Introduction
Homelessness can be a cycle; the things that can cause it can also keep someone from getting out of it (please help edit this sentence). While there is substantial research showing the factors that contribute to homelessness, it is important to remember that these factors are often simultaneously at work. There are no easy solutions, because homelessness can occur for many and often multiple reasons. In order to better face the problem, it is important to have an idea of why it is happening. Below are several links for education and action, based on some of the most common factors that contribute to homelessness.
Healthcare
Over 40% of the country’s homeless population (some 222,000 of 544,000) have a disability.
By conservative estimates, some 16% of homeless individuals suffer with mental illness and an equivalent percentile are battling drug addiction. These are staggering percentages when comparing them to the country’s population. Yet healthcare is one of the most difficult services for those affected by homelessness to access. Access to affordable healthcare is a crucial step to take in the efforts to combat homelessness.
Below are a few articles addressing the intersection between healthcare and homelessness. We encourage you to read through them.
By conservative estimates, some 16% of homeless individuals suffer with mental illness and an equivalent percentile are battling drug addiction. These are staggering percentages when comparing them to the country’s population. Yet healthcare is one of the most difficult services for those affected by homelessness to access. Access to affordable healthcare is a crucial step to take in the efforts to combat homelessness.
Below are a few articles addressing the intersection between healthcare and homelessness. We encourage you to read through them.
How Portlanders Report Challenges Accessing Healthcare by Thacher Schmid
Accounting homeless people’s experiences with healthcare providers, this article gives insight on how accessing healthcare is a low priority until concerns become emergencies. Particularly, officials at Legacy Health. With few conversations around healthcare and homelessness, there’s a disconnect between the researched high base rates of disability and mental health problems in the population with the type of care they receive. Between a lack of trust between healthcare providers and homeless people and the need for ongoing healthcare, healthcare often becomes a lower priority for people when compared with food, shelter or work.
For more information and a chance to continue the conversation of healthcare and homelessness, visit the article and continue the conversation in your community.
Accounting homeless people’s experiences with healthcare providers, this article gives insight on how accessing healthcare is a low priority until concerns become emergencies. Particularly, officials at Legacy Health. With few conversations around healthcare and homelessness, there’s a disconnect between the researched high base rates of disability and mental health problems in the population with the type of care they receive. Between a lack of trust between healthcare providers and homeless people and the need for ongoing healthcare, healthcare often becomes a lower priority for people when compared with food, shelter or work.
For more information and a chance to continue the conversation of healthcare and homelessness, visit the article and continue the conversation in your community.
Website for National Healthcare for the Homeless Council
The National Healthcare for the Homeless Council has a collection of resources in Oregon highlighting where homeless people can seek healthcare and from who. They have sites listed in Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Medford. For more information on the resources they have can be found on their website.
The National Healthcare for the Homeless Council has a collection of resources in Oregon highlighting where homeless people can seek healthcare and from who. They have sites listed in Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Medford. For more information on the resources they have can be found on their website.
A Local Doctor Shares the Stories of Homeless and Impoverished Portlanders by Bryanna Briley
An interview with the author Patricia Kullberg on her book “Ragged Edge of Medicine: Doctoring Among the Dispossessed,” they discuss the contents of the book and how the concept of “othering” people impacts how we treat them in healthcare. Taking the stance that we need more primary care physicians over specialists, she talks about the stories of how people became homeless to no fault of their own.
For the full interview, visit the article. And for more information on Dr Kullberg’s experience, consider seeking our her book “Ragged Edge of Medicine: Doctoring Among the Dispossessed.”
An interview with the author Patricia Kullberg on her book “Ragged Edge of Medicine: Doctoring Among the Dispossessed,” they discuss the contents of the book and how the concept of “othering” people impacts how we treat them in healthcare. Taking the stance that we need more primary care physicians over specialists, she talks about the stories of how people became homeless to no fault of their own.
For the full interview, visit the article. And for more information on Dr Kullberg’s experience, consider seeking our her book “Ragged Edge of Medicine: Doctoring Among the Dispossessed.”
Portland to Fund Affordable Housing and Mental Health Services by Elizabeth Hayes
The Portland Housing Bureau is working with three other organizations to raise money for projects to combine housing and mental health services to people who are chronically homeless. Using state, county, and city partnerships, the organizations hope to make a dent in the problem by extending permanent supportive housing by 200 units per year.
More information on those involved can be found in the article
The Portland Housing Bureau is working with three other organizations to raise money for projects to combine housing and mental health services to people who are chronically homeless. Using state, county, and city partnerships, the organizations hope to make a dent in the problem by extending permanent supportive housing by 200 units per year.
More information on those involved can be found in the article
Below are a few links to EcoMerge blog posts on the intersection between healthcare and homelessness.
Housing Opportunities and Complications
As Portland’s population begins to increase, a demand of housing begins to arise. With this demand comes an increase in developments and subsequently rent prices. Individuals see increases of hundreds of dollars leaving them displaced with the option of finding affordable housing, or for some; face the possibility of becoming homeless. Portland is often cherished as being an affordable city, yet residents are subject to rent hikes without limits. This has resulting in a new trend of a traditionally black neighborhoods seeing a new majority of white residents. Marginalized communities are at the most vulnerable in this unregulated rent hiking as Portland recently saw an increase of 48% in black homelessness.
Below are a few articles outlining the problem and the effects it has on different communities.
Below are a few articles outlining the problem and the effects it has on different communities.
Gentrification Spotlight: How Portland is Pushing Out Its Black Residents
by Abigail Savitch-Lew
Like other cities around the country, Portland has its own problems and history with racism. With the skyrocketing rents, Portland is an example of black displacement and the negative effects of gentrification on these communities. Gentrification is the process of renovating and improving a house or district so it conforms to current middle-class taste. Sadly, this often comes with increases in rent. This coupled with new white majorities in traditionally black neighborhoods and racial failures of ‘new urbanism’ means people of color are unable to remain in their communities.
For more information as well as what people of color are doing about the city’s rent prices, visit the article linked above as well as Colorlines’ articles on gentrification at this link:
https://www.colorlines.com/tags/gentrification
by Abigail Savitch-Lew
Like other cities around the country, Portland has its own problems and history with racism. With the skyrocketing rents, Portland is an example of black displacement and the negative effects of gentrification on these communities. Gentrification is the process of renovating and improving a house or district so it conforms to current middle-class taste. Sadly, this often comes with increases in rent. This coupled with new white majorities in traditionally black neighborhoods and racial failures of ‘new urbanism’ means people of color are unable to remain in their communities.
For more information as well as what people of color are doing about the city’s rent prices, visit the article linked above as well as Colorlines’ articles on gentrification at this link:
https://www.colorlines.com/tags/gentrification
Portland Study Targets Neighborhoods Next Up for Gentrification
by Anna Griffin
In order to avoid mass displacement of poorer people and ethnic minorities, Portland is attempting to predict which neighborhoods are at risk for gentrification. Using a computer system to analyse and predict which areas will need attention in order to prevent such displacement, Portland also hopes to provide suggested policy to alleviate the negative effects of gentrification. The idea is that “revitalization” should not be destructive to poor families, and that means being more thoughtful in bringing wealth to communities.
For more information, visit the article above.
by Anna Griffin
In order to avoid mass displacement of poorer people and ethnic minorities, Portland is attempting to predict which neighborhoods are at risk for gentrification. Using a computer system to analyse and predict which areas will need attention in order to prevent such displacement, Portland also hopes to provide suggested policy to alleviate the negative effects of gentrification. The idea is that “revitalization” should not be destructive to poor families, and that means being more thoughtful in bringing wealth to communities.
For more information, visit the article above.
Reading, Writing, Evicted: Portland's Housing Crisis is an Education Story
by Bethany Barnes
In this article, Barnes makes the case that the city’s failure to provide enough affordable housing is also an education problem. By looking at the problems educators face and the demand for good schools, it becomes clear that the price of high rent is also felt by children and teachers in the classroom. When children change school due to rent prices, the transition is not smooth and the school board isn’t listening to those concerns and stories.
For more information, visit the article and follow the “Reading, Writting, Evicted” Project on the Oregonian/Oregon Live’s website: https://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/page/reading_writing_evicted.htm
by Bethany Barnes
In this article, Barnes makes the case that the city’s failure to provide enough affordable housing is also an education problem. By looking at the problems educators face and the demand for good schools, it becomes clear that the price of high rent is also felt by children and teachers in the classroom. When children change school due to rent prices, the transition is not smooth and the school board isn’t listening to those concerns and stories.
For more information, visit the article and follow the “Reading, Writting, Evicted” Project on the Oregonian/Oregon Live’s website: https://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/page/reading_writing_evicted.htm
Census Estimates Point to Thousands of Vacant Apartments
by Linda Baker
According to the American Community Survey, there are about 352,000 rental units in Portland. Of these, the Housing Vacancy survey estimates a five percent vacancy rate for the area. This means there are about 16,000 or more vacant apartments and homes at any given time. With approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people living on the streets on any given night, why aren’t we able to house more people?
For links to the statistics and information on rent prices, visit the article to learn more.
by Linda Baker
According to the American Community Survey, there are about 352,000 rental units in Portland. Of these, the Housing Vacancy survey estimates a five percent vacancy rate for the area. This means there are about 16,000 or more vacant apartments and homes at any given time. With approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people living on the streets on any given night, why aren’t we able to house more people?
For links to the statistics and information on rent prices, visit the article to learn more.
Jobs
The most common contributing factor to homelessness is the loss of a job. Almost every other factor contributes to the continual struggle to find consistent work. When a loss of job leads to someone being put out on the streets, it creates a cycle of joblessness. Being homeless is in and of itself a barrier to finding employment. As such, providing spaces that offer job skills, access to basic hygiene, and counseling for those dealing with mental illness or addiction is paramount in reducing the amount of people affected by homelessness.
National Coalition for the Homeless: Facts and Figures on Employment and Homelessness
The results of a survey done by the National Coalition for the Homeless in 2009. While the figures are older, it becomes obvious how important employment is to the reduction, prevention, and reversal of homelessness. The site also expresses the way that unemployment becomes a barrier for those on the streets ever changing their situation.
The results of a survey done by the National Coalition for the Homeless in 2009. While the figures are older, it becomes obvious how important employment is to the reduction, prevention, and reversal of homelessness. The site also expresses the way that unemployment becomes a barrier for those on the streets ever changing their situation.
Opinion: Business leaders need to address root causes of homelessness by Ashley Henry
Provides some solutions businesses can get involved in to make an impact. Providing through charity figures prominently, though Henry makes it apparent that charity is not enough. She offers access to affordable housing, treatment for drug abuse, and mental healthcare as several solutions to be used in tandem with other services.
For more information, and a good picture of the different tactics used to fight homelessness, visit the article above.
Provides some solutions businesses can get involved in to make an impact. Providing through charity figures prominently, though Henry makes it apparent that charity is not enough. She offers access to affordable housing, treatment for drug abuse, and mental healthcare as several solutions to be used in tandem with other services.
For more information, and a good picture of the different tactics used to fight homelessness, visit the article above.
Gentrification
Another major factor that contributes to the homeless crisis is the gentrification of cities. This often leads to low income areas having a dramatic increase in rent which displaces large portions of people on to the streets now that the low income option has been removed.
Below are some interactive maps containing data around Portland, Oregon's gentrification issues.
Below are some interactive maps containing data around Portland, Oregon's gentrification issues.
Portland Gentrification Map: 2000 Census - Present (Click a tract to display its demographic data)
Map Key
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Tract gentrified |
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Tract did not gentrify |
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Tract not eligible to gentrify |
×
Census Tract 28.02
Status: Tract not gentrification eligible
Population: 2,758 (-133)
Median Home Value: $347,500 (+51%)
Bachelor's Degrees: 48.1% of adults
(38.8% had bachelor's degrees in 2000)
Median Household Income: $62,143
Population: 2,758 (-133)
Median Home Value: $347,500 (+51%)
Bachelor's Degrees: 48.1% of adults
(38.8% had bachelor's degrees in 2000)
Median Household Income: $62,143
Map Key
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Tract gentrified |
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Tract did not gentrify |
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Tract not eligible to gentrify |
Portland Gentrification Map: 1990 Census - 2000 Census
Map Key
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Tract gentrified |
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Tract did not gentrify |
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Tract not eligible to gentrify |
Source and further information about these maps from Governing Magazine
Additional Factors and Barriers
Below are some additional articles from EcoMerge on contributing factors not mentioned above.
Hygiene Products for the Homeless
Hygiene Products for the Homeless