For example, studies show that homelessness relates to increased psychiatric distress and lower perceived levels of recovery from serious mental illness[xiv]; and, WHEREAS, in 2020, Oregon jumped from having the ninth highest rate of meth use in the country to the highest, according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health data[xv]; and, WHEREAS, the price of meth has decreased, while the potency has increased, allowing users to purchase three days' worth of meth for $5[xvi]; and, WHEREAS, [m]eth dependence gradually develops into not only meth psychosis but also persistent neurocognitive deficits which impair daily living and working[xvii]; and [m]ethamphetamine-induced psychosis is often times clinically indistinguishable from paranoid schizophrenia[xviii]; and meth use can cause obsessive, hoarding behavior[xix]; and, WHEREAS, Oregonians voted overwhelmingly for Measure 110 in 2020, with the understanding that decriminalizing the personal possession of illegal drugs would be coupled with revenue (from marijuana sales and funds reallocated away from drug enforcement) to fund a new drug addiction treatment and recovery grant program[xx]; and, WHEREAS, Measure 110 is a public health approach and when implemented alongside treatment and recovery investment, is a laudable and more humane policy, but in the two years since the decriminalization of the personal use of drugs in Oregon, funds for drug abuse treatment and recovery have yet to be fully implemented[xxi]; and, WHEREAS, only 4.6% of people ticketed for a Measure 110 violation have called Lines for Life to be connected to services[xxii]; and, WHEREAS, there is a 49% gap in substance use disorder services needed by Oregonians[xxiii]; and, WHEREAS, among Oregon Health Plan members, rates of substance use disorder diagnoses suggest that less than half of those with a use disorder have been diagnosed or treated[xxiv]; and, WHEREAS, Oregon ranks second in the nation for percent of population with past year substance use disorder[xxv]; and, WHEREAS, Oregon ranks 50th in nation for percent of population needing but not receiving treatment for substance use disorders[xxvi]; and, DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, WHEREAS, drug overdoses in Multnomah County increased 94% between 2019 and 2021 (from 215 in 2019 to 417 in 2021)[xxvii], and fentanyl overdoses increased by 588% between 2019 and 2021 (from 25 in 2019 to 172 in 2021)[xxviii]; and, WHEREAS, drug overdoses (417) killed more people in Multnomah County in 2021 than gun violence (71) and automobile crashes (84) combined[xxix]; and, CAMP REMOVALS WITHOUT CAMPING BAN NOT EFFECTIVE, WHEREAS, in Spring of 2021, with the lifting of COVID pandemic restrictions, Mayor Ted Wheeler, issued an Emergency Declaration that created the Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) that coordinates homelessness outreach efforts by the City of Portland and Multnomah County with the purpose of providing streamlined services to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness[xxx]; and. Multnomah Countys population has declined in each of the past two years, a phenomenon that one Portland State University researcher attributes to an aging population leaving for the suburbs, reputational damage and the rise in homelessness as reported by The Oregonian/OregonLives Jamie Goldberg. Many persons in Oregon have experienced homelessness as a which includes Portland, people counted as homeless as defined by the US Department of The program is funded by a 1% marginal tax on taxable income of more than $125,000 for individuals Adams said the city also collaborated with volunteers last month to clean trash piling up around homeless encampments in Old Town Chinatown ahead of the reopening Portland Saturday Market. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. As the population ages, we need to evaluate how this trend affects the types of housing and services we provide in our ending homelessness systems. The result is visibility as a business location. In testimony submitted to the committee, some expressed concern about the prevalence of drug use among some of those who are homeless, and feeling unsafe walking around the streets of places like Portland and the state capital of Salem. Communal service structures, restrooms with showers, laundry, kitchenettes, on-site management office, social spaces: $130,000 - $200,000 per site. According to the report, no other state had a larger one-year decrease. [xx]https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lpro/Publications/Background-Brief-Measure-110-(2020).pdf, [xxi]https://www.opb.org/article/2022/09/20/oregon-measure-110-drug-decriminalization-substance-abuse-treatment/, [xxii]Oregon gubernatorial candidates weigh in on Measure 110, their plans if elected | KPIC, [xxiii]Oregon Substance Use Disorder Services Inventory and Gap Analysis, [xxiv]Oregon Substance Use Disorder Services Inventory and Gap Analysis, [xxv]2021.Oregon.NSDUH.Highlights.Final.pdf - Google Drive, [xxvi]2021.Oregon.NSDUH.Highlights.Final.pdf - Google Drive, [xxvii] Multnomah County Medical Examiner, [xxviii] Multnomah County Medical Examiner, [xxix]https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2022/01/90-homicides-in-portland-2021-closed-with-one-of-the-most-deadly-months-in-a-record-year.html, [xxxii]https://www.portland.gov/homelessnessimpactreduction/news/reports. There is an indisputable reputation problem that needs to be rehabilitated. KATIA RIDDLE, BYLINE: There are at least 4,000 unhoused people in Portland, and polling consistently shows it's one of the biggest concerns for the public here. He loved to go down just to the waterfront and walk around. 300 people by May has hit on homelessness Articles, blogs, press releases, public notices, and newsletters. Homeless people in Oregon could be given the right to sue anybody who tries to move them for $1,000 (796) under legislation being considered in the state. With the Portland region making up 52.6% of all employment and 60% of all wages in Oregon in 2022 Q2 now is the time to be aggressive and reinforce what we know are positives. Communal service structures, restrooms with showers, laundry, kitchenettes, on-site management office, social spaces: $130,000 - $200,000 per site. The geographic distribution of homelessness remained relatively unchanged from 2013, except in one area: Gresham/East County. In some ways, Portland has continued to thrive through the pandemic. Meanwhile, federal data show Oregon experienced a 27 percent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness between 2020 and 2022, the fourth-highest total in the nation. People living in Portland were oversampled, with 300 taking the poll, but results were adjusted to reflect the view across the metro area. Occupancy rates do vary by shelter, and there may be opportunities to increase utilization at sites with more open beds. Jones says people are losing patience, but there is nowhere to go. Still, Portland State University criminologist Kris Henning said perception matters tremendously, regardless of whether crime rates have changed. Many downtown Portland storefronts remain covered in plywood, while other business have shut down entirely, nearly a year after large-scale protests began following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Nearly three years after pandemic lockdowns emptied out the citys core and protests against police brutality turned a few downtown blocks into a battleground, this Wheeler's office previously reported a 50% increase in homelessness from 2019 to 2022 as well as homeless encampments topping 700 within the city. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "How on earth do you expect this kind of dangerous rhetoric to push the needle forward? The strengths of our downtown are unique and they havent gone away, Adams said. Based on estimates previously provided by the Streets to Stability program and Joint Office of Homeless Services, the ongoing cost of services and site operations for designated camping sites serving approximately 150 people per site could be between $3.0 and $6.8 million annually. The US Census Bureau estimates about 641,000 people live in Portland as of last July. Oregon got a spot of bright news in an otherwise grim report on the nations homelessness crisis released Thursday. "We are asking Oregon lawmakers to consider a $5 million investment to implement (a marketing) strategy. The point in time count is not going to give us the full count of whos experiencing homelessness, she said. Board members with expertise in the area of mental health point out that given the trauma associated with homelessness, a much higher percentage of the homeless population would likely qualify as having a mental health disability than is documented through the survey. Both states saw 61%of their homeless population living outdoors. Tina Kotek mandating that local laws regulating the acts of homeless persons sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry in outdoor public spaces be "objectively reasonable as to time, place, and manner.". Hire 50 additional navigation team members as City employees to engage in outreach and navigation to shelter and services in partnership with the County and JOHS navigators. Jamie Goldberg | The Oregonian/OregonLive, used words like destroyed, trashed, riots and sad, a majority of them saying downtown is unsafe, they want improved access to mental health care. Based on current funding assumptions, continuing support for the SSCC for an additional 18 months would require approximately $1.6 million. She said she grew concerned for her safety after a person asked her for money and then chased her down the street when she refused. The first annual 'Night of Remembrance' will be held at Bybee Lakes Hope Center in North Portland. June 12, 2021 PORTLAND, Ore. Jeremy Wooldridge had just finished mowing the grass around his tent when he saw a truck pull up in front of his homeless The Trump administrations combative response ratcheted up the pressure, creating a battlefield as federal law enforcement and a varied group of protesters clashed around downtown. Listen to business reporters Mike Rogoway and Jamie Goldberg discuss the ongoing series Downtown in Distress on Mondays episode of Beat Check with the Oregonian. As mentioned above, the direct costs of this resolution are predominantly in the form of staff time and capacity in developing an implementation plan for goals established in the resolution. We aim to provide a wide range of injection molding services and products ranging from complete molding project management customized to your needs. There was also an increase in the number of chronically homeless families: 64 of the people in families on the night of the count were chronically homeless, compared with 52 in 2013, and over half of the chronically homeless families in 2015 were unsheltered. Lane remains hopeful that downtown will improve over time as people return to work and more businesses open. And respondents have very specific ideas of how Portland could address the crisis downtown: cleaning up the streets, reducing crime and reopening bars, restaurants and other attractions. But Portlands issues are particularly acute. Business owners in Old Town Chinatown say they want clear boundaries on where the city will allow camping, and where it will not. A Portland city leaders effort to temporarily pause the distribution of tents and tarps to homeless people has drawn the Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The city of Portland is not being professional, yelled another activist, the video showed. WHEREAS, the unsheltered homeless population grew by 50% from 2,037 people in 2019 to 3,057 people in 2022[i]; and, 700 OFTEN-MOVING CAMPS SCATTERED ACROSS PORTLANDS 146 SQ MILES, WHEREAS, the Impact Reduction Program of the City of Portland has observed over 700 self-sited unsanctioned encampments across the Citys 146 square miles[ii]; and, WHEREAS, sprawl of self-sited unsanctioned encampments makes outreach and charitable/service distribution difficult, uneven, and inequitable; and, WHEREAS, in early 2022, 95% of homeless individuals surveyed said they were not offered temporary shelter, transitional or permanent housing or other services to meet their immediate needs prior to the removal of their self-sited encampment (Feb. 2, 2022)[iii]; and, WHEREAS, those camping in self-sited unsanctioned encampments often lack access to reliable sources of food, water, and hygiene services; and, WHEREAS, Street Roots found that homeless individuals were more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators[iv]; and, WHEREAS, homeless people with mental illness are highly vulnerable to violence, with a reported lifetime incidence of 74% to 87% of violence being perpetrated against them[v]; and, WHEREAS, Dr. Solotaroff, the former President and CEO of Central City Concern, explained the essential root causes of homelessness as stemming from both individual factors (early childhood adverse experiences, serious mental illness, substance use disorder, personal history of violence, etc.) The Oregonian/OregonLive commissioned the poll to assess perceptions of downtown from those who live and work in the metro area. Homeless people in Oregon could be given the right to sue anybody who tries to move them for $1,000 (796) under legislation being considered in the state. Those results suggest deep pessimism about downtown Portland, the citys economic, cultural and transportation hub. The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. Only 20% of all poll respondents -- and 32% of those living in Portland -- say they consider downtown to be safe at night. You don't have to step a few blocks in any direction to see how bad things are on the streets of Portland, let alone harden laws in favor of people who clearly struggle with making any kind of thoughtful decisions on their own. However, this years point-in-time count found a 48% increase in the number of unsheltered African-Americans from two years ago. Lift the ban. Request these services online or call 503-823-4000, Relay Service:711. Greater Portland Inc consulted with Development Counsellors International, a place marketing firm to develop a marketing blueprint with a succinct brand promise that articulates reasons to believe. To have the greatest impact, we are asking Oregon lawmakers to consider a $5 million investment to implement the strategy. UN agency suspends food aid to Ethiopia's Tigray amid theft, The Coronation whisky accidentally created in the Cotswolds, Quadruplets graduate together from Michigan college where their mother teaches at. With more than 170,000 people living in tents and cars and sleeping outdoors on sidewalks and under highway overpasses, California is the epicenter of the nations homeless crisis, yet few, if any, communities have been able to make a significant dent in the number of unsheltered residents living within their borders, NBC noted. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0477, [xi]Office-Based Addiction Treatment Retention and Mortality Among People Experiencing Homelessness | Addiction Medicine | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network, Behavioral Health Services for People Who are Homeless (samhsa.gov), [xiv] Castellow J KB, Townley G. Previous homelessness as a risk factor for recovery from serious mental illness. The Oregonian/OregonLive commissioned a poll of 600 adult residents in the Portland metro region to hear their perceptions about downtown Portland. He was more worried for WHEREAS, the SSCC improved its assistance to unsheltered individuals, including: WHEREAS, unsanctioned encampment removals increased by 2844% from September 2020 to September 2022 (from 9 to 265) (from IRP)[xxxii]; and, WHEREAS, despite the substantial increase in removals, the number of encampments has risen to over 700[xxxiii]; and, WHEREAS, approximately 20% of those camping in self-sited unsanctioned encampments accept an offer for congregate shelter[xxxiv]; and, WHEREAS, even with the improved shelter referral process, of the thousands of people offered a shelter bed, only a total of 405 have accepted[xxxv]; and, WHEREAS, providers engaged in daily outreach around the city estimate that upwards of 60% of those living in self-sited unsanctioned encampments would accept an offer for a designated camping site[xxxvi]; and, WHERAS, qualitative evidence suggests that the majority of campers prefer to remain outdoors, rather than go into congregate shelter, and simply move to another unsanctioned camp location, putting them at risk of removal and continued lack of access to services; and, WHEREAS, Portlands City Council extended the duration of a housing emergency and continued the current housing emergency for three additional years in Ordinance 190756 on March 30, 2022[xxxvii]; and, WHEREAS, stabilization of those living unsheltered in managed communities with peer support is trauma-informed and compassionate; and, WHEREAS, the campus model and phased approach is more effective for connecting individuals with services such as charitable, government, and healthcare, for example, Vancouvers meal train for its Safe Stay program[xxxviii], Medfords Urban Campground for up to 125 people, and Talent Gateway Transitional Housing Project for 159 people in 53 RVs[xxxix]; and, WHEREAS, the City of Portland will soon open all six Safe Rest Villages; and, WHEREAS the City is committed to serving the needs of unhoused individuals with disabilities and connecting them with appropriate services in City shelters and campsites [xli]; and. Nearly $5 million from the police bureau was redirected to Portland Street Response, a new city program to dispatch unarmed first responders to answer calls Crimes against people, though, were actually lower in downtown last year compared to 2019. May 19, 2021 Portland illegally discarding personal property during homeless sweeps, class-action suit alleges Federal analysis shows Oregons homeless population in decline prior to pandemic. Its really important for there to be a successful, vibrant and healthy downtown, Lane said. Tosha Morgan-Platt, a Northeast Portland resident who agreed with the poll results, began working for a company that manages downtown parking lots in July 2019. [ii]https://www.google.com/maps/place/Portland,+OR/@45.542714,-122.6544011,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x54950b0b7da97427:0x1c36b9e6f6d18591!8m2!3d45.515232!4d-122.6783853, [iii]https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/01/false-promises-95-of-unsheltered-portlanders-said-city-workers-didnt-offer-shelter-before-camp-sweeps.html#:~:text=%5C-,False%20promises%3A%2095%25%20of%20unsheltered%20Portlanders%20said%20city%20workers%20didn,offer%20shelter%20before%20camp%20sweeps, [iv]https://www.streetroots.org/news/2022/07/13/violence-conflated, [v] Roy L, Crocker AG, Nicholls TL, et al. Homeless people in Oregon could be given the right to sue anybody who tries to move them for $1,000 (796) under legislation being considered in the state. Due to differences in the definition of homeless between HUD and Multnomah County, it is still a work in progress to find more accurate numbers of homelessness among communities of color. They were not alone. He expects to return to his office sometime between June and September. The security guard said the activist hit him in the head, according to a video. Portland considers zoning change to allow for cheaper housing options, more shelter beds, As housing issues take center stage in Salem; advocates urge lawmakers to remember the invisible children. Those found in violation of the law would be subject to compensatory damages or $1,000 per violation, "whichever is greater," along with a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000. [xix]Sam Quinones, The Least of Us, page 4. It certainly would be more pleasant to be in surroundings that look nice, instead of seeing a lot of boarded up buildings, graffiti, broken windows.. Already, however, the bill has received some pushback. Democrats in the Oregon House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would decriminalize homeless encampments in public places and allow homeless The Street Services Coordination Center will The law could also potentially create problems for cities to enact emergency orders like Portland did during the 2021 wildfire season, when the city prohibited homeless people from camping in forested areas around the city to prevent them from igniting or getting hurt by the fires. except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals. In recent decades, however, those laws have been replaced with ordinances at the local level to restrict the number of homeless persons in public areas, creating an environment advocates say has essentially criminalized the poor. Population: 662,941 Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 2) Violent Crimes Per 100k: 522 (Fourth most dangerous) Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,738 (Fifth most dangerous) More on Portland: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report Source: Wikipedia User Visitor7 | CC BY-SA 3.0 5. Households, 2017-2021: 279,797: Persons per household, 2017-2021: 2.26: Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2017-2021: 82.1%: The Oregon legislature has also already approved $100 million in its upcoming budget for homeless services and housing while, earlier this year, lawmakers made headlines for proposed legislation to begin a year-long trial program to give low-income earners and the homeless $1,000 in guaranteed income per month for rent, emergency expenses, food and childcare. Families with children also make up a disproportionate percentage of the reports estimated 12,000 people who are doubled up or living in motel rooms on any given night. If you encourage people to come downtown and they are seeing fencing and plywood, you are less likely to get them back.. Goldmark Jewelers, optometrist Golden Optical and Camerons Books and Magazines are closing their downtown locations permanently, and all said deteriorating conditions downtown played a role in their exits. Nay. States with similar populations are already doing so. Those experiencing homelessness would also be protected from "harassment, citation or arrest" by local police, public or private security personnel, or even employees of local governmentsa proposal Chaichi said is an effort to end the practice of punitive policing against those just because they are poor. Those numbers are reported by Continuums of Care local entities tasked with coordinating homeless services in an area to the federal government through the annual point-in-time survey. Yet the poll also suggests a fundamental deterioration in residents perceptions of downtown, and respondents indicated the city has suffered a black eye that may be difficult to erase: The poll had an overall margin of error of 4%. Home prices are soaring and rents are rising again after plummeting in 2020. The report painted a dark picture for the homelessness crisis nationwide with the number of people living on the streets or in shelters increasing for the fourth year in a row. The last point-in-time count for which we have data was January 23, 2019. Since they opened in June, theyve moved 49 people off the streets and into the tiny homes. 2014;65:739-750. The path to Safe Rest Villages hasn't been easy. The US Census Bureau estimates about 641,000 people live in Portland as of last July. The cost of this proposal would depend on the classification and compensation for these positions. That kind of scatteredness makes it hard to provide services in a cost-effective way and we can and must do better.. "We are barely hanging onto some semblance of public order in the current climate," one commenter wrote of the bill. Others criticized the bill as "out of touch with reality," citing the failure of previous legislation like a 2021 bill sponsored by current Gov. The numbers themselves are not new theyre based on annual point-in-time estimates from January of 2020. It is difficult to know the costs of siting this newly proposed model but should site development require similar space allocations and amenities as the Safe Rest Villages (again, not including the cost of sleeping pods), serving 150 people per site would translate to approximately $1.44 to $2.1 million per site. Portland firefighters have been called to more than 1,000 tent-related fires over the last two years, the citys fire marshal said. Additional details will be added when available. In the poll, though, respondents indicated that reopening downtowns attractions may not be enough to revive the citys core. Given that homelessness can have profound negative short and long-term consequences for their lives, we must continue to prioritize ending homelessness among children. See: https://www.psychiatrictimes.co. Forgot your username or password? Lawyers behind the lawsuit say the governmentprovided many of the tentsthat have clogged the citys sidewalks. Read the full data report on the poll of Portland area residents completed in early May. Residents describe downtown as destroyed, trashed, riots and sad." Perceptions of safety were strongly correlated with the frequency with which people said they expect to visit downtown after the pandemic. Gonzalez said that is evidence that encouraging people to stay on the streets in tents is not working. However, merchants said COVID-19 -- not safety or homelessness was the biggest issue impacting their own businesses. Many regions, including Multnomah County, put the annual point-in-time count on hold this year due to public health concerns. Designated camping sites will initially serve approximately 150 people per site, with the possibility of up to six campuses with a maximum of 250 each when divided up, managed 24/7, with hygiene, food, and access to services across the continuum of care and that are safe; City Council will need to approve each additional camp on each campus, with the first site opening within 18 months of securing funding. But it nonetheless belies poll respondents perceptions that downtown has become considerably less safe. Furnel, Inc. has been successfully implementing this policy through honesty, integrity, and continuous improvement. We need businesses to understand what we offer in terms of a diverse, talented educated workforce. Local General Fund into the Continuums of Care: $30.5 million City and County, McKinney $ into the Continuums of Care: $15.5 million ($5 million add from federal government), Copyright 2023 City of Portland, Oregon, USA, Protecting Health and Safety: Campsite Cleanup Protocol May 2021. In all, 534 people who wrote about the bill as of Mondayincluding more than 300 from Portlandwere opposed to its passage. This action focuses on opening shelter beds that are already funded and increasing the shelter utilization rate. This is not professional. Not only do we need to stop the hemorrhaging, but we need to preserve the businesses we have and replace what we are losing. Portland has had a rough couple of years and its reputation has taken a beating. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. Please Sign In and use this article's on page print button to print this article. The economic fallout from the pandemic has put hundreds of thousands on the brink of eviction. Dr. Marisa Zapata, director of the Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative at Portland State University, said the count is not comprehensive and all sorts of factors could be driving a decrease that doesnt necessarily mean Oregon leaders tackled the homelessness crisis in 2020 any more effectively than they did in 2019.