Shelters

The housing crisis in Portland Oregon. There are currently 6,633 people experiencing homelessness according to multco.us.

A lot of resources provided in the Portland Metro Area that are listed have stipulations or rules that have to be followed. A lot of the housing options have waitlists, and the shelters are usually first come first server. This can lead to a lack of diversity. It is harder for people to get into places if they have signs of a mental illness or a form of addiction. These resources can be seen as difficult to use for those people. However, there are programs and resources for those who are experiencing that.

Ahomeforeveryone.net provides resources for and “manages contracts with service providers who provide housing placement and retention services, emergency shelter, severe weather shelter, job skills training, and other services.” This establishment was made in 2016 to help those experiencing homelessness. 

Safe villages have been popping up all around the Portland area and are going to keep popping up to help those who need it. www.portland.gov provides the information needed to apply for one of their mini homes in the safe villages. They also provide mental health screening and job stability. 

Most of these shelters and safe shelters are by referral and have requirements that need to be met before an applicant is accepted. These shelters are to acclimate people into more stable living environments. However, the cost of living in the Portland area is high. On average the rent in Portland is around $1,746. These resources provide safe housing while working towards getting people into a healthy routine and acclimating them into a new housing environment. 

Cassidy Brown