Homelessness in Oregon

In 2016, a report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shows that the U.S. state of Oregon had an estimated homeless population of 13,238 with about 60.5% of these people still unsheltered.[1] In 2017, these numbers were even higher. As of January 2017, Oregon has an estimated 13,953 individuals experiencing homelessness. Of this homeless population, 1,083 are family households, 1,251 are veterans, 1,462 are unaccompanied young adults (aged 18-24), and 3,387 are individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.[2]

Whoville Homeless Camp in Eugene, Oregon, 2013

Businesses have begun to make it known that they are not accepting the presence of homeless people around their businesses regardless of the circumstances these people are in.[3] Some of the complaints given are that homeless people 'scare customers away'; 'they are too noisy'; and 'they block the way' just to name a few complaints.[4][5] A city ordinance called 'sidewalk obstruction ordinance' was an ordinance which homeless advocates complained "criminalizes homelessness".[3] This was however, quashed by a judge's decision in 2009.[3] This decision left the police and business owners with disorderly conduct which the police chief said comes with the difficulty of proving intent and finding witnesses.[3]

Portland
Male transient in Portland, Oregon, in 2016

In Portland, the local government took efforts in trying to become a zero-homeless city, which failed to meet its mission.[6] This is through a 10-year plan which they proposed in 2005 which states that they would move people into affordable housing rather than moving them to temporary shelters.[7]

City of Portland official transient encampment complaints map

References
  1. Eastman, Janet (November 23, 2016). "Most of Oregon's homeless families live on the street, in cars, parks: Highest percentage in US., says HUD report". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  2. "Oregon Homelessness Statistics in 2017". U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
  3. Mayer, James (July 15, 2009). "Portland grapples with homeless issue after ruling on sidewalk ordinance". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  4. Griffin, Anna (February 21, 2015). "Handling Panhandling". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on March 5, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  5. Flaccus, Gillian (September 11, 2016). "Portland homeless crisis grows, creating dissent in tolerant Oregon city". Review Journal. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  6. Griffin, Anna (2015-01-17). "Our Homeless Crisis: Successes of Portland's 10-year plan to end homelessness". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-06. Portland's 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness failed to fulfill its stated mission.
  7. Oregonian/OregonLive, Anna Griffin | The (2015-01-17). "Our homeless crisis". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
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