Vulnerable People and Places Blog

           Communities are a tapestry of diverse stories, each thread unique yet interconnected in the fabric of humanity. Within this tapestry, homelessness stands as a profound challenge, affecting not only communities at large but especially those directly experiencing its hardships. In the face of skyrocketing inflation and rental costs, many families and individuals find themselves grappling with housing scarcity. All too often, when homelessness is discussed, it is automatically grouped with other community issues such as substance abuse, rising crime rates, and mental health challenges. While these issues can intersect, the automatic association is problematic in perpetuating harmful stigmas that unfairly vilify those needing support. The Safe Parking Program is no exception to this.       What is The Safe Parking Program? The Safe Parking Program, administered by Just Compassion East Washington County, is a program that prov...

                    Portland, despite being known for its vibrant culture and progressive values, is not immune to the challenges faced by its homeless population. One pressing issue is the necessity for improved access to transportation, which plays a vital role in providing opportunities for work and the potential to relocate for better prospects. However, the city and many of its residents have concerns regarding homeless individuals taking advantage of public transportation. With so many complex needs and circumstances that are involved in this issue I feel it is important to shed light on the commendable efforts of programs like Homeward Bound and the Portland Rescue Mission who are working to address these challenges.                     For Portland's homeless population, access to transportation is more than just a convenience – it's a lifeline to employment op...

    Homelessness is more common in Portland, particularly in the neighborhoods that have house service providers. The affordable housing problem has been increased by Portland real estate's limited supply and ongoing demand, further reducing the amount of housing available to needy individuals. Homelessness results from rising rents and property values in Portland, Oregon. Analysts for the state estimate that Oregon now needs about 140,000 housing units to accommodate the state's population. Statistics on homelessness show how complicated the problem is. The 2023 Year in Time Report indicates that thousands of individuals are homeless on our streets. Portland's overall homelessness rose from 1,887 to 6,297 people in 2023, a 65% increase.  Furthermore, the leading causes of homelessness in Portland--- DRUGS AND ADDICTION : Addiction is listed as the most common problem in the lives of homeless persons in 68% of American cities. It takes effective addiction rehabilitat...

                                          (Photo credit: Metta Fund) Homelessness has been a complex and ubiquitous challenge with a variety of underlying socioeconomic factors in recent years. According to the 2023 analysis of homelessness by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States had 653,104 homeless people counted on a single night in 2023- a 12% increase from 2022. Portland, Oregon is among those cities with the rapid increase in homelessness, rising by 65% from 2015 to 2023.  With its complex nature and rapid growth, the limited access to healthcare in homeless populations is one of the associated problems that need to be addressed more appropriately.  Homeless people are more susceptible to diseases that are attributable to their living conditions, including exposure to communicable diseases, opioid or illicit drug use, harmful weather...

  As homelessness starts to rise in many states, many actions have started to take place, one of them being hostile architecture.   Hostile architecture is an architectural design intended to deter certain activities and restrict people from using that public space. Hostile architecture goes unnoticed by most people, as they don't affect them. Some examples of hostile architecture involve: Armrests on benches Curved or slanted benches Rocky pavements Bike racks and planter boxes in a line Window sills with spikes In Portland, Oregon, the hostile architecture are focused towards the homeless and preventing camping. Since 2013, the state agency has spent over $1 million on what is described as "rockscape landscaping" to keep homeless campers off property owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation. In downtown Portland, NW Broadway, dozens of lined up bike racks were installed in. The area isn't an active destination, so the need for that many bike racks i...

  In the Pacific Northwest lies the rainy city of Portland, Oregon, known for its progressive spirit and thriving cultural scene. But, under the surface of Portland's charm lies a pressing issue that demands our urgent attention: the devastating effects of drugs on houselessness. As we confront this rapidly growing crisis, it's crucial to recognize the gravity of the situation and rally together to implement effective solutions. The relationship between drugs and houselessness in Portland is undeniable. Countless individuals experiencing houselessness grapple with substance abuse disorders, turning to drugs as a means of escape from the harsh living conditions of life on the streets. Whether it's methamphetamine, opioids, or other substances, the impact is profound and far-reaching, affecting not only the individuals themselves but also the surrounding community. Drug use among homeless people in Portland makes their existing problems worse and keeps them trapped in poverty...

    Photo by Jae C. Hong, files forensics (2023)        Drug overdose has become a real problem within the homeless population, slightly passing motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death . This is apparent in Portland, Oregon, where in 2021, 193 homeless individuals have died with 60% of that were of drug overdose. This trend can be mirrored to many parts of the country such as New York, Massachusetts, and San Francisco where they also see an increase in the deaths of homeless people due to drugs, making this an emerging problem that can get out of hand if nothing happens.        A county health officer of Multnomah, Jennifer Vines, states that, "polysubstance, meth and fentanyl are the key takeaways" further adding to the rise of fentanyl which was a big boom on the streets. Fentanyl has created many problems for the city, as it is also used with many other drugs such as meth and opioids, since it is always av...

  Similar to the 1980’s with the crack epidemic and the 1990’s with the opioid epidemic, we are currently seeing a fentanyl epidemic and crisis in the entirely of the United States of America. Fentanyl is an opioid drug that was approved by the FDA for use as an anesthetic and pain relief drug. Due to it being roughly 100 times more potent than drugs like morphine, a much smaller dose is required to achieve the desired effect; it should only be administered by a licensed doctor or nurse in a hospital. It only takes a dose of 2 milligrams for the drug to have fatal effects and result in overdose or death. That dose is depicted above in a photo that is courtesy of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Fentanyl is often times laced in other drugs such as heroin which can be a death sentence if someone is not aware that it’s laced. In Portland, Oregon, there were roughly 20,000 people experiencing homelessness in 2023. Of that astonishing amount, research suggests that roughly 1/3 o...