The HereTogether coalition unveiled a new plan to address homelessness in the Portland metro area, with the goal of getting 5,665 people into housing by the end of the year.
The coalition’s “2023 Roadmap” has recommendations to help speed up the timeline for getting people facing homelessness indoors while also “providing the individualized services and compassionate care they need to succeed long-term in a safe, stable housing.”
The HereTogether roadmap points out several ways the tri-county area could speed up the process of getting people into housing by utilizing existing infrastructure.
They say improvements to the voter-approved Regional Long-Term Rent Assistance program would get more vouchers into the hands of those in need. They also suggest converting more hotels and motels into housing, removing roadblocks – both with permits for new housing and barriers for potential renters, and focusing efforts on finding new and creative solutions.
The group also gave several suggestions on how to both increase and retain the number of people working to fix the homeless crisis.
Other sections of the roadmap looks to make the existing process more efficient, and implement better tracking and reporting structures.
“The 2023 Roadmap is a smart, comprehensive plan to make real progress this year,” said Brad Twiss, owner of Neighbors Realty in Portland. “Our unhoused neighbors, communities and local businesses need measurable progress to feel hopeful for our future. The 2023 Roadmap sets clear goals we can measure our success against in 2024.”
The roadmap was signed by more than 200 leaders of local nonprofits, businesses, community groups, and faith organizations.
You can see the coalition’s roadmap in full below: