Vulnerable People and Places Blog

  For over a century, this land has been defined by the axe, the plow, and the sheer, stubborn will of pioneers. Across the state, in continuing that pioneering spirit, expanding construction sites are turning into sleek, humming facilities that power everything from streaming to banking to emergency services. These are data centers, and whether we notice them or not, they’re shaping the way Oregon connects to the world. At first glance, they might seem out of place. Concrete, steel, and fiber optics replacing open fields and barns, it’s easy to wonder what that means for rural communities. But upon closer inspection, those same communities are seeing new infrastructure, steady tax revenue, and partnerships that fund schools and pave roads. What looks like a tech takeover is often a long‑term investment in stability. Energy is another part of the conversation. Data centers demand power, but they also drive innovation. To meet their needs, companies are investing in solar, wind, a...

                                                                      Homeless tents photo taken by Portland Tribune (2025), Jim Redden The certain stereotype that Portland, Oregon has nowadays didn’t always used to be this bad. The city of Portland used to be beloved by all, and as of recent years, it has gained a certain reputation. It has become dirty, chaotic, filled with homeless people, and with everyone on drugs and illegal substances. No matter the truth of these statements. Portland is still a beautiful city to be around. It should be forgotten and avoided. Citizens of this city want to be safe in the streets they live in. That is why the issue of homelessness needs to be resolved and dealt with soon. ​ Establishing the problem of homelessness is hard to identify. It truly can...

  THE UGLINESS BEHIND DATA CENTERS Danny Helton In recent years there has been the sudden introduction of Artificial Intelligence. In addition to that sudden rise is the questions surrounding ethics, long-term effects on cognition and environmental impacts. Most troubling is the rise of data centers. These massive structures can be considered a blight upon the land, especially so in rural areas where they don’t blend in so easily.                The preservation of nature is considered to be one of the most important priorities for ensuring a healthy environment. And much of this preservation is by designing architecture to blend into the surrounding environment in a way that feels organic. I was in Europe recently, and the criticism of American cities being giant concrete shoeboxes surrounded by hostile-looking parking lots seemed to ring very true. We have done so much already to encroach upon our beautif...

  Photo from Katu.com Have you ever heard from people in Oregon, or even outside of Oregon constantly talk about how there are too many people in Portland that are homeless and that it is a rising problem? They are not wrong and there is more than just the reason as most would say, “People do not care”, “They are just a bunch of druggies!”, “Well that is what happens when you keep Portland weird!”. This is not always the case especially when there is such a rise in AI. AI doesn’t just impact the earth and environment but people’s jobs which is the only way to afford living. Oregon is number 17 for the highest likelihood of job loss due to AI taking over. If this is not a problem, it should be. Jobs are at high risk every day and you will never know when it will happen to you. I know everyone has had this thought that I'll just get a new job. Then that new job is taken over by AI employees, and it is a never-ending cycle of losing jobs, gaining jobs and losing that said job again. E...

 Have you ever walked through downtown Portland and noticed rows of tents lining the streets? Often, we might just glance at them and keep walking. In Portland, this scene is becoming increasingly common. But what’s more concerning isn’t the sight itself, but the growing problem behind it. When you walk through downtown and see people pushing shopping carts or wrapped in blankets, have you ever wondered what if, one day, that person were you? Homelessness may seem like something far removed from our lives, but in reality, it can happen to anyone. A single job loss, an unexpected medical bill, or a rent hike can suddenly strip a person with a stable life of everything they have. Today, more and more people are being pushed out of their lives and onto the streets, yet we habitually turn a blind eye. The question isn’t why they’re there, but, why is this becoming increasingly common? The issue of homelessness is not merely about “people without homes”; behind it lie rising housing cos...

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash When Portland's 2021 heat dome killed 69 people in a single week, most of us pictured the same thing: someone unhoused, caught outside with nowhere to go. It's a reasonable assumption. People sleeping on pavement during a 116-degree afternoon should be in the most danger, and they are at risk. But the medical examiner's data tells a different story, and it's one worth sitting with. Of those 69 deaths during the heat dome, four were homeless . The other 65 were people who lived in houses and apartments. The 2022 heat wave was similar: of five confirmed heat deaths, only one person was unhoused. In summer 2024, Multnomah County recorded 14 heat-associated deaths, and again, just one of those people was without a home. Two out of every three people who have died from extreme heat in Multnomah County since 2021 were men over 50. Most lived alone. Most did not have working air conditioning, or did not turn it on. That desc...

 Beyond the Stereotypes: Understanding the Real Causes of Homelessness in Portland                                                        Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press Homelessness in Portland is often talked about in very simple terms. Many people assume it is mainly caused by addiction or poor personal choices. While those factors can play a role, the reality is much more complicated. Homelessness is usually the result of several challenges happening at the same time, including rising housing costs, mental health struggles, and limited access to support services. One of the biggest contributors is the cost of housing. Over the past decade, rent in Portland has increased significantly, making it difficult for many working individuals and families to afford stable housing. Even people with steady jobs ...