Oregon’s 2023 Homeless Report Card
Have you ever asked yourself, "Why is Portland's homeless crisis far worse than most other cities in the U.S.? Or is that even true? Does it just seem that way to us? Before we discuss the findings below, let's first understand the sources where this information is taken from. There are three sources for this data.
Most of this data comes from the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report. This is a HUD report that is provided to the U.S. Congress each year.
The 2023 National Drug Helpline State Rankings are based on analyzing a range of factors, including the drug overdose death rate and teenage drug use.
The 2023 Mental Health America State Report ranks all 50 states and D.C. based on several mental health and access measures.
The point I’m trying to make is this: These figures are not coming from some right wing conservative think tank. On the contrary, this data comes from the federal government or from well-respected public health organizations.
With that in mind, shown below are Oregon’s rankings on several key indicators when compared to other states.
How Oregon Compares to Other States
Homeless population per 10,000 residents (48) 3rd
Largest Increase in homelessness from 2022 to 2022 2nd
Unsheltered homelessness rate (65%) 2nd
Families with children unsheltered rate (59%) 1st
Unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness 4th
Veterans experiencing homelessness 3rd
Substance Abuse Status 50th
Mental Health Status 49th
Overall Grade: F
Based on the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Oregon ranks as one of worst states in several key homeless indicators. Based on the National Drug Helpline State Rankings Report, Oregon ranks 50th out of 51 states including D.C. And based on the Mental Health America State Rankings Report, Oregon ranks 49th out of 51 states including D.C. in its Mental Health Status.
So yes, these three reports confirm that Oregon’s homeless crisis is far worse than most other states, and possibly the worst in the nation.
As grim as these statistics are, there is a solution to this problem. We, collectively got ourselves into this situation and we can likewise get ourselves out of it. As the saying goes, "The same old thinking, the same old results." It begins by voting in a slate of elected officials that believe in common sense solutions to the homeless crisis. When you vote this November, choose carefully who you're going to vote for. Make sure they agree with your thinking on how to solve this crisis. Your vote matters!
