Homelessness

As our Homelessness Chair Tom Ped puts it "To help those who need it most, and make our city streets clean and safe, we need to think big."

Seven years and hundreds of millions of dollars, in 2022, the Mayor had to issue a series of emergency declarations to spur action just to keep the streets clean. But the Mayor could only do so much, with Multnomah County controlling the vast majority of funding for our homeless service system.

The county receives substantial public funds annually for addressing issues like mental health, street medicine, housing, and shelter, but conditions haven't improved. The fentanyl epidemic and lax local laws have made the problem worse. Unsheltered homelessness affects the entire region, and current approaches aren't effective. Homelessness numbers keep rising, with negative impacts visible everywhere. We need innovative solutions and accountability from leaders to make meaningful change. Other cities have seen success with proven methods, and it's time for us to learn from them and take bold action to address this crisis and improve the downtown image.

We believe bold action and holding elected leaders accountable can solve the crisis. Our homeless population deserves compassion and resources for real change. The private sector is ready to assist, following Portland's tradition of successful public/private partnerships.

Our Homelessness Committee envisions a robust public/private partnership for a comprehensive homelessness program. They've begun by gathering real-time data on homelessness in downtown Portland, engaging with frustrated stakeholders, and hosting events like the "Seeking Solutions to Homelessness" symposium. Additionally, they advocate for systemic change with various levels of government.

Our communities can do so much more in partnership with government. We call on our political leaders to give us the chance to help make meaningful change now.

Consider an Ideal Structure

Adequate numbers of shelter beds, safe rest villages, and additional beds at the Oregon State Hospital to meet the needs of the entire homeless population, especially including those with the most severe mental illnesses;
Addiction treatment, mental health counseling, vocational training, and all other services necessary to address the needs of the houseless;
Deployment of competent, trained outreach workers and tracking of individuals’ progress using data-driven, by-name list methodologies;
Enforcement of applicable criminal codes and statutes using as humane means as possible, including using diversion programs and drug courts, with prosecution as the last resort; and
Transparency of information among agencies and groups to monitor accountability and ensure our tax dollars are being used the most efficiently and for the greatest benefit.