Understanding the homeless crisis in Portland and what we can do about it - Part 1
Three Common Misconceptions About Homelessness
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is Portland’s homeless crisis far more significant than most cities throughout the country? Why is that? Before I answer that question, I want to address three common misconceptions about homelessness.
Misconception #1 – Homelessness is increasing throughout the U.S. That’s simply not true. Between 2009 and 2019, homelessness decreased by 10 percent nationwide; and geographically it declined in 39 states.1 And as we all know, during those years homelessness in Portland got worse, not better.
Misconception #2 – Homelessness is concentrated in certain cities and states because of the weather. Not exactly true. Granted, it is easier to be homeless in Portland than in Chicago. But the weather isn’t the only factor. If it were, why is homelessness relatively low in other warm weather states of Florida, Arizona, Texas, and throughout the South?2
Misconception #3 – Homelessness is primarily caused by a lack of affordable housing. Although this is commonly accepted as fact, it is not the primary cause of homelessness. There are many factors that contribute to homelessness, but the primary causes are substance abuse and mental illness, not a lack of affordable housing.
Public policy is a key factor in determining where the homeless live.
There is a far better explanation for the current distribution of homelessness in the United States than warm weather. Despite suffering from high rates of addiction and mental illness, the homeless make rational decisions. They are highly responsive to public policy: they migrate toward cities with the most permissive policy environments and towards the most generous benefits. To make matters worse, it is my opinion that our elected officials are also applying the wrong solution. And as we all know, you can’t solve a problem with the wrong solution.
In summary, the reasons why homelessness in Portland is twice the national average:
Our permissive public policies inadvertently encourage homelessness to thrive.
Our compassion is actually enabling the homeless crisis to continue.
Our elected officials are applying the wrong solution to the problem.
In my next newsletter, I will discuss six permissive policies in Portland that inadvertently encourage homelessness to thrive.
These are my thoughts. I welcome yours. Why do you think Portland’s homeless crisis is far worse than most cities throughout the country? Why is that?
Footnotes
1 The 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, Part 1: Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness, n.d., 104.
2 The State of Homelessness in America, Council of Economic Advisors, September 2019, 41, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-State-of- Homelessness-in-America.pdf