groups, especially African Americans and Indigenous people, experience homelessness at higher rates than Whites, largely due to long-standing historical and structural racism.”

Other historically marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQIA+ community, also make up an overrepresented portion of the unhoused population.

Sadly, Oregon has some of the highest rates of homelessness in the country, and the problem has gotten dramatically worse in recent years here in Lane County.

So, how can you help?

In addition to advocating for more affordable housing and policies and leaders who prioritize this need—or even donating or volunteering with groups who aid unhoused populations—here’s something else you can do that you may not have considered: reflect on where you put your money.

Does your bank support renewable energy or fossil fuels? Does it invest in your community or send profits elsewhere?

Tools like www.bank.green and www.mightydeposits.com can help you see where your bank or credit union stands on climate change and sustainability.

It’s quick. It’s easy.

Why do this? Bank profits often turn into lobbying monies that transform into on-the-ground policy and the officials we put into office.

Not everyone has the luxury of choosing where to shop or bank, but a real difference can be made for those who do. We owe it to all community members, particularly the most vulnerable, to ensure we deliver climate justice for all.

Waste Wise Tip: Get involved to protect unhoused communities from climate change

Kelly Bell, Lane County Master Recycler Program Coordinator, encourages you to get involved with initiatives that help support and protect unhoused communities from the impacts of climate change. Scan the code to watch a short video and subscribe to Waste Wise Lane County’s Instagram channel for Kelly’s monthly tips at www.instagram.com/wastewiselanecounty.

Waste Wise Lane County, a part of the Lane County Waste Management Division, seeks to empower residents, businesses, and schools with resources to reduce waste and live sustainably. Sign up for the Waste Wise newsletter at lanecountyor.gov/wastewise.