Fall learning series continues to enlighten
On September 18, 19 Girlfriends learned about “Homelessness: Who, Why, and What Now?” after reading three articles. The discussions covered complex topics and participants spoke highly about the second event in our fall learning series and the Zoom venue.
Main themes and takeaways from the evening are:
Topic 1: Who are the homeless, and how did we get here?
Historical factors leading to homelessness include:
Urban renewal is disrupting physical and social networks.
State and federal governments are halting public housing development and closing mental health institutions without substitute sources of support.
Increased illegal drug availability, with a lack of addiction services.
Primary recent impetus:
Rapid population growth in the metro area, combined with zoning restrictions and construction regulations, has led to a decline in construction.
Increased home prices (supply/demand).
Limited housing for lower-income residents.
Topic 2: Why is housing so expensive?
Five ways to make construction cheaper:
Four floors and corner stores - legalize mixed-use projects in more locations; better transit and biking - instead of requiring parking, which adds considerable costs to construction (Portland did this in 2020).
Relaxing building codes - like allowing single stairways in multi-story buildings and using other methods for fire safety, and not requiring expensive amenities like yards and extra windows.
Tax land more than buildings to increase infill development and discourage urban sprawl.
Normalize "rolling homes" (small homes on wheels such as RVs…Portland legalized in 2021).
Topic 3: What’s working in other places?
Some other cities with large homeless populations have been more successful (e.g., Houston reduced their homeless population by more than 60%). Portland has spent more money on the issue with fewer results.
Houston's success is due to three elements: competent political leadership that got nonprofits working in unison; minimal regulation that decreases construction expense; strategy focused on moving people into housing rather than general help like providing tents & blankets.
Houston embraced a housing first philosophy - get people into housing without preconditions like sobriety or employment - then provide wrap-around services to increase sustainability.
Focus on Houston has been on evidence, management, and execution.
General discussion takeaways:
Portland's homeless efforts have not been coordinated - need an "air traffic controller" to coordinate the work among many private agencies - could be a coalition of key parties.
Better cooperation is needed between city and county.
All is made more difficult by pullback of federal funding, including medicaid.
Need jobs with adequate wages.
Need more mental health and drug addiction services.
Need funding and staffing to actually provide wrap-around these when people get into housing.
Focus should be on affordable housing not just overnight shelters.
Portland is making some incremental steps - an example is Metro Supportive Housing Services tax - a regional tax on higher income taxpayers, but the numbers of homeless are increasing.
The core articles referenced:
How Homelessness in Oregon Started, Grew and Became a Statewide Crisis
Portland’s New Homes Are Too Expensive. Here Are Five Ways to Make Them Cheaper
Here’s How Houston is Fighting Homelessness and Winning
