Portland Homeless Problem Attracts Help From Catholic Charities

PORTLAND, OR – There are nearly 4,200 people living on the streets of Multnomah County, 10 percent more than just two years earlier. On Thursday, three organizations announced a plan to try and trim that number by 20 percent.

Representatives of Catholic Charities of Oregon, Providence Health & Services, and the Archdiocese of Portland said Thursday that as part of a larger Catholic Charities plan called the Healthy Housing Initiative.

In addition to Portland, the organization will be working with groups in Detroit, Las Vegas, St. Louis, and Spokane to reduce chronic homelessness.

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The plan in Oregon is to start by creating permanent supportive housing for 300 people in Multnomah County where nearly one-third of the people on the streets are chronically homeless and have been without a home for more than one year.

"Our first step is to meet with parishes to learn of their interest and support for potential projects that could be built on their property or repurpose existing buildings that are not in use," Catholic Charities of Oregon's executive director, Richard Birkel, says.

Catholic Charities of Oregon has a history in Portland and around the state of working with the homeless. They estimate that their housing transitions program serves more than 1,000 women every year. As part of that, they run the Kenton Women's Village, which provides housing and support services for up to 20 women at a time.

The plan in Oregon is to have the Archdiocese and parishes work on providing housing – to be located in buildings that could have as few as five units and as many as 50, including existing Catholic Charities facilities.

"We are working with the Archdiocese of Portland to create an inventory of properties in the area that can help with our goal of serving those who are chronically homeless," Birkel says.

Meanwhile, Providence will supply medical and other support services.

They hope that they will be able to reduce by half the number of newly-housed people who end up readmitted to the hospital as well as connect all people in the program with primary care and behavioral health services.

"We believe health is a human right, and partnering with Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese is an innovative and meaningful way to make a difference," Providence's chief executive, Lisa Vance, says.

"So many people who experience chronic homelessness are also dealing with serious mental illness, disabilities, substance abuse disorders and chronic health conditions."

The organizations have not yet set an exact timeline or budget, saying that they need to work with parishes and other groups to be able to fully develop the plans.