The Homeless Policy Divide Can Be Resolved

Language and policy and data are all necessary to resolve our homeless crisis.

Language Matters:

Government is in the Public Housing*1 business not the affordable housing*2 business. MOST PUBLIC HOUSING*1 is NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING*2. When homeless housing, indoor or outdoor, soft walled (tents) or hard walled structures (makeshift or prefabricated mini houses etc.) meets the criteria of Public Housing*1 then it becomes part of the Public Housing continuum. All of the Metro and Portland bond monies as well as a considerable amount of state funding and all of the public conversations regarding the homeless have the goal to upgrade homeless individuals into the more advantageous status of Public Housing clients.

Policy Options:

A. Homeless persons should not be removed from camping on any public property unless an indoor facility can be provided to house them.

B. A sufficient number of designated areas on public property must be available to provide authorized camping to accommodate all of the homeless so that they can be legally removed from any and all unapproved camp sites on public property.

C. A combination of policies A and B where B is immediately approved and activated while, at the same time, policy A, the long term solution, is pursued for those that live within the approved camp sites.

Data: Where and How Many?

The Metro/Oregon Public Housing Location Maps, created and currently lodged at Portland State University, provide decision makers and citizens alike with an interactive tool that identifies the location and numbers of Public Housing units throughout the state of Oregon. No public decision nor conversation about the placement of Public Housing, which includes the homeless, should commence without all parties involved considering the numbers and locations of existing Public Housing units and the effects of loading more units into those communities be they neighborhoods, counties, legislative or congressional districts.

Endless accusations and recriminations against persons and groups that have a different perspective on the solution to our homeless crisis does not help. The criteria above sets out the guidelines for action. I urge all the players to give them serious consideration and then act. A failure to do so with some sense of urgency will increasingly change empathy and support for the homeless by a majority of taxpayers and voters into anger over the garbage, unsightliness and gross political ineptitude.

Richard Ellmyer

Author of more stories on the politics, players and policies of Public Housing in Oregon over the last twenty years than all other journalists and elected officials combined.

Project Champion and Data Wrangler - Metro/Oregon Public Housing Location Maps https://www.goodgrowthnw.org/m...

Author of The Ellmyer Report, a newsletter that informs, educates and influences on public policy. Occasionally distributed to more than a quarter of million readers in Oregon and beyond. Facebook, Portland Politics Plus . Contributor: Patch news

*1

PUBLIC HOUSING i.e. a class of housing defined as, Means Test (<=80%MFI) + Government Subsidy (any government, type or amount) + rental agreement.

*2

AFFORDABLE HOUSING is a mathematical construct defined as, Rent/Mortgage + Insurance + Taxes + Utilities <=30% Household Income.

FYI - Excellent Background Story

People for Portland is spending big to change the city’s approach to homelessness. Is it working?

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https://www.opb.org/article/20...