Vulnerable People and Places Blog

Introduction: The role of landlords in the housing sector has evolved over time, reflecting changes in societal norms, economic factors, and legal regulations. Landlords have played a significant role throughout history, from feudal lords in medieval Europe to property owners in contemporary societies. In the past, they often wielded significant power over their tenants, setting rules and rents unilaterally (britannica.com). Today, with the invention of modern tenancy laws and regulations, the power dynamic has shifted in favor of renters, with tenants enjoying greater protection and rights. The modern landlord faces a myriad of responsibilities and challenges. They are tasked with maintaining properties, addressing tenant concerns, and adhering to legal regulations. With the rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, some landlords have embraced the sharing economy, managing multiple properties and meeting the demands of transient guests. This shift toward more active property...

We have heard solutions to homelessness… food banks, donating clothing, giving food, volunteering at houseless shelters, but to what end? Homelessness still occurs and people die on the street. Oregon is frigid, with cold winters, and stifling heat, the struggles never end.  This almost feels like human trials, testing a new solution because it seems plausible but little to no research has been done to back up the claims… but what if there was just one more attempt?  We know that transitional housing is currently being attempted, and new legislation is presented to pass laws to increase transitional housing, but what about the time from now until those bills pass? How many more people will suffer?  We need a solution now! A solution could look like this, providing monthly financial assistance to homeless individuals for housing, commonly referred to as a "housing-first" approach, is a pragmatic and effective solution. What will this achieve?  Immediate Shelter with m...

Current Focus The macroeconomic climate in America holds much uncertainty for the future. When exploring individual aspects of the American economy, rising living cost across the nation are a main focus. Specifically in Portland, OR, research finds that high living cost and housing shortages are directly correlated with an increase in the cities homeless population. As overall prices continue to fluctuate on essential goods, living cost in Portland continue to increase even with broad based economic uncertainty. This could be a strong indicator that homelessness may increase within the city if action is not taken. Portland’s city government faces many obstacles in their attempt to reduce housing costs. The lack of housing for a growing population remains a strong indication of why living costs may be high in the Portland market. Prices have been exacerbated by Covid-19 as American citizens now live in an inflationary environment making shelter even harder to come by. Those who are foun...

  As most have seen the last several years, homelessness continues to be a persistent issue across the entire country. No matter what state or city you are in, or if you are in downtown or the suburbs, homelessness has spread to all parts of society. I recall several years ago in the town I grew up in, I don't remember a time I would ever see homeless camps or individuals in the community. Today I see this almost every time I drive through town or go to a store. I used to think this was a big city problem, but I was completely wrong about ignoring a problem I thought would never come to where I live.  With homelessness being one of the top issues in our communities today, new solutions are being attempted to help those in need. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there were approximately 421,392 people experiencing homelessness and that number has increased 6 percent since 2017 (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2023). Far too many people have no place...

Feeding the Homeless in Portland, Oregon. Back in 2011 ' Occupy Portland' set up over 300 tents to house,   feed, and check on some of the city's homelessness population . Today, tri-county officials have reported that there are more than 7,000 homeless people living within the Portland City metro area and that number only seems to be increasing. Not only do these people have to worry about not having a stable shelter but one of the biggest issues for them is their lack of food and water. Every single day these individuals wonder about what their next meal will be and where it will come from. Although this blog post is focusing on the homeless populations in Portland it's important to know that Feeding America has stated over 400,000 people in the whole state of Oregon have reported 'hungry'. That is equivalent to 1 in 10 people, so the resources I will mention below are not only for the homeless but anyone who feels they may be in need as well.  Never be afraid...

  Imagine yourself balancing on the ever-shifting ground, there is never enough time to stabilize yourself, to catch your balance, to feel safe. This is what it is like for a houseless person to suffer from mental health in Oregon.  Transitional housing offers security to houseless individuals, but it's not without its challenges. A significant number of houseless people find themselves entangled in the legal system, with 52% of arrests in 2017 involving houseless individuals (Woolington & Lewis, 2018). Many face recurring arrests, like Brian Lankford, who has been arrested 219 times (Woolington & Lewis, 2018) for offenses often driven by unmet needs rather than malice (TedTalk, 2016). Transportation is a critical obstacle, affecting court attendance, appointments, and the transition to transitional housing. A staggering 63% of transitional housing residents report mental health issues, yet 20% of those suffering from mental health problems have remained untreated sinc...