Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Homelessness in Portland

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Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Homelessness in Portland 

By Abdelrahman Elkasaby


We can discuss the statistics all we want, but at the end of the day, these are real people with names and faces. People who once had jobs, families, and homes, now facing a system that often sees them as numbers before it sees them as human.

Portland has seen its homelessness crisis grow steadily in recent years. City officials point to rising unsheltered counts and announce expansions of shelters to respond. The city’s plan to add 1,500 new beds sounds big on paper (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2025). Reports show the number of people living outside keeps climbing, and rents have gone up sharply since 2021, making it easier to lose housing and harder to get back in (Do Good Multnomah, n.d.). But none of those numbers show what life actually feels like on the ground.

One woman, 58-year-old Alix Rabbas, captured that feeling clearly. After a long day of walking around the city, managing her errands, and trying to secure a safe place to sleep, she said, “I can’t wait to get to my bed” (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2025). For her, that “bed” is in a women’s overnight shelter with limited hours, no storage, and not enough amenities. Half the time, only some of the beds are even filled. That’s not comfort. That’s survival.

Rabbas’s story is one of thousands. A statistic might say “7,000 people unsheltered,” but that number includes mothers, veterans, seniors, and young people trying to stay safe at night. Many are pushed into homelessness after a single unexpected event like a job loss, medical bill, or relationship breakdown (Do Good Multnomah, n.d.). Rising rent means even one slip can spiral into losing everything.

Shelters are an important first step, but they’re not a full solution. Without stable housing, mental health resources, addiction support, and long-term follow-up, people are stuck moving from one temporary fix to another.

Homelessness in Portland isn’t just a housing issue. It’s a human one. Real change starts when we stop treating people as a statistic and start seeing them for who they are: neighbors, community members, people who deserve dignity and a place to call home.


References:

Do Good Multnomah. (n.d.). Portland’s Homelessness Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.dogoodmultnomah.org/homelessness-portland

Oregon Public Broadcasting. (2025, October 1). Behind the doors of Portland’s plan to end unsheltered homelessness. Retrieved from https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/01/portland-overnight-shelter-homelessness-crisis-women/

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