Vulnerable People and Places Blog

Photo by Sean Foster on Unsplash Drive through Northeast Portland after dark and you will pass them. Old motorhomes pulled up against the curb. Minivans with the back windows covered in cardboard. Sedans with a sleeping bag bunched against the rear window. They look abandoned. They are not. Someone lives there. Vehicle residency is the fastest-growing form of homelessness in Oregon. The state's 2025 Point-in-Time count found 4,850 people living in cars, RVs, and trucks , a 15.3 percent jump in a single year. National researchers have called it the fastest-growing homeless subpopulation in the country. And the stereotype most people carry about who those residents are turns out to be wrong. Many vehicle residents are working. Some are seniors. A surprising number have been doing this for years, holding down jobs while waiting on a housing market that will not take them back. Last September, OPB profiled Rachelle Lacy-Powell, a 59-year-old who had spent five years living ...

Over the years I've had the pleasure of working with many folks in community service organizations both as a client in need of services, as well as a person working to provide others with services. From this lived experience a very brief survey was created that collects data about how each organization can best serve their clients, based on actual questions I have had to answer to receive help. You can find that survey here:  https://forms.gle/trU3Ngt9SfneG2HJ9 Source cited in this post: Bauer  Photo credit :, P. (2022, July 14). Pulse surveys: a quickfire guide for HR professionals . Cezanne HR. https://cezannehr.com/hr-blog/2022/05/what-are-pulse-surveys/

 It's 2024, and not only is the Portland Oregon area experiencing one of the worst winters in recorded history, it's also U.S. primary election season. Without delving too deeply into the political side of Portland Oregon, it's important to note the climates (both literally and figuratively) because I've learned over the years that the resources and services available for some of our most vulnerable populations largely depends on who is in office. I don't mean who our president is, I'm talking about all levels of government because almost anyone who can pick up a mobile device can easily recognize that any Nations "Commander in Chief" is really just a political puppet, sure they're the head puppet but they're a pawn in a rigged game of who has the power. For this reason, I am thankful the United States at least has term limits for the President because it's evident that with enough money and resources, you won't be impeached, or convic...

  As many of you have seen over the past year, the housing market in the Portland area has continued to increase. With rising home prices and mortgage rates, buying a house has become extremely difficult or not an option any longer for many people. The increased price for homes and mortgage rates have priced many people out of the housing market, especially younger generations. Unfortunately, I have fallen into this group of the younger generation that is currently not able to afford to purchase a first home. Even with a full time job working in the public sector, the current housing market has exceeded my budget, along with many others in a similar situation.  Not only has the affordability of the housing market in Portland decreased and priced some out of the market, it has also forcing more people from getting housing and remain homeless. We all know that Portland and almost every large city in the country have been dealing with an increase in homelessness and the challenge...

Introduction: The role of landlords in the housing sector has evolved over time, reflecting changes in societal norms, economic factors, and legal regulations. Landlords have played a significant role throughout history, from feudal lords in medieval Europe to property owners in contemporary societies. In the past, they often wielded significant power over their tenants, setting rules and rents unilaterally (britannica.com). Today, with the invention of modern tenancy laws and regulations, the power dynamic has shifted in favor of renters, with tenants enjoying greater protection and rights. The modern landlord faces a myriad of responsibilities and challenges. They are tasked with maintaining properties, addressing tenant concerns, and adhering to legal regulations. With the rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, some landlords have embraced the sharing economy, managing multiple properties and meeting the demands of transient guests. This shift toward more active property...

  As most have seen the last several years, homelessness continues to be a persistent issue across the entire country. No matter what state or city you are in, or if you are in downtown or the suburbs, homelessness has spread to all parts of society. I recall several years ago in the town I grew up in, I don't remember a time I would ever see homeless camps or individuals in the community. Today I see this almost every time I drive through town or go to a store. I used to think this was a big city problem, but I was completely wrong about ignoring a problem I thought would never come to where I live.  With homelessness being one of the top issues in our communities today, new solutions are being attempted to help those in need. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there were approximately 421,392 people experiencing homelessness and that number has increased 6 percent since 2017 (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2023). Far too many people have no place...

     Homelessness puts women in adverse situations where they lack safety. When a woman is pregnant and facing homelessness, she experiences even further risks and challenges. In Oregon, there are options and services available to women for pre/post-natal care, but there still isn't enough. Further, for the services that are available, the issue of providing continued, stable support throughout one's pregnancy remains perhaps one of the greatest barriers. If you or I were facing homelessness and were worried about our basic necessities like finding a place to sleep, and accessing food and water, I don't think that transportation to and from set appointments would be at the top of our priority list. It is virtually impossible to ask such a task of an expecting mother facing homelessness when it means abandoning her needs and adding on an entirely new point of stress.      In Oregon, organizations like Oregon MothersCare help mothers access low-cost and free ...

In recent years, Portland has faced a growing homelessness crisis, with the number of unsheltered people in the city increasing significantly. In response to this, the city has established sanctioned homeless camp locations, which provide a safe and regulated environment for people experiencing homelessness to live in. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits and challenges of these sanctioned homeless camp locations in Portland. Portland is known for its progressive policies and dedication to providing support for those in need. One area where this is especially true is in the city's approach to addressing homelessness. In recent years, Portland has implemented a number of sanctioned homeless camp locations throughout the city. These camps are intended to provide a safe, secure space for those experiencing homelessness, while also helping to address the issue of unsheltered individuals in the city. Sanctioned homeless camps are designated areas where people experiencing hom...

For many, the response of Portland, Oregon’s Mayor Ted Wheeler, to the ever-growing houseless issue in Portland is too little too late. After being elected mayor in 2016 and reelected in 2020, it has taken more than a third of his time in office to propose a solution to provide affordable housing and authorized houseless camps in the city, according to  OPB . The belated response comes after years of criticism, public embarrassment, and harassment. Hank Sanders from the local news organization  Willamette Week   interviewed Wheeler about the details of these volatile encounters from angry constituents after receiving a public lashing for his lackluster actions in these crises.  Image Source: KGW8 Please take the time after reading to fill out this short survey! Thank you. https://forms.gle/MrsHML16woC5pkBW6 In defense of Wheeler, the houseless problem has been an issue worldwide before Wheeler’s time in office and has grown exponentially since the COVID-19 crisis. Ma...

  When people think about homelessness in Oregon, many tend to associate the word with Portland. While it is true that Portland is one of the most prominent homeless hotspots in the state, let us not forget those who live in rural areas. Homelessness is an issue in many parts of the state, and we must also recognize small regions. According to  Housing and homelessness are issues in rural Oregon, too   by Eric Mortenson for The Other Oregon, housing is difficult to come by due to wealthier out-of-state individuals who create a competitive housing market with their high bid victories. Many locals looking to start a family can not afford it because of the lack of housing or the high prices. To make matters worse, the minimum wage in rural areas is too low to live sustainably. For instance, the minimum wage in non-urban areas like Douglas, Klamath, Malheur, and others is $12.50. These people can not rely on community resources because there are not enough to pass around; Mor...

  Image courtesy of istockphoto.com   Monica* is a 61-year-old disabled woman working three jobs to make her ends meet. She makes roughly $2,500 a month, pays $1500 for rent, $300 for car, plus add in bills and food and it becomes impossible to save any money. Monica’s rent is going up, and she needs cheaper housing. She needs to drop two jobs because she physically cannot work that much, but if she does this, she will be homeless. Monica applied for several waitlists for federally funded housing, housing vouchers, section 8, section 42, and more. She isn't old enough for senior housing (age 62). She was denied every time for “making too much money” to meet income restrictions or “not enough money” to meet 3x rent for the apartments. She would literally need to be homeless to get help. And even then, some places require jobs, a specific monthly income, and base your income on last year’s tax return.   Post COVID-19 the housing voucher and housing assistance waist lists ha...

  Pallet, a Washington social purpose company has revolutionized the homeless shelter, and stands as the most impactful organization to lift people off the streets. The new 64 square foot shelters can be built in as little as one hour, about 40 shelters in one week, and cost only $5,495 each. These cutting edge pallet shelters last over 10 years, contain a fire extinguisher, CO monitor, smoke detector, a secure ventilation system, locks, windows, lights, a structural floor capable of being placed on any surface, air conditioning, heating, electricity, and two beds. Additionally, these shelters can withstand winds of up to 110 mph, 25 lb. per square feet of snow, and they are easily cleaned and disassembled. Pallet has now built shelter communities across the US, including 11 active sites in Oregon. You can see these shelters in Old Town off NW Hoyt St, N Mississippi Ave near Fremont Bridge, and towards Hawthorne next to SE Stephens St. CEO and Founder, Amy King, realized that ...

Finding a permanent solution for those experiencing homelessness has always been an enormous challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has made those efforts even more difficult. Traditional shelters are not ideal when it becomes necessary to maintain physical distance from others. Building new shelters to meet this need is very expensive and takes almost two years to complete. So, what to do? Welcome to Project Turnkey. This program, administered by the Oregon Community Foundation, was established last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the wildfire’s that left many without homes. The program leverages federal and state funds to purchase motels and hotels in counties across Oregon to be used as emergency shelters and transitional housing.   “Project Turnkey reflects an enormous and collaborative statewide effort to quickly deploy an innovative solution for a complex set of challenges for communities facing increased houseless impacts,” said Max Williams, President and CEO of the...

  Image courtesy of Pinterest.com How are we able to motivate the majority of a community to end homelessness? One reason that may be overlooked is the cost of spending for an individual to attend the emergency room. According to Greendoors.org ,  "People struggling with homelessness are often frequent users of emergency departments. On average, they visit the emergency room five times per year. The highest users of emergency departments visit weekly. Each visit costs $3,700; that's $18,500 spent per year for the average person and $44,400 spent per year for the highest users of emergency departments." According to Dr. Margot Kushel at the University of California, San Francisco,  "Homeless people have higher rates of chronic health problems than the general population. This takes the form of higher rates of illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and HIV disease"   When thinking about these costs that the healthcare sy...