Together, We Can End Unsheltered Homelessness

Portland City Hall, December 10, 2023

136%

Increase in Unsheltered Homelessness

Portland has normalized homeless encampments. Our least fortunate citizens live outside in dangerous, inhumane conditions while they wait for shelter or permanent housing. From 2017 to 2023, unsheltered homeless souls suffering on our streets increased from 1,668 to 3,944.

35%

"Homeless Upon Arrival"

An individual who was homeless outside of Multnomah County and moved to be homeless in our community, and 21% of those “Homeless Upon Arrival” to Multnomah County are from “Out of State,” one of the highest rates in the nation.

52%

Portland Police Arrests Are of The Unsheltered

These arrests contributed to the doubling of police response times since 2016. The one thing that can significantly lower arrests: A Roof! Portlanders in emergency shelters and transitional housing, make up only 2% of all people booked into jail.

33%

Increase in Oregon Evictions

Portland is in an affordable housing and housing shortage crisis like we’ve never experienced before. On average, more than 86% of these eviction filings have been for nonpayment since the covid eviction moratorium was lifted.

Our Mission

End unsheltered homelessness in Portland

Our Objective

No one, regardless of who they are, should suffer the cruelty and inhumanity of sleeping on the streets.

We will swiftly end unsheltered homelessness in Portland by providing enough nighttime emergency shelters (staffed, rented, and repurposed trauma-informed facilities [e.g., community centers, churches, businesses] to shelter every unsheltered person in Portland. Learn More

Who We Are

We are a collective of local and national leaders who are action-oriented, relentlessly optimistic, and deeply devoted to our communities and causes.

With over a hundred years of combined experience delivering proven programs in communities that, in many cases, have ended unsheltered homelessness, we are committed to ending unsheltered homelessness in Portland. Learn More

Why We Exist

We can only begin to repair, restore, and revitalize our city and citizens when every Portlander enjoys the basic need and dignity of a safe and warm place to sleep.

We believe in a shared “Community Standard.” Our city’s shop owners and housed residents are just as entitled to expect that their doorways or sidewalks are free from their use as a bedroom or toilet as an unhoused person is to have a place to toilet as well as sleep safely and protected from the elements.

Why We Can't Wait

Portland now has the highest per capita unsheltered rate in the nation, not including six cities in California, resulting in a PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY.

Unsheltered Homelessness is Skyrocketing

Unsheltered homelessness has increased 136% since 2017

Homeless Portlanders are Dying

315 deaths among people experiencing homelessness in 2022

Graph detailing the numbers of unsheltered homelessness in Portland, Oregon

Misery is on Display in All Four Corners of Portland

Sadly, behind each blue dot that represents a campsite report are actual people, many of whom are our children, neighbors, former high school classmates, living in unsafe, unsanitary, and dangerous conditions. Disgracefully, one of these individuals will die tonight because we’ve reached the tragic level where Portland loses one homeless person per night for a host of reasons that include, but are not limited to overdose, homicide, suicide, fire, disease, and extreme weather.

Campsite Reports - City of Portland

Housed Portlanders are Leaving

“Majority of Portland voters say they’d consider leaving if they could as crime, homeless concerns persist.” - Oregonian, Dec. 12, 2023

Together, We Can End Unsheltered Homelessness