Cold Fronts and Cold Streets: Winter Homelessness in PDX

By Nina Bockius

November 30, 2025

As the winter months approach in Portland, the temperature begins to drop. Most of us are heading inside, turning up the heat, grabbing an extra blanket, or cozying up into bed. But for thousands of people living unsheltered in Portland, winter doesn’t just mean discomfort it is a means of survival. The winters in Portland are wet, windy, and unpredictable.

Even with shelters, there aren’t enough beds for everyone. Many individuals can’t or won’t use them because of safety concerns, their stuff isn’t allowed, or their animals are not welcome. Instead, they stay outside, making camps out of tents, tarps, cardboard, and whatever else they can find.

Imagine what it would feel like waking up damp and freezing cold and still having to walk to find a meal or use a restroom. That is the reality for way too many of the individuals living on the streets in Portland.

This isn’t just a “homelessness problem.” It is a public health crisis, a moral issue, and something our city needs to act on.

Why does it matter?

Because people shouldn’t have to risk their lives just to sleep. Because we can create solutions that actually make a difference, more beds in the shelters, better resources for those who feel unsafe in them, and real support for the individual’s experiencing homelessness.

It matters because they are humans too, they deserve to feel taken care of and supported. No one should have to risk their life because they do not have a warm place to sleep.

If you want to learn more about how to help or get involved, click below:

https://www.streetroots.org/news/2022/11/16/winter-resource-guide-where-get-help

Breaking the Cycle : Understanding the Foster-Care to Homeless Pipeline

Youth Homelessness is not random. It often follow a predictable pipeline for young people aging out of the foster care system. Here are the key things that I want readers to understand: 

 1.) Many foster youth lose housing stability the moment they turn 18. 

When a support system ends abruptly, young people are left to figure out housing, work, and adulthood with little guidance. This sudden cutoff is one of the biggest predictors of homelessness.

2.) Trauma makes stability harder to achieve. 

Foster kids often carry trauma from early experiences or from moving through multiple placements. Trauma affects emotional regulation, trust, and long term planning. Which makes navigating housing systems even more difficult. 

3.) Housing is not just physical, its emotional safety. 

a stable home provides routine, and a sense of being cared for. Many foster youth age out without a lasting support network. Leaving them at the exact stage when most young adults rely heavily on family. 

4.) Prevention is cheaper and more humane than crisis Reponses. 

Programs that offer transitional housing mentorship, and financial support cost far less than an emergency shelter. Investing earlier prevents harm rather than reacting to it. 

5.) Community support make a real difference. 

Volunteers, mentors, and community organizations help fill the gaps the system leaves behind. Providing essentials or simply showing up consistently, stable relationships reduce youth homeless rates. 

6.) A just future means no young person ages out alone. 

My hope is for a future where every foster youth receives long term guidance, stable housing options, and the emotional support they deserve. No eighteen year old should be expected to survive adulthood without help. 

My hope is for a future where every foster youth receives long term guidance, stable housing, and emotional support they deserve. No eighteen year old should be expected to survive adulthood without help. 

 For those who want to learn more about the foster care to homelessness pipeline here is a helpful resource from the National Alliance to End Homelessness https://endhomelessness.org/overview/

Why Community Land Trusts Are the Affordable Housing Solution We Need, and Why You Should Care?

Housing in many U.S. cities is spiraling out of reach, but there’s a powerful, proven tool that not enough people know about: Community Land Trusts (CLTs). Unlike traditional real estate, CLTs separate land ownership from building ownership. The nonprofit trust owns the land, and homeowners own the structures, paying a long-term ground lease and agreeing to a resale formula that keeps the home permanently affordable (National League of Cities, 2021). 

What doesthat mean in real life? Homes in CLTs stay affordable for generations. Even if neighborhood values skyrocket, CLT homes aren’t flipped for profit, they remain anchored to the community (Grounded Solutions Network, 2024). CLTs aren’t just good for homeowners, they’re good for neighborhoods. By protecting residents from displacement in gentrifying areas, CLTs help maintain community stability and social cohesion. Governance structures include residents, local leaders, and nonprofits, giving people a real voice in shaping their community (Network for Philadelphia, 2022). 

Even in economic downturns, CLT homeowners are more stable than market homeowners and feel a stronger sense of security (Urban Institute, 2023). Some argue CLTs limit wealth-building due to resale caps, that’s true, but this trade-off prioritizes collective stability over speculative gain (Brookings Institution, 2021). Why you should care: If you’re worried about rising housing costs, for your neighbors, your community, or even your own taxes, supporting CLTs helps build lasting affordability. It ensures long-term residents aren’t priced out and that public subsidies have lasting impact (Milwaukee CLT, 2024). For the next generation, our children, or your neighbor’s kids, CLTs offer security, belonging, and a stake in their future. They’re more than homes; they’re roots. Want to learn more or help build one where you live? 

Click here to discover how Community Land Trusts work and how to support them . 

Sources (for reference):

National League of Cities. (2021). What city leaders need to know about Community Land Trusts. 

Grounded Solutions Network. (2024). Community Land Trusts. Network for Philadelphia. (2022). Fact Sheet: Community Land Trusts. Urban Institute. (2023). Do Community Land Trusts Improve Resident Outcomes? Brookings Institution. (2021). Community Land Trusts: An old-school innovation with new-school applications. Milwaukee CLT. (2024). Why CLTs?

Funding Failure: Portland's $14.7M Budget for Cruelty

 

Jamie Partridge, member of the Democratic Socialists of America, listens to public testimony at the City Council meeting.
Eli Imadali / OPB

By Abby Watson

A recent, contentious City Council meeting revealed a deep and growing divide in Portland’s leadership, a chasm created by Mayor Wilson’s failed strategy to address homelessness in Portland. The fight wasn’t even about eliminating his controversial sweeps program; it was a modest proposal to cut $4.3 million from its $14.7 million annual budget. $4.3 million that was meant to be reallocated to direct aid and housing programs, like housing grants, food assistance, and support services. But even that was too much for the Mayor, who fought to protect every dollar for his “Impact Reduction Program”: a program that does not reduce impacts, but rather displaces the unhoused.

The core of the conflict is simple: other city leaders are finally stating publicly that the Mayor’s strategy is both harmful and a colossal waste of money. As Councilor Mitch Green stated, these sweeps are “not only ineffective, they are counterproductive,” adding that they “layer trauma on top of trauma, and they lead to more deaths on our streets.” Councilor Candace Avalos was just as blunt, noting the city is “spending millions and millions” to move people block to block without addressing the real issue.

This public, bitter division at City Hall is the inevitable result of Mayor Wilson’s insular, unilateral strategy that actively excluded community and expert voices. When a Mayor designs multi-million dollar systems, from unwanted shelters to traumatic sweeps, without a shred of meaningful collaboration, the result is a city at war with itself. This desperate budget fight is a symptom of a failed partnership, one that the Mayor refused to build. This is the inevitable outcome when leaders are forced to beg for compassion in a public forum because they were never invited to the table in the first place.

The Mayor got his way. The proposal to cut his sweeps budget failed. The city will continue to spend $14.7 million to displace its most vulnerable residents. This is Mayor Wilson’s choice: to fund a revolving door of trauma.

But while Mayor Wilson chooses to exclude the unhoused from his plan, you can choose to support them directly. Click here to support Street Roots, the newspaper that gives the unhoused of Portland a voice and income with dignity. 

Stable Housing, Healthy Lives: Why Affordability Matters

 By: Alisa Isler

Imagine trying to focus on work, school, or even sleep while worrying about losing your home. Every noise outside could be an eviction notice. Every paycheck feels like a race against rent. Housing insecurity isn’t just about where someone sleeps; it’s about whether they can live without constant fear.

A recent study by Chen and colleagues found that when housing becomes more stable and affordable, people’s health and lives improve. Several programs provide tangible benefits to individuals facing housing insecurity, including:

• Eviction moratoriums give families time to recover from unexpected hardships without losing their homes.

• Emergency rent assistance helps cover a tough month before it spirals into homelessness.

• Long-term rental subsidies, such as Section 8 vouchers, enable families to remain rooted in their communities, providing years of stability rather than just weeks or months.

When families have a safe and affordable place to live, they can focus on healing, learning, and growth. Children do better in school. Adults are healthier and more productive. Neighborhoods are safer, stronger, and more connected.

Housing insecurity isn’t just an individual problem; it affects entire communities. Frequent moves disrupt schools, workplaces, and neighborhood networks. When people are forced to relocate constantly, communities lose trust and resilience.

Supporting policies and programs that keep housing affordable benefits everyone. Small actions add up: advocating for fair rent laws, donating to local housing nonprofits, or volunteering your time can make a real difference.

When housing is stable, people thrive. Families grow stronger. Communities become healthier. And all of us benefit from a society where everyone has a safe place to call home.

Learn more: Association of Promoting Housing Affordability and Stability With Improved Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review — Chen et al., JAMA Network Open (2022)

Stability Through Support: How Coaching Transforms Veterans Lives

Jonathan Smith

Have you ever seen a homeless veteran and wondered how those that should be the most honored in our society are too often those that must resort to living on the streets?

For many veterans, transitioning from military service to civilian life is quite the challenge, as they are often confronted with the tough obstacle of finding meaningful employment that matches their skills and experience For some, the lack of guidance, coaching, or resources can lead to underemployment or even instability in housing. 

A 2022 study, A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Employment Program for Veterans Transitioning from the Military, shows that structured employment support through counseling and coaching can make a measurable difference

Researchers examined the National Career Coach Program (NCCP), which focuses on in-person training, personalized coaching, financial incentives, and job-search resources.

Researchers studied 208 transitioning service members, many with service-connected disabilities, comparing two approaches:

• Local Community Resources (LCR): The standard support veterans might typically access, such as state and federal vocational programs.
  
  

• National Career Coach Program (NCCP): A structured program combining in-person training, personalized coaching, financial incentives, and job-search resources.

The goal was simple: see which approach helped veterans find and sustain paid employment while improving overall health and well-being over a two-year period.

The findings were clear: veterans who received intensive coaching through NCCP not only found jobs more quickly but also sustained them longer and earned significantly more.

• Employment: 95% of NCCP participants found paid work, compared to 83% in the standard support group.
  
  

• Income: NCCP participants earned an average of $2,568 per month versus $1,865 for the standard group—roughly $17,000 more over two years. 

These results demonstrate that once veterans have access to personalized support that translates their military experience into civilian skills, they can thrive both financially and personally.

The path from service to stability shouldn’t be one veterans walk alone. Programs like NCCP prove that with the right support, every veteran can thrive. It’s up to us to make sure those opportunities exist.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Employment Program for Veterans Transitioning from the Military: Two-Year Outcomes - PMC 

Portland's Shelter Plan: Built for Sweeps, Not for People

Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB

By Abby Watson

For unhoused Portlanders in recovery, 280 new, dedicated shelter beds are on the way. A recent OPB report detailing the new shelter notes that this is the latest, concrete step in Mayor Wilson's ambitious 1,500-bed plan. It also marks a significant new strategy for the city, which is stepping in to provide services historically managed (and, in the Mayor's view, mismanaged) by Multnomah County.

But here lies a paradox: for a city with thousands of people living unhoused, these new shelters have nightly vacancy rates of up to 80%. This outcome isn't surprising. It's what happens when the City and Mayor Wilson design services without consulting the people who are supposed to use them. A recent poll cited in the same OPB article of unhoused people in Portland made it clear they overwhelmingly prefer options like "tiny home villages, motels, and RVs" to the Mayor's traditional cot shelters.

Mayor Wilson asserts that this is not a failure but his strategy; he wants "hundreds of empty beds every night". Why? Because this system of 1,500 shelter beds relies on having empty beds to "enforce community standards", Mayor Wilson's way of openly stating his intent to enforce Portland's anti-camping policies. This paints a clearer picture of the motivations behind providing 1,500 shelter beds that many don't want; they are a legal tool to justify sweeping unhoused populations off the streets. Under the law, unhoused people approached by law enforcement must either enter a shelter if a bed is available or be cited and fined. If they don't pay the fine and miss court, they could face incarceration.

The overnight shelters Mayor Wilson is opening in Portland are expensive revolving doors that force the unhoused out of sight rather than provide housing opportunities. The city and county are focused on temporary mat shelters. But their own partners, such as Do Good Multnomah, know that the real solution is in their bridge housing and pod village programs. 

Click here to see the proven, dignified housing solutions Do Good Multnomah is already building.

The Human Side of Portland’s Homeless Crisis: Why We Need to Look Closer

by Nina Bockius

November 6, 2025

As you walk along the streets of downtown Portland, it’s hard not to notice the number of tents, sleeping bags, and camps set up. But what we tend not to look at, is the person or people behind these struggles; people who once had a home, a job, and a “normal” life. 

Oftentimes homelessness is looked at in numbers, like a statistic on a page. But behind every number counted, is a person with their own story. Portland estimates 12,034 people experiencing homelessness, with a 61% increase since 2023. While it is easiest to blame it on drug addictions, mental health issues, and lack of resources, the biggest cause is rent prices. 

As housing prices increase, so does the number or individuals without roofs over their heads.

So what can we do?

We can start by listening and treating people like humans. What if instead of walking past them on the sidewalk we stopped and talked? What if we supported local groups that help people rebuild their lives? What if we donated our time, a meal, or even just listen to their stories? Any of these acts make a little difference, a lot more than we think. 

We should all care because this is a community, and the people that live outside are still just as much a part of the community as everyone else. 

To learn more about the people experiencing homelessness in Portland, click here: https://www.streetroots.org/news/2024/09/18/new-documentary-no-place-grow-old-spotlights-portland-s-aged-homelessness-crisis

Image from ProPublica

City officials fail to address homelessness - resulting in spike of deaths

by Jessica Hendrix

November 4th, 2025

Between 2019 and 2023, we tragically lost around 1,200 individuals experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. Among these, 142 deaths were due to homicide or suicide, an alarming rate 18 times higher than that of the general population in Portland. On average, folx who are housless die 30 years earlier than the average life expectancy of 78 years. Our houseless neighbors are dying at a higher rate than any major county on the west coast.

From 2021 to 2024, the city has invested approximately $200,000 per homeless resident, yet the number of deaths among our homeless community has quadrupled. In just two years, the fatalities increased from 113 in 2021 to over 450 in 2023, making it clear that this crisis requires urgent attention.

Concerns raised by the community led city leaders to implement strategies that have often prioritized visibility over wellbeing, resulting in over 19,000 sweeps since 2021. Unfortunately, data shows that these actions have only contributed to a spike in deaths.

Funding for stable, permanent housing has significantly dwindled, from $19.4 million in 2019 to just $4.3 million in 2024. Instead, funding for sweeps and temporary shelter beds has ballooned, rising from $16.3 million in 2021 to an estimated $72.5 million in 2025. Despite adding 826 beds since 2021, this initiative falls drastically short of the needs of over 15,000 people currently experiencing homelessness in Portland.

Image from ProPublica

Research indicates that sweeps not only fail to enhance safety but can actually increase vulnerability, placing those affected at greater risk of harm and death. During these sweeps, individuals often lose access to vital resources such as medications, shelter, food, and clothing. This loss exacerbates the cycle of addiction and increases the likelihood of overdose death by 10% to 20% among those who repeatedly face displacement.

While local organizations like Rose Haven, and dedicated civil rights law firms are working tirelessly to address these challenges, the systemic issues persist, largely unaddressed.

The root cause of homelessness in Portland overwhelmingly points to a lack of affordable housing. Current rental prices are simply out of reach for many, especially those most affected by homelessness.

How Can You Help?

You can make a difference. Contact city officials and voice your concerns. Demand the urgent need for affordable housing. A monthly rent of $1,200 is unattainable for many in our community, especially those who are experiencing homelessness.

Your voice matters, and together, we can advocate for the necessary changes to create a more compassionate and equitable Portland for everyone. Let’s rally together to lift up those in need and work towards a solution that ensures safe and stable homes for all.

Digital Storytelling and The Price of Perception

 By: Blake Sampson 
Content Development FTA, 
Fall 2025 Multimedia Capstone

    

    In todays media influenced world, digital storytelling has become one of the most powerful tools for shaping how we see homelessness and poverty. Online media platforms like Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok, X (formerly Twitter) have created an entire economy around empathy or outrage just for your attention and clicks. While some creators use their platforms to raise awareness and have things to inform you how you can get involved or donate for these causes with things like planned events to raise money or direct links that you can use to donate your money others however, chase clicks by filming addition, mental illness, and suffering. Turning human pain into marketable and monetizable content. The more shocking the footage, the higher the engagement means the higher the profit.

    In the book Howard Garners Changing Minds, He tells us that real change rarely happens through facts alone. Your brain shifts when messages, videos, or photos connect with you emotionally. Especially if these come from credible sources and impact your own personal values. Many Viral Creators master irresponsible techniques like creating problematic thumbnails in order for you to click on these videos gaining millions of views, so if you haven't even watched the videos you may scroll by and just assume that these are true based on the attention it receives. Not only do these reinforce harmful stereotypes but online creators use their own platform at times to redirect things like anger, frustration, and hate towards things like city leaders for example. Blaming failed systems without offering solutions or context. Garner would refer to this as reinforcing an existing mental model rather than transforming it.

    I do want to emphasize there are online platforms and creators who do implement ethical storytelling. Those who recognize empathy and credibility to use their platform not for their own view/biases but use it to allow those to tell their stories who have always remained voiceless. When influencers or creators frame stories with honesty, empathy, and compassion, they do in fact encourage viewers to see the complexity of homelessness rather than just what they see online or on the local news. Titles we have seen from the media and even the president of the united states say things like "War on Homelessness" which is a term used to describe policies that focus on measures against homelessness rather than addressing the root cause adds to these narratives. The language creates the idea that this  un-housed population of the city is the problem and needs to be eliminated rather than helping assistance or finding a common solution. Gardner's has created principles and shown through his book "Changing Minds" that persuasion is an art form, requiring both emotional intelligence and responsibility. As viewers we must use our own critical thinking to decide which stories deserve our attention. Every click can either exploit or amplify these voices in our community and shape our personal narrative without the audience ever realizing it.

    So the questions is, 

  Does this new form of digital storytelling helping someone be heard? Or is helping someone get paid?

Empowering the Rising Bottom

 

Home, Money, Skills, Work. What do all of these topics have in common among everyone?

The common people often lack one of these points. Having a home, the money, and the skills to prove it, but no work to show, or they have all the skills, and money to show, but no place to relax, or call home. Just to name a few examples. The same principle applies to those in the homeless population. Many who face homelessness, aren’t always there by choice, either from financial struggles, issues in life, or other circumstances. Many had skill, training, or former work that allowed them to have a life of different situations. 

Often times, those in these situations, have tried different venues for restarting their lives, Entrepreneurship is an innate nature in humans. Always striving to make something for themselves, by themselves, belonging solely to themselves. This is just human nature, the unhoused have a known prejudice against them, but movements that aim to help and build up these communities, through the work of these in need, and willing to get help, this prejudice can be rewritten with time. 

Not only does, providing mentorship to the houseless community, offer a way for those in said communities to begin learning/relearning these skill necessary for beginning a sustainable business, allowing for more people learn from them, it can also return into the economy, and continue this beneficial cycle. 

To learn more about one such movement aiming to mentor those who wish to begin anew, Click here to learn about Nano Lending: https://www.nanolending.org/

From Surviving to Thriving: 

A Smarter Way to Fight Housing Instability

What if solving homelessness wasn’t just about shelter, but about ownership, opportunity, and dignity?

That’s exactly what happens when we combine Skill‑Swap & Micro‑Enterprise Incubators with Community Land Trusts (CLTs) to create bridge‑housing solutions.

This isn’t theory. It’s a proven shift from short‑term aid to long‑term empowerment.

Here’s how it works:

• Community Land Trusts (CLTs) secure land in trust for the public good, keeping it permanently affordable. No more market speculation. No more displacement. cltweb.org+2Kansas City Community Land Trust+2

• Bridge Housing built on CLT land offers transitional, stable shelter with a pathway to permanent housing.

• Skill‑Swap Networks let residents exchange what they can do for what they need, no cash required.

• Micro‑Enterprise Incubators inside these communities give people tools, mentorship, and space to launch their own small businesses, from catering to crafts to coding.

Instead of warehousing people, we’re investing in them.

This model rebuilds not just housing, but community. It fosters local economies, deepens social ties, and gives people the chance to create, contribute, and eventually own their futures.

Why should you care?
Because the current approach to homelessness is broken, temporary fixes, endless cycles, zero dignity.
But this model? It works. It’s scalable. And it turns passive recipients into active participants.

If you believe in a future where everyone has a stake, not just a space, in their community, this matters.

Click here to learn how you can help make this vision a reality:
Click here for more information

Shared Spark: Building Community Through Skill Swap and Micro Enterprise

 

 Shared Spark: Building Community Through Skill Swap and Micro Enterprise

 

Everyone has something to offer. Sometimes it’s a skill we take for granted, like cooking, sewing, fixing things, or organizing. The idea behind Skill Swap and Micro Enterprise Incubators is to help people recognize the value in what they already know and use it to support themselves and others. It’s about creating spaces where learning and teaching go both ways, where everyone has something to give and something to gain.

What I love about this project is how people centered it is. It doesn’t rely on big budgets or fancy systems, it relies on community. It gives people a chance to feel seen and capable. When someone shares their skill and sees others benefit from it, confidence grows, and that spark can turn into a small business, a new job, or simply a stronger sense of purpose.

From a marketing point of view, this kind of initiative has real emotional pull. It’s authentic. It inspires people because it shows hope and possibility in everyday life. Marketing shouldn’t just sell ideas, it should make people feel something. A project like this gives us a story worth sharing: real people building real connections that last.

This isn’t just about exchanging skills, it’s about empowering each other to create opportunities. The more we share what we know, the stronger our communities become.

 

Click here to learn more about Portland Skill Share: https://www.meetup.com/portland-skill-share/

 

A Hero With No Home

 

Homeless veteran with a sign saying, "Anything Helps". https://www.klcc.org/military-veterans/2024-11-11/despite-initiatives-and-boots-on-the-ground-efforts-veteran-homelessness-persists-in-oregon

By Mark Lim

In every city, we can see that there are many homeless that are by the side of the roads, under bridges, next to building, and many other areas. Some may wonder how they got there, what substances they are using, or even if the person is okay. What many people also question is, "what happened to this person? What is their background?" When people ask these questions and get to know the person, we can see that there are many homeless veterans. Unfortunately, many veterans end up on the streets after protecting our country. 

Some may be asking why a veteran is facing homelessness after they gave up years in service. According to, https://caseworthy.com/articles/why-are-so-many-veterans-homeless/ many veterans end up becoming homeless because of mental health challenges. Some of these challenges are because of frequent relocation, distance from loved ones, stress from serving, and many more. These actions take a toll on their mental health and causes them to deteriorate. When this snowballs, it can turn into depression, anxiety, and even further, drug abuse. Another reason that veterans become homeless is because not all are able to secure a job after finishing their service. This combined with unafforable homes, make it impossible for them to escape homelessness. 

I believe that no veterans should be facing homelessness or be on the risk of homelessness. As people who have risked their lives to protect us and the nation, there is no excuse to not take care of them. To take action against this, we can help by supporting nonprofits, volunteering, and making housing more affordable. To do this we must encourage mental support for veterans and bring awareness to this issue. You can support these veterans here: https://www.va.gov/homeless/

City-Run Grocery Stores - Is this the solution to Food Deserts? A Conversation

 

The USDA reported that there are about 6,500 food deserts throughout the US. These are areas that 

have a lack of affordable or healthy food options near them. This is often because grocery stores know 

they won't receive an extensive amount of profit in lower populations such as rural areas. City-run 

Grocery Stores are a big topic in the news regarding the new Mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani that 

plans to open some in New York with plenty of misleading information. This threatens corporate 

grocery stores from being able to continuously inflate their prices for food and other basic items that 

are required for living and this frightens them. City-run grocery stores are meant to be not for profit, 

and this is what I believe could make a significant difference in those food deserts. The most vulnerable 

population within food deserts are those that are homeless. It means that the homeless will struggle to 

afford a basic meal and may have to pay to travel to another area to even access food. With the 

extensive lack of public transportation their options are limited. These stores would allow that at least 

the 13.5 million people who fall into those 6,500 food deserts would have access to affordable and 

healthy food. Food is a basic need that everyone requires and shouldn't be difficult to obtain in 2025. 

Please click here to find out how to contact your local representatives (How to Contact) and learn more 

or donate to programs attempting to help food deserts now (Here).

Read More Here: 

Mapping Food Deserts in the United States | Economic Research Service

Interactive Web Tool Maps Food Deserts, Provides Key Data | Home

By: Alasia Craig

Housing first DOES work when continuously funded. This is how YOU can help!!

Systemically, America has pushed its average citizens who already didn’t make enough money to

begin with into a state of constant struggle teetering on homelessness. So, if an average citizen is

struggling what can we do for the homeless population? The Housing First model is incredible when

funding reaches the programs that are using it. It is all about the services that come in tandem with

housing first programs. Whether it offers food, basic hygiene needs, behavioral health services, or

case managers it is meant to meet those individuals where they are at presently. The National Alliance

to End Homelessness tells us that when the funding was there, we saw a significant decrease in

homelessness. With the total number of people dropping by 15% between 2007-2016. So, in less than

a decade these programs were able to begin solving a problem. For even more impressive results we

can see the specific subpopulations decrease between 2010 and 2016, with family homelessness

dropping by 23%, veteran homelessness decreasing by 47%, and chronic homelessness by 27%.

With the drop in funding from almost every avenue even after this obviously good outcome these

programs have been severely underfunded and there is a lack of investment into truly affordable

housing. But if you say, well why is the homelessness increasing across America then? I would tell

you that each year since 2021 we have seen an increase equal to or greater of homeless entering the

streets compared to those being housed. Why continue on a path of increased homelessness when we 

know a model that works? Do you think we deserve a world where children end up on the streets? 

Please click here to find out how to contact your local state representatives (How to contact) and places 

where YOU can contribute. (Donate)

Read more here: 

The Truth About Housing First - National Alliance to End Homelessness

The 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress Part 2: Estimates of Homelessness in the United States

By: Alasia Craig

 

Aging on the Streets: Why Older Adults in Portland Are Facing a Hidden Crisis

Katu News. Vicky Smith at her encampment along an I-5 onramp (September 5th 2023). Accessed August 12th 2025. https://ktvl.com/news/local/woman-struggling-to-survive-along-i-5-in-portland-a-firsthand-look-at-finding-help-with-homelessness

By Emma Fleming | August 2025

When talking about the unhoused, people generally picture those who are young and middle aged. Even with the number of unhoused seniors rising quickly, they are not the immediate face people imagine. They are people who have worked, raised families, and now find themselves trying to survive without a stable place to live and sleep. Our local shelters prioritize beds for people 55 plus because of the vulnerability they have, which rises sharply with age.

This isn’t only an issue within Portland, it’s a national shift researchers are calling the “graying of homelessness.” Studies show adults 50 plus are a large portion of the unhoused. Many people lose housing, for the first time, after 50 due to health, rent, eviction, or the death of a partner. Older adults experiencing houselessness also age faster. This is due to their living in the elements and lacking access to healthcare.

Why older adults are at higher risk

Fixed incomes are very limiting. The only cover necessities, maybe a bill or two, and possibly a meal. A single ER visit or hospital stay can unravel a tight budget. Once someone is outside, chronic conditions worsen, mobility declines, and sleep becomes fragmented. These things make it even harder to navigate waitlists, paperwork, and appointments.

Health researchers have been sounding the alarm saying older adults experiencing homelessness have higher rates of diabetes, heart and lung disease, cognitive impairment, and depression. They also use emergency and inpatient care far more often. Without support and follow through, mortality rates increase. Rising mortality rates are something Multnomah County has seen a dramatic rise in among people experiencing houselessness.

What dignity looks like in practice

Dignity for an older adult is found in providing necessities. These means a quiet safe place to sleep, a shower without stairs, someone who can help refill medications, and a caseworker who is patient. Portland has groups which can assist with these issues:

• Northwest Pilot Project (NWPP) focuses on finding and maintaining rentals for unhoused seniors in Multnomah County. Their assistance helps prevent elders from experiencing continued crises.
  
  

• Portland Street Medicine meets people where they are. Whether they meet under bridges or in camps, they go to provide medical care and make connections to mental health/addiction services. For older adults with mobility limits or trauma histories, that’s often the only doorway that feels safe enough to enter.
  
  

• Transition Projects operates hundreds of shelter beds and support services. Their listings show priority for folks who are 55 plus, those who are disabled, and for veterans.

What would help—now

From a public-health perspective, the fixes aren’t mysterious; they’re just under-scaled:

• Senior focused low-barrier shelters (fewer stairs, grab bars, quiet hours, on-site nursing).Portland is testing housing which is age and disability focused, prioritizing adults 45 plus.

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• Mobile, trauma-informed healthcare that integrates refills, wound care, behavioral health, and benefits going where people actually live. We need to meet them where they are at.

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• Targeted prevention & rapid rehousing for 55 plus, would include rent subsidies and eviction defense through organizations like NWPP. It’s a cheaper and more compassionate way to house folks instead of waiting for a crisis to force shelter.

Why this matters

If we don’t act, researchers project a continuing surge in older-adult homelessness. With this increase, we will see more avoidable hospitalizations, nursing-home placements, and deaths. The moral case is obvious; the economic case is, too: supportive housing and senior-tailored services reduce costly ER and inpatient use.

Older adults sleeping outside is not inevitable. They’re our neighbors, and many people are one rent increase away from losing everything. Meeting their basic needs like a calm shelter, healthcare, and affordable housing makes for a community that takes dignity seriously at every age.

Local resources & ways to help

• Northwest Pilot Project (seniors 55 plus) – rental assistance, housing navigation.
  
  

• Portland Street Medicine – volunteer, donate, or refer someone for mobile care.
  
  

• Transition Projects – shelter access & housing support; see county list for age-priority sites. 

References

• Byrne, T., Culhane, D., Doran, K., Johns, E., Kuhn, R., Metraux, S., & Schretzman, M. (2019). The emerging crisis of aged homelessness. Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy. https://aisp.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Emerging-Crisis-of-Aged-Homelessness.pdf

• Culhane, D. P., & Metraux, S. (2013). The Age Structure of Contemporary Homelessness: Evidence and Implications for Public Policy. National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. https://nchv.org/images/uploads/The_Age_Structure_of_Contemporary_Homelessness_WEB.pdf

• Kushel, M., & Moore, T. (2023). Toward a new understanding: The California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness. UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. https://homelessness.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2023-06/CASPEH_Report_62023.pdf

• Espinoza, M., Moore, T., Adhiningrat, S., Perry, E., & Kushel, M. (2024). Toward Dignity: Understanding older adult homelessness in the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness. UCSF Benioff Homelessness & Housing Initiative. https://homelessness.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/2024-05/Older%20Adult%20Homelessness%20Report%2005.2024.pdf

• National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2024, March 18). Nearly one in four people experiencing homelessness were over age 55. OPB: Think Out Loud. https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/18/think-out-loud-multnomah-county-older-adult-housing-instability/

• Oregon Public Broadcasting. (2025, June 17). In Multnomah County, homeless deaths are on the rise. OPB: Think Out Loud. https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/17/think-out-loud-multnomah-county-homeless-deaths-rise-data/

• Street Roots. (2024, January 3). Falling through the net: Aged homelessness in Oregon. Street Roots. https://www.streetroots.org/news/2024/01/03/falling-through-net-aged-homelessness-oregon