Report #12 TURNING THE TIDE Reducing the Number of the Homeless

Reality: Inflow Exceeds Outflow Despite immense spending, the Homeless Services Department’s (HSD’s) monthly dashboard reveals a sobering trend. During 2025, the number of people falling into homelessness consistently exceeded those exiting the system. On average, 295 more individuals became homeless each month than those who found a way out. In 2025, an average of 1,467 […]

Report #7: Can Housing First Beat Fentanyl, Meth, and Psychoses? The Crisis of Chronic Homelessness and the Case for Heterodox Housing Policy

Report #7: Can Housing First Beat Fentanyl, Meth, and Psychoses? The Crisis of Chronic Homelessness and the Case for Heterodox Housing Policy  George Galster, Hilberry Professor of Urban Affairs and Distinguished Professor, emeritus Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202 Residence: Portland, OR 97209 The Growing Crisis of Chronic Homelessness […]

Engaged Social Housing: Sustainable Models for Housing and Clinical Services in Supportive Housing

Engaged Social Housing: Sustainable Models for Housing and Clinical Services in Supportive Housing Executive Summary Excerpt The Portland, Oregon metro region continues to face a persistent and worsening crisis of street and unsheltered homelessness fueled by:    A chronic shortage of deeply affordable and permanent supportive housing (PSH).   Large, core populations with high prevalence […]

Report #6: Review of CCC’s Engaged Social Housing

Report #6: Review of CCC’s Engaged Social Housing On September 10, 2025, Central City Concern (CCC), the largest provider of homeless services in Multnomah County, published a paper titled “Engaged Social Housing: Sustainable Models for Housing and Clinical Services in Supportive Housing.” It is a 25-page study detailing shortcomings in Multnomah County’s implementation of the […]

Report #3: Shelter, Housing Assistance, and Supportive Housing

Report #3: Shelter, Housing Assistance, and Supportive Housing The city and county fund various shelter and housing programs to reduce homelessness. In general, the data provided to evaluate these programs is missing, incomplete, contradictory, or confusing.  Nevertheless, in this report we try to distinguish between the major types and attempt a cost-benefit analysis.  We welcome […]