Portlanders
want homelessness addressed and do not want to see persist
in the future.
There is no question that the issue of homelessness is
a primary concern for Portlanders. The ways people express
their concern and ideas to address the problem are varied.
Some talk about feeling unsafe interacting with people experiencing
homelessness that panhandle or that are in public spaces.
Most people that speak of the issue, however, express compassion
and understanding and would like to see the problem of homelessness
confronted from this perspective.
People value the existing agencies that provide homelessness
services, but some think there is a need for better-funded
services that are comprehensive and innovative. Systems
should be designed to offer people transitioning out of
homelessness a sense of dignity and respect in where they
live and how they are treated.
- There
is much gratitude expressed for agencies that serve people
experiencing homelessness.
- An overwhelming
number of people demand that more be done to end homelessness.
- The visible aspects of homelessness
detract from Portland’s livability.
- A systems approach is needed
to address the underlying causes of homelessness.
- Expansion of homeless services
requires increased public and private funding streams.
- Community education is thought
to be a paramount component to building awareness of the
truths regarding homelessness.
- What are the best measures
to take to deal with homelessness?
- There
is much gratitude expressed for agencies that serve
people experiencing homelessness.
- Generally, many people value the existing agencies
that provide needed services to people struggling
with homelessness.
- Those who receive services attest to the fact
that available service options and kind service
providers make a tremendous difference in their
lives.
| "I
value all the great services for homeless people
downtown…There’s also some really nice places
to live and they’re some really caring people
working at those places. It makes me feel valued.” |
| “I
was born and raised here in Portland. I was homeless
for a month in 2000 (August) and am now in my
third apartment. I value the places that you can
go to get information on housing and other things.” |
| If
you want to see God in action, come to Portland
to see how well the homeless are treated and if
you find yourself wanting to know what good will
towards all men looks like, stop in at Rose Haven.
Unforgettable experience!!” |
- An
overwhelming number of people demand that more be
done to end homelessness.
- One of the most resounding messages from the public
was that homelessness is a major problem and that
greater efforts need to be made to end homelessness
in our community.
- Portlanders who want to reduce the number of people
experiencing homelessness call for a variety of
different actions to be taken, including:
- The creation of more comprehensive services
that can address the inter-woven needs of vulnerable
people on the brink of becoming homeless;
- The expansion of day centers, hygiene facilities,
and other basic needs services to help people
stay healthy while they are experiencing homelessness
(improving their chances of successfully transitioning
back into housing or jobs);
- Support people to develop strengths and skills
through projects like workforce training;
- The expansion of services to help homeless
individuals transition into stable housing and
jobs; and
- More willingness in the community to hire
homeless individuals, providing them with the
income they need to obtain stable housing.
§ In addition to expanding services for
all people who are homeless, Portlanders particularly
want to expand the following types of services:
- More shelters for single women, women with
children and pregnant women who are not experiencing
domestic violence;
- More effective services for young people;
- Services for elders; and
- Services for single women on the brink of
experiencing homelessness.
| "Help
homeless people find housing so they can get a
decent job. I do not understand the no house,
no job policy.” |
| “[I
would like to see] Dignity Village vastly expanded
and vitalized, drawing homeless from around the
country and creating a vibrant, cohesive community
that’s reintegrating people to the public sphere.” |
| "[In
the future] all homeless people are in transitional
programs or have transitioned out of them into
affordable housing close-in, in safe neighborhoods
where they are a part of a community that supports
their transition and continued self-reliance.” |
- People not only want homelessness to
be looked at through a multi-issue lens, but also
want to see multiple sectors working together to
comprehensively work toward ending homelessness.
- “Find a permanent location for Dignity Village.
24hour access to water, bathroom, laundry, bathing
facilities with childcare and education programs.”
- Turn empty buildings downtown into homeless shelters.
- The
visible aspects of homelessness detract from Portland’s
livability.
- Some Portlanders are primarily concerned with
the visible aspects of homelessness, such as people
sleeping on streets, panhandling, or resting in
parks or near businesses.
- Portlanders raise the following concerns about
the presence of people experiencing homelessness
in public places:
- Some people feel unsafe walking on streets
where individuals experiencing homelessness
are sleeping or congregating;
- Some people resent being asked for money and
feel some people that panhandle do so in an
overly-aggressive manner;
- Others speak of feeling unsafe taking their
children to Pioneer Courthouse Square, certain
parks, or certain streets downtown because of
the many people there that appear homeless;
- Some people are concerned about the negative
effects of homelessness on businesses, in particular,
that customers will not patronize businesses
if people experiencing homelessness are sleeping
or standing nearby; and
- Others are concerned about tourism, believing
that homelessness will deter tourists from going
downtown.
- Portlanders with concerns about the visibility
of homelessness generally advocate for removing
people who are homeless from public areas, either
by enforcing certain laws or providing them with
other places to be.
| "[I
value] keeping the Waterfront free of the drug
addicts and homeless people so we can all benefit
from whatever it is that the Waterfront has to
offer, be it walking, jogging, cycling, etc…” |
| “I
would clean up downtown and the transit system.
It is currently a blight and not a good showcase
for our beautiful city. From homeless to street
youth to mentally unstable, there needs to be
a way to help those in need and make the downtown
more welcoming for its visitors, dwellers, and
daily workers.” |
| "We
have so many agencies to help the homeless I’d
like them to not pester people who are working
downtown.” |
- Provide more temporary shelter space
for the homeless, to get them off the streets and
out of the public’s view.
- Create a special park for the homeless.
- A
systems approach is needed to address the underlying
causes of homelessness.
- Portlanders want to see the community take a stand
to prevent individuals and families from falling
into homelessness in the first place.
- Factors identified by Portlanders as contributing
to homelessness include:
- The rising cost of housing, which forces some
people out of their homes or apartments;
- The rising cost of healthcare and medical
debts, which can also cause individuals to lose
their homes;
- The relative scarcity of family-wage jobs,
which makes it difficult for families to keep
up with rising costs; and
- The reluctance of employers to hire certain
types of people, including youth that have not
finished high school, individuals with convictions,
and people who are transitioning between different
living situations.
| “The
homeless/panhandling issue needs to be handled
in a comprehensive manner. Past history has shown
that if there is a ‘crackdown’ on panhandling
in one area, the panhandlers move to another.
There needs to be a community-wide effort to understand
and address the root causes of homelessness/panhandling.
Are people on the streets because they are escaping
violence in the home? Because of mental health
issues? Because of lack of job opportunities?
Find out why then create solutions.” |
| "We
need more affordable housing! Some kind of rent
control. Too many are homeless and many others
are one missed paycheck (or condo conversion)
away from the same fate. Owning a home is now
out of reach for ordinary working people. Our
housing supply should be managed to provide for
people’s basic needs.” |
| “[In
the future] All homeless people are in transitional
programs or have transitioned out of them into
affordable housing close-in, in safe neighborhoods
where they are a part of a community that supports
their transition…” |
- Increase the availability of affordable
housing.
- Provide healthcare to all people.
- Help individuals at risk of becoming homeless
develop strengths and job skills through programs
like workforce training.
- Expansion
of homeless services requires increased public and
private funding streams.
- Social services should coordinate and pool resources,
but also have businesses and government supporting
and collaborating with social services and other
community organizations.
- Portlanders believe that more funding should
come from the local government, civic institutions
and businesses to fill the gaps in services and
for particular populations receiving inadequate
support.
- Some people urged Portland Development Commission
to commit more funding toward affordable housing
for people transitioning out of homelessness, and
for groups like the aging population that can be
at risk for homelessness.
- Work toward ending homelessness and poverty through
funding that is directed at initiatives that will
resolve the root causes.
- Community
education is thought to be a paramount component
to building awareness of the truths regarding homelessness.
- Many believe there should be more educational
programs addressing public fear and stigmatization
of people with no housing. Education programs can
help the community better understand the underlying
issues related to homelessness while alleviating
unfounded myths.
- People find it important to increase community
support and understanding of the issues surrounding
homelessness as a step toward alleviating the problem.
| “[We
get there by] looking beyond our comfort and placing
ourselves in situations where we have to learn
what it means to be a minority in Portland (homeless
or ethnic) for starters.” |
|
- What
are the best measures to take to deal with homelessness?
There are two prominent themes that stand out for respondents
who suggested ways to deal with homelessness. The first
of the themes is centered on a concern for Portland’s
apparent reputation for extensive homeless services. The
“free handouts” such as food, clothing, shelter and other
services are viewed by some respondents as unnecessarily
attracting people that are homeless to come here from
areas outside of Portland. Respondents that share this
perspective tend to agree that the solution is not to
increase funding to traditional homeless services. Instead
they feel the city should develop more programs to help
reintroduce people into the workforce or find ways other
ways for homeless people to be productive, contributing
members of society. Some respondents believe that more
drastic measures should be taken that resort to criminalization
of homelessness and relying more heavily on the justice
system to get people off of the streets.
The second theme has less to do with the concern for
an influx of homeless people from out of town, but rather
on the need to address homelessness on a broad scale.
Some of these people are more concerned with changing
policy to enforce an increase in affordable housing
that more accurately reflects the numbers of people
living without housing in the greater Portland area.
Many respondents speak of the great work that social
service providers are already doing, but that service
efforts alone are insufficient. They recognize that
the business sector, general public and the government
all share a responsibility along with social services
to meet the challenge and to find ways to work collaboratively.
Respondents also speak to the complexities of homelessness
and how the problem needs to be addressed comprehensively
because it overlaps with other issues like poverty,
mental health, joblessness and abuse.
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