Thirty-seven Girlfriends and guests gathered last week to watch the documentary No Place to Grow Old, which has been screened for local elected officials and 20 other groups, including the Oregon senate. It was a catalyst for House Bill 3589, signed into law in July, which helps fund senior affordable housing over the next several years.

Michael Larson, Executive Director for Humans for Housing, produced the movie and was present at the gathering. Michael and his three siblings lived in seven different foster homes over 10 years before being adopted by a single mom. (Note: 40% of foster kids end up homeless.)

Some facts from the film:

Lack of housing is the primary driver for why people become houseless.
People 55+ are the fastest growing population of those experiencing homelessness.
We don’t have nearly enough housing to keep up with the pace of population growth.
Homelessness is high in places where housing is most expensive, like Portland.
Rent has accelerated more than inflation.
America is in the middle of a senior housing crisis, not just Portland.
Portland needs to build 550,000 housing units over next 5 years to significantly address the housing shortage.
The best way to head off homelessness is to help people stay housed.
Shallow rent subsidies can help as we build our housing inventory. A shallow rent subsidy provides long-term, fixed-percentage rental assistance to help low-income households maintain stable housing.

Q&A with Michael Larson

Aging & Homelessness

Q: Why don’t we see many older people among the unhoused?
A: People age much faster while unhoused. Research shows 5–10 years on the streets can age someone by 20 years because of instability, stress, lack of healthcare, and constant movement.

Housing First Model & Support Services

Q: Is it true people are placed in housing but are unsupported?
A: Yes. The original “housing first” model included wraparound services, but locally, supportive services often aren’t funded at the same scale as housing. About half of high-needs individuals miss out on case management or adequate support, which creates challenges when adapting to housing after years on the street.

City Shelters & Overnight Beds

Q: Portland is creating overnight shelters where people can’t take pets or belongings and must leave at 6am. Isn’t this inadequate?
A: It’s largely a political response to visible homelessness and economic pressure downtown. The mayor’s plan is to build 1,500 shelter beds, but with ~7,000 people unsheltered in Multnomah County, it won’t be enough. It helps temporarily, but long-term, only increasing housing supply and support services will solve the crisis.

Affordable Housing Costs

Q: Why is affordable housing more expensive to build than market-rate apartments?
A: (1) Public subsidies (like Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)) come with requirements: prevailing wage, durable design, environmental standards, and often luxury-quality finishes. (2) Units can cost $400,000–$700,000 each. (3) The tradeoff: we get fewer, higher-quality units instead of more, simpler ones.

Developer Incentives & Portland’s Building Environment

Q: Why do developers avoid building in Portland while places like Washington County are building quickly?
A: (1) Portland has stricter permitting, requirements, and regulations that slow projects. (2) Well-intentioned rules (environmental, minority contractor quotas, etc.) add complexity and cost. (3) Developers find it easier to build in suburbs like Hillsboro or Beaverton, where the process is more streamlined.

Vacancy & Retrofits

Q: Why not retrofit vacant downtown office buildings into housing?
A: (1) Conversions are costly: most office buildings weren’t built for residential use (plumbing, windows, ventilation). (2) Only a small fraction of buildings “pencil out” financially.

Federal Funding

Q: Has federal funding for housing been cut?
A: Most funding streams have been reduced. The only increase: LIHTC funding rose 25%, but it’s not enough to offset cuts elsewhere.

Modular / Prefabricated Housing

Q: Can modular housing speed up construction and lower costs?
A: Yes, it’s promising for 10–30% of new housing. It’s quicker and cheaper, but faces resistance from unions (requires less labor) and entrenched building practices. Oregon has started funding pilot programs to expand modular capacity.

Seniors & Housing Access

Q: Are older adults prioritized in housing programs?
A: Yes, higher age increases vulnerability scores. Organizations like Northwest Pilot Project focus on seniors, but they’re overwhelmed — 30-40 calls daily with limited capacity. More support is urgently needed.

Shared Housing Models

Q: Why not house single adults together instead of giving everyone their own apartment?
A: Some transitional housing programs already use shared models (e.g., 14 people in a single-family home). These can work well, especially for lower-needs individuals, and provide stability for years.

Exhibition Project

Q: What’s next for Humans for Housing?
A: The team is creating a 3,000sq-ft interactive exhibition at the Stelo Art Gallery in downtown Portland (opening February 6). Visitors can hear stories on headphones, view films, and explore educational materials focused on housing policy and solutions.