Portland Mayor Stands by Unlikely Pledge to End Unsheltered Homelessness This Year
Throughout his first 5 months as Portland mayor, Keith Wilson has consistently advocated for his plan to eradicate unsheltered homelessness by December 1. He remains steadfast in his ambitious goal to address this pressing issue.
Hovanas emphasized that providing adequate housing is a costly endeavor. Simply increasing shelter capacity without sufficient housing options will not effectively solve the problem. Shockingly, 6% of individuals in shelters have remained there for over a year due to the lack of permanent housing solutions. Bernal mentioned ongoing efforts to assist shelter residents in accessing entitled benefits, but noted that many individuals struggle to transition out of shelter even after receiving support.
Wilson’s proposal prioritizes transitioning individuals from shelters to permanent housing, aiming to have fewer shelter beds than unsheltered individuals. This strategy hinges on the assumption that individuals will swiftly progress from shelter to stable housing. While sheltering is crucial, the ultimate solution lies in providing sustainable housing options for the homeless population.
