Victims of Economic Collapse

In a recent article, I talked about the value of temporary shelters in providing both relief for individuals, and as a path towards more permanent home living. It was in response to the Homelessness Response Action Plan explaining how solving homelessness is not as simple as “build more permanent housing” as some responders to the plan have suggested. In this article, I will go deeper in examining “why” homelessness remains a key issue in Portland, and what steps we, as concerned individuals, can take to support our community.

To address the obvious in the room, yes, Oregon has a homelessness issue. Oregon has reported the highest rate of unsheltered family homelessness in the nation frequently since 2007. There is a stereotype that homeless people are drug addicts, however in Oregon, the issue is more rooted in economic instability. For one, unemployment has been an ongoing issue since the pandemic in 2020. While we have recovered from the staggering 13.30% peak unemployment in April of 2020, we currently float around 4.10% unemployment which is higher than pre-pandemic measurements. In tandem with troubling unemployment rates, the median sale of houses have increased by nearly $200,000 since 2020, which is an approximate 17% increase each year, compared to the roughly 3% increase in wages during the same time frame. Whether you are a homeowner or a landlord, you are feeling the extreme pressure that our housing market is undergoing. As mortgage rates continue to climb, landlords are forced to wrack up month rates whenever possible in order to avoid their own financial ruin.

Homelessness, at its core, is an economic issue. The mass group of people who are suffering from homelessness aren’t drug addicted freeloaders committing crimes for fun. Many are families who’ve been hurt by a constricting system, youths who have been rejected by their families or ran away, and individuals thrust into misfortune. It is important to remember that these are people facing a cruel system.

So what can we do to help? First, contact our local Government and continue to voice your concerns about the crisis. If you are interested in volunteer work, Hacienda CDC is an organization focused on providing low income families the opportunity for home ownership, with a focus towards the Latino community. If you struggle with time, but have financial stability, you can also consider donating to organization such as Here Together Oregon who are enacting a 10 year plan to provide a versatile set of resources to aid in this crisis. As members of this community, it is our responsibility to help where we can.