It is impossible to tie a common thread amongst the homeless population because everyone experiencing homelessness is there for a different reason. Some are severely mentally ill and can’t perform the daily tasks necessary to hold a job or keep a roof over their head. Some are hindered by drug addiction and are also unable to secure stable housing. Some have a criminal record that prevents them from finding work, and some are simply people that have fallen on hard times and are unable to pay their rent/mortgage. The reasons for being homeless are multivariate, thus we need a multivariate approach to this problem, which addresses the individual reasons why someone ends up living on the street.

(1) More affordable housing, which can be addressed by starting a hemp block manufacturing company to quickly build affordable, temporary, tiny-home shelters for the homeless, sobering centers, mental health clinics, and long-term housing.

(2) Change the requirements for civil commitment. Opponents of civil commitment say it violates personal freedom to force an individual into treatment, however I believe If you’re experiencing severe symptoms of mental illness, then your judgment is impaired. To expect someone with such impaired judgment to fend for themself is abhorrent, and it is miscarriage of morality that even family members are unable to act on their loved one’s behalf. Changing civil commitment requirements is beyond the reach of the Portland City Council, but as your elected official I will lead the effort to start the conversation and ensure that our communities are as well-informed as possible so that when the time comes at the state level, we all make the correct decision with our vote. That being said, we cannot change civil commitment requirements without proper infrastructure or learning from the lessons of the past. If more people are committed, we will need more beds, facilities, and healthcare providers throughout the state. We must also ensure the committed aren’t abused like they have been in the past, and that their treatment leads towards reintegration into the community – not just a final stop in their life’s journey.