Homeless Youth Population Continues To Grow While Youth Centers Are Being Shut Down.

 

When we think of the homeless population in our community we think of them as a whole. But one thing to also bring awareness too is the amount of youth that are a part of these numbers. In a KGW article Blaire Best states that all of the tents that are lined up SW13th Ave between Main and Salmon Street are all under the age of 25. They are camped here specifically because it is across the street from a homeless youth resource center. At this youth center they offer everything from food to mental health services. While this is an incredible opportunity for these youth, the reason they are sleeping across the street is because there is just simply not enough room for everyone. These people are waiting for space to open up. But even without space this youth center allows them to use it as their own address. This way they can make sure they are getting their food stamps or just to simply feel like they have a home base. Because of the stability this youth center has given them there are even youth who have gotten jobs since they started staying there and have even found housing with help from the youth center. 

It seems to me that this youth center has had nothing but a positive outcome. So why has it been set for removal multiple times by the city of Portland over the past six plus months? Because of the garbage outside of the shelter it is considered “high-risk” and because of its location it falls under the Mayor’s emergency declarations which means it would fall under the category for a quick removal. While I do understand the garbage and discarded drug use being an issue, this could be resolved with the passing of Measure 110 and them funding recovery programs and giving the users a place to properly discard of drug use and used needles. While this isn’t ideal. I do believe it is what would be best for the rest of the public’s health to limit the number of people being exposed to used needles and other garbage waste. 

For more details on this issue go to https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/youth-homeless-camp-sw-portland-outside-in/283-889afa3e-eb39-430e-93f7-1952ee999d42