Homelessness and Drugs

The humanitarian crisis on our streets has placed us in a literal state of emergency

On January 31st of this year our governor, county chair and mayor declared that we are in the throes of an unprecedented disaster. Fueled by bleeding-heart policies of “compassion” and “harm reduction,” Portland has become the scene of a failed ideological experiment for which Portlanders must foot the bill. The dire impact of controlled substance decriminalization on everyday life in Portland cannot be overstated, and that it has taken this long for our elected officials to take note is an appalling statement on their disconnection with the population they govern.

There is no threat more significant to Portland than fentanyl

It’s odd to live in a time in which one might look back on the addictions of the past with uncomfortable nostalgia, but here we are! Addiction has been allowed to run rampant through our city, exacerbating our existing homelessness crisis to truly boggling levels. Measure 110 promised a path toward compassionate care and recovery; what’s been delivered is a nightmare.

Mismanagement and dead-end ideologies got us here, and they aren't going to get us out

Unsanctioned street camping must end, resources must be put in place for drug rehabilitation and housing assistance, and these steps must be taken now. Ineffective and cruel policies keeping people sleeping on our sidewalks have no place in Portland, the reimagining of which must go hand in hand with a thorough reassessment of our disjointed and exploitative not-for-profit homeless industrial complex. Millions of your dollars and thousands of our days have been wasted already. We say no more.

What's John going to do about it?

End the disorganization wasting our money by appointing a single point-of-contact Homeless Czar

For all the millions of dollars we pump into the issue each year, things have only gotten worse, and it’s little wonder why, with little oversight over the many disparate initiatives, each trying to reinvent the wheel with massive not-for-profit contracts. Consolidating the initiative and spending process under the leadership of a single point-of-contact makes practical sense, and a Homeless Czar is necessary to wrangle our out-of-control system.

Build housing of all types so cost is never a cause of homelessness

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: everyone needs housing. Tiny homes and ADUs are a great way to expand available living space at a fraction of the price, but high fees and long-term commitment requirements for their construction needlessly complicate the process. Reducing or eliminating these fees will maximize the development of affordable individual shelters.

Build more temporary shelters and navigation centers to ensure everyone has a place to sleep

Even without permanent residence, no one should be forced to sleep on a sidewalk. Individuals and families seeking shelter for the night need that resource to be both safe and readily available. Still, heartbreakingly Portland has the highest rate of unsheltered children amongst families experiencing homelessness in the country. Through the construction of additional facilities, we can eliminate this unconscionable statistic.

Enforce drug and alcohol-free policies within some shelters

One of the foremost complaints lodged against our current shelter system from those experiencing homelessness is an abject lack of safety. It’s no surprise that people would rather live on the streets than endure the drug use, violence, and theft in our current facilities. We must create safe shelter spaces for those just looking for a place to sleep, free from drugs and alcohol.

Address the parallel mental health crisis through the expansion of services and conservatorship laws

The greatest failing of Measure 110, named (now ironically) the “Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act,” were the promises made to fill the vacuum left by decriminalization with services. Our mental health facilities and addiction treatment facilities were not prepared, and an effective effort to correct the issue has not been made. A new generation of mental health facilities and a reworking of conservatorship laws that will help those who cannot help themselves get the treatment they need are well past due.

Require those seeking government aid for housing and resources to enter substance abuse treatment

No matter what you might hear from the activist sector, the first step towards recovery is not permanent housing alone. Requiring those seeking government aid to enter substance abuse treatment is the truly compassionate and only sustainable approach to rehabilitation and recovery.