San Francisco’s “Journey Home” Program and Its Impact on Portland

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San Francisco’s “Journey Home” program has been facilitating the relocation of homeless individuals by providing them with transportation to cities where they have family or support networks. The program, which has been running for years, has seen an expansion under Mayor London Breed. While some Portlanders have expressed concern about an influx of unhoused individuals, data suggests that the actual number of people being sent to Oregon is relatively low.

According to recent reports, in the past year, only nine individuals relocated to Oregon through the program out of the 92 total who opted for relocation. The goal of “Journey Home” is to ensure that those receiving assistance have a reliable support system at their destination, although there have been instances where participants overestimated their prospects.

Similar relocation initiatives exist in major cities across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale. These programs aim to reduce local shelter populations while helping individuals find long-term stability. However, critics argue that such efforts may simply shift the burden of homelessness rather than provide real solutions to the underlying issues, such as the lack of affordable housing, mental health support, and job opportunities.

Despite concerns about an increase in Portland’s homeless population due to relocation programs, the number of individuals moving through “Journey Home” is small in comparison to the overall unhoused population in the city. The impact of such initiatives on Portland’s already strained homeless services is likely minimal, though ongoing efforts to improve housing stability and support systems remain crucial.

SOURCES:

Is a Bus Ticket Home a Solution for Homelessness?
December 3, 2024 — One of San Francisco's relocation programs requires the client only to have a vague connection to their destination city. These programs are ...
hsh.sfgov.org

Relocation Assistance Programs
San Francisco offers three programs that help people who are experiencing homelessness ... Journey Home: Offered by HSA and HSH as part of the Drug Market ...

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