The current government supported programs for homelessness are not working. The Oregon state legislature’s answer is giving these ineffective programs more money, without any changes to their implementation and expected outcomes. .
This is a recurring theme for many of the issues with current government leadership at all levels.
More money handed over, without effective results to justify the increased funding.
House Bill 4123 proposed spending $400 million to address homelessness in the state. This works out to approximately $75/day per homeless person in Oregon. The recent Joint Office of Homeless Services budget proposal allocated $149.5 million to serve the approximately 4,000 homeless individuals in Multnomah County, costing approximately $97/person per day. This rate is regardless of whether people are in a tent on the side of the road or in a facility getting treatment. The price per individual rises significantly, if we remove those not receiving services on a given day.
Fortunately, there is a private sector model in the Portland area providing excellent results, at a price of $14 per person per day, for individuals to be housed AND treated: the Helping Hands Re-Entry Outreach Center at Bybee Lakes.
They develop data driven plans tailored to individual traumas supported by trauma experienced persons with a high level of success worth studying and replicating. This organization uses innovative methods, such as tapping into local university medical residents’ pool for in-processing, health assessment and care, as well as working with local veteran organizations to grow food on their campus to help feed residents, further reducing expenses.
Helping Hands Re-Entry Outreach Centers has 11 sites in Oregon, largely consisting of a variety of old vacant facilities converted to provide shelters and needed support services, helping the homeless transition back to safe living in our communities.
It is time to transform how business is conducted regarding homelessness in Oregon. The Helping Hands program is an effective and cost-conscious approach that can be replicated.
We have the resources. We can do better.