Vulnerable People and Places Blog

  A short video on three contributors to homelessness in Oregon. The aim of the Infovideo is to link mental health, substance use, and cost of living together and show that homelessness isn't as simple as "drugs = homeless". The homeless population are people too, with feelings and emotions and struggles just like everyone else. They are not lesser.  Transcript: There are many factors that contribute to homelessness. Most commonly:  Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, and Cost of Living Increases Homelessness isn’t as black and white as one may think. It’s the product of economics, mental and physical health, job loss, foreclosure, and many other things that can drive a household to the streets. Fentanyl has taken over Portland’s streets, with its low cost and prevalence making it a popular choice amongst substance abusers. It has also seen record overdoses and is recognized as one of the leading causes of death among people under the age of 50. The range of homeless person...

    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...