Homeless count neglects hundreds
Published by Jeff Woodward,
Thursday, Feb-23, 2017
When I entered into Homelessness I was uneducated; I didn't know anything about Portland's NonProfit's, nor could I comprehend the dysfunctional status quo amongst the scores of miscellaneous care providers scattered throughout Multnomah County, their funding structure(s), standard operating procedures, etc.
I learned that Homelessness in Portland is an industry, not a cause. I learned that minimally sufficient services were designed only to ensure the continuation of the service providers revolving door; and therefore, ensuring funding, and ensuring salaries. I too experienced first-hand, and knew that the scattered resource's all over town, clearly did not set people up for success. Referred to as the silo-sation of services, what was being done in Portland, what is being done in Portland, is not only not working, but it is leading to additional Homelessness. When I was trying to get help, it was like running an obstacle course throughout the entirety of Multnomah County.
Co-located service campus facilities across the U.S. are proving that campus style Homeless care communities are working; they're saving life's, restoring purpose, and reducing local Homeless populations unlike ever before. San Antonia's highly successful "Haven for Hope" campus facility, was the foundation for what Portland Developer Homer Williams envisioned for the Northwest industrial site, Terminal 1.
Last night 200 volunteers took to the streets to conduct HUD's Homeless Point in Time Count and survey. A Home for Everyone's Marc Jolin, newly appointed to Director of the Joint City-County Office of Homelessness, and A Home for Everyone are leading this year's efforts with technical assistance being provided by HUD as required.
The count only identifies those literally on the street, those doubled up and/or couch surfing are not counted; those living in RV's are not counted; the working homeless, those typically living in a car, are not counted; and Youth Homeless (the fastest growing demographic), who are highly transitional, floating from respite to respite, go unaccounted.
When asked to address concerns about the accuracy of the Homeless survey, HUD spokesperson Brian Sullivan responded; "There are those who say that this count does not express the totality of the need out there on the streets of this country to that we say, exactly, yes. We totally agree that this count doesn't express the totality of need in our country. But this is what the count is."
I think that statement speaks for itself.
What many may not know as well is that until this year, Oregon had been one of only a handful of states that did not carry out their Homeless survey annually; the powers at be evidently succumbed to pressures and the count is now slated to be carried out annually.
I believe a financial conflict of interest exists with A Home for Everyone carrying out the Point in Time Count and survey. A Home for Everyone receives monies from HUD, based on the results of the count…while being in charge of the count.
A House Bill or statute should be introduced requiring a standard public bidding process for the carrying out of the annual count and survey. This will ensure transparency, fairness, and accuracy. It is simply not OK that untold numbers of Homeless Souls go unaccounted. The Homeless Bill of Rights, now in the House, neglected to take this situation into account unfortunately.
Portland is in its' 16th month of its State of Emergency, and here we are, battling a Humanitarian and affordability crisis, unlike Portland, has known. The good news is that the new Joint City County office of Homelessness reports that they have sheltered or housed as many as 4,000 Souls, and that is truly amazing. The bad news is that the number of Homeless in Portland is currently estimated between 4,000 - 12,500. When A Home for Everyone releases the survey/count report, it will either be shocking, or grossly inaccurate.
I hope the report will be shocking for the sake of those needing help, otherwise, nothing is going to change...again...
We're here to do the impossible. Climb On | Jeff Woodward | jeffswoodward@icloud.com