Like many others, I am growing increasingly concerned by the rising homeless population within Portland and Vancouver. Anyone who has been in or around the Portland metro area since the dawn of the pandemic could tell you that the homeless situation has gone out of control. According to KOIN News, in 2023 Multnomah County considered 6,297 individuals homeless, which was a 21 percent increase from the year prior.
Thankfully, there are ways that we can improve upon this situation. In the past year, Clackamas County has seen a 31 percent decrease in homelessness due to the expansion of continuum of care programs throughout the county. Additionally, Portland’s efforts to expand shelters have found success, with shelter occupancy reaching a record high within Multnomah County.
Further increase of continuum of care programs and shelter availability could be our best solution to solving the Portland metro area’s homelessness problems.
