Dignity Village is the beginning of a dream formed by an eclectic group of homeless men and women while they were shuffling among the alleys and underpasses of Portland. With the prodding of their leaders and activist architect, Mark Lakeman, the city council allowed an experimental community in October 2001. The 60 or so members began building a community center and clusters of living units from donated and salvaged wood, plastic, canvas, anything that worked. This haphazard collection of windblown shelters is the center for their collective efforts for self determination and survival as a community. Dignity Village now has an elected leadership, rules, some employed members, day workers, gardeners, accessible farmland and the will to succeed as they strive towards making their community work.