Understanding Homelessness in Portland: Check Your Knowledge!

There are a lot of false narratives about poverty…

In recent conversations with our guests, they shared that they want you to have accurate information about homelessness. Before you read on, Take our quiz to test your knowledge on homelessness!

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True or False: Oregon has the highest rate of unsheltered school children in the U.S.

Answer: True, Oregon has the highest rate of unsheltered school age children in the country. And, the vast majority of homeless children in Multnomah county are living unsheltered.

Of the more than seven hundred homeless children in Multnomah county in 2023, 87% were living unsheltered (outside of emergency shelter or transitional housing). Children that experience homelessness are more likely to experience bullying, have lower performance in school, and are more at risk of developing mental and physical health conditions. 

What percentage of homeless people in Multnomah County have a minority gender identity (female, transgender, no single gender identity, or questioning)?

Answer: In Multnomah county, 34% of people experiencing homelessness identify as being female, transgender, having no single gender identity, or identify as questioning.

However, this number is likely much higher as almost 20% of people surveyed chose not to report their gender identity. Gender minorities experiencing homelessness often face an increased risk of being victims of interpersonal violence related to their gender or sexual orientation. 

For example, 90% of women experiencing homelessness reported severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Additionally, 38% of domestic violence victims become homeless at some point. For LQBTQIA2s+ individuals, 28% will experience homelessness at some point in their lives. 

What are the main causes of homelessness?

Answer: The main cause of homelessness is a lack of safe, accessible housing, often stemming from systemic oppression.

In Oregon, like the rest of the U.S., we have a lack of affordable housing and a need for more housing assistance programs. Additionally, employment opportunities that pay a livable wage are declining. Even when people do find work, they may continue to live in poverty. While domestic violence, addiction, and mental health conditions contribute to people’s challenges and experiences with homelessness, they are not the main causes. 

It is not inevitable that those who experience violence, use drugs, or struggle with a mental health condition will become homeless. Homelessness occurs when safe, accessible, affordable housing is unavailable to people, especially those who are at a higher risk due to mental and physical conditions or life experiences. 

There are 2,485 beds available for unsheltered people in Multnomah County. What percentage of the city’s homeless population do you think this accommodates?

Answer: Currently, shelter beds accommodate less than 17% of homeless people in Multnomah County.

The Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) reported having 2,485 shelter beds in Multnomah County as of March, 2025. In the Portland area in March of 2025, there were 15,245 people living homeless. This indicates a need in our community for more low barrier emergency shelter beds and transitional housing opportunities.

The term “serious mental illness” encapsulates conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other conditions that have severe impacts on daily functioning. What percentage of people who are homeless do you think have a serious mental illness in Multnomah county?

Answer: Just under a fourth of people who are homeless have a serious mental illness in Multnomah county.

In 2023, only 23.5% of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Multnomah County had a serious mental illness. The national average is 16%. While the need for more mental health related resources for those struggling with serious mental illness in Multnomah County should not be understated, it is important to understand that the majority of people living homeless are not experiencing severe mental health conditions. 

What percentage of people who are homeless experience any kind of mental health condition including a substance use disorder? 

Answer: More than 75% of people experiencing homelessness have some kind of mental health condition including a substance use disorder.

While the number of people experiencing homelessness who have a mental health condition that greatly impairs daily functioning in Multnomah county is low, the majority do experience mental health concerns.

Unfortunately, homelessness is an inherently traumatizing experience that can lead to worsened or newly developed mental health conditions. Focusing on getting people housed is the best way to prevent or reduce the impact of serious mental health conditions for people experiencing homelessness.

What percentage of people who are homeless do you think have a substance use disorder in Multnomah county?

Answer: About a fourth of people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness have a substance use disorder in Multnomah county.

In 2023, only 26.8% of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Multnomah County had a substance use disorder. Media often over-reports on mental illness and addiction in the homeless population, leading to a misunderstanding that most homeless people use drugs in a way that creates problems in their lives. This is untrue.

Compared to the homeless population in Multnomah county, in 2023 about 17% of the general population in the United States experienced a substance use disorder. Addictive behaviors are often the result of traumatic experiences. Higher rates of substance use disorders in the homeless population are likely a reaction to trauma experienced during homelessness. 

True or False: People who are homeless are more likely to commit violent crimes.

Answer: People experiencing homelessness are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crime.

Despite media sensationalism of violent crime and homelessness, people who are homeless are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violent crime. People experiencing homelessness may be more likely to commit nonviolent crimes such as camping or trespassing and are more likely to be targeted for drug related activities despite using drugs at similar rates to those in the housed population. These are all crimes that are in some way associated with their homelessness. 

True or False: Camping sweeps increase people’s motivation to seek housing, employment, or mental health related resources.

Answer: Camping sweeps create cycles of hardship for people experiencing homelessness.

Recently, campsite removals have increased in an attempt to clear homeless people from sidewalks and other areas. Some people have argued that campsite removals encourage people to access resources to get off the street. However, we know that campsite removals cause tremendous harm to people experiencing homelessness and negatively impact their ability to access services, especially for people who experience mental health conditions or use drugs.

What do you think are the best solutions to resolve homelessness in Portland (check all that apply)?

Answer: There are many ways to reduce the negative impacts of homelessness but to get to the root causes, it is essential to increase access to safe, accessible, and affordable housing. Additionally, employment opportunities must also be made more accessible and inclusive, and be made to pay a livable wage. 

In addition to addressing root causes, funding resource centers like Rose Haven can help provide connection to necessary resources for people living in poverty. Some of those resources include non coercive and non judgmental mental health and addiction treatment for those who are interested in it. Jailing people for living in poverty, or forcing them into treatment only exacerbates poor outcomes. 

How much do you agree with the following statement: My perceptions of people experiencing homelessness have an effect on their health and wellbeing.

Answer: Community knowledge and perceptions of people experiencing homelessness have an effect on their health and wellbeing.

What we know about homelessness, mental health, and addiction greatly impact not only our day to day interactions with people experiencing these hardships but also our voting practices, policies, and community norms surrounding treatment of our neighbors. Misinformation can worsen stigma and have far reaching impacts on the wellbeing of our community. We all have the power to make change through sharing information about the realities of homelessness in Portland. 

Citations

Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence. (n.d.). Five Facts About Domestic & Sexual Violence and Homelessness. American Bar Association. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/domestic_violence/Initiatives/five-for-five/five-facts-homelessness/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20more%20than%2090,housing%20and%20maintaining%20safe%20housing.

Gultekin, L.E., Brush, B.L., Ginier, E., Cordom, A., Dowdell, E.B. (2021) Health risks and outcomes of homelessness in school-age children and youth: A scoping review of the literature. The Journal of School Nursing, 36(1), 10-18. doi:10.1177/1059840519875182

Gutwinski, S., Schreiter, S., Deutscher, K., & Fazel, S. (2021). The prevalence of mental disorders among homeless people in high-income countries: An updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis. PLoS Medicine, 18(8), e1003750. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003750

Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative. (2024, April 29). 2023 Point in Time Findings Report. https://hsd.multco.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FINAL-PITC-2023-Findings-Report-April-2024.pdf 

Homeless Services Department. (n.d.). Data Dashboard. Multnomah County. https://hsd.multco.us/data-dashboard/

Konkolÿ Thege, B., Horwood, L., Slater, L. et al. (2027). Relationship between interpersonal trauma exposure and addictive behaviors: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry 17, 164 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1323-1

National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2022, January 24). The Disturbing Realities of Homelessness and Violence. https://endhomelessness.org/blog/the-disturbing-realities-of-homelessness-and-violence/

National Coalition for the Homeless. (n.d.). Domestic Violence and Homelessness. https://nationalhomeless.org/domestic-violence/

National Coalition for the Homeless. (n.d.). Employment & Income. https://nationalhomeless.org/employment-income/

National Coalition for the Homeless. (n.d.). Homelessness in the US. https://nationalhomeless.org/homelessness-in-the-us/

Talbot, R., Fields, A., Santa Cruz, N., Miller, M., Mukulu, Z., Rota, M. (2024, October 29). Swept Away. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/series/swept-away

SAMHSA. (July, 2024). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt47095/National%20Report/National%20Report/2023-nsduh-annual-national.pdf

Trevor Project. (2021, November 23). Homelessness and Housing Instability Among LGBTQ Youth. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Trevor-Project-Homelessness-Report.pdf