Portland's Homeless:Where Will they Go?
Portland is facing a visible and growing homelessness crisis. With tents lining sidewalks and RVs parked across neighborhoods, the city's landscape has changed—but the bigger question remains: Where can people without homes actually go?
As of 2023, over 6,297 people in Multnomah County are experiencing homelessness. That's a 65% increase since 2015. While the causes are complex—ranging from housing costs to untreated mental illness—the immediate challenge is space. There simply aren't enough places to go.
Current Options Are Limited
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Shelters are often full or unappealing due to safety concerns.
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Tents and RVs offer more freedom, but no security.
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Safe Rest Villages, run by the city, provide supervised camps with services—but space is scarce.
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Tiny homes and supportive housing sound promising, but take time and money to build.
Even with the city’s efforts to expand shelter beds and support centers, thousands remain outside every night.
The Real Question
Without large-scale, long-term investment, most unhoused people won’t go anywhere—they’ll stay right where they are: on sidewalks, in parks, under overpasses. “Cleaning up the streets” without real alternatives just means moving people around, not solving the problem.
Portland has a chance to lead with compassion and strategy. If it can scale its programs and treat homelessness as a housing and health issue—not just a visibility issue—the answer to where they will go might finally be: home.
Sources
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Multnomah County – 2023 Point-in-Time Count Summary
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2015 Point-in-Time Count Report
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City of Portland – Safe Rest Villages Overview
Axios Portland – Mayor Wilson's Homeless Strategy
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AP News – Portland's New Homelessness Approach
Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office – Housing and Eviction Legislation
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