Portland's independent, alternative weekly news source

Street Roots

Finding Home

A series of in-depth articles examining national perspectives around America’s growing housing and homeless crisis.
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Street Roots

The Next Generation

The Next Generation is a Street Roots series that focuses on the well-being and housing stability of children and young adults, locally and nationally, and explores the work being done to prevent another generation from becoming homeless. Street Roots received funding from Meyer Memorial Trust's Housing Advocacy Portfolio to develop dedicated reporting for The Next Generation series.
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Need and poverty are rising in Oregon

Cost of living, inflation and ongoing pandemic impacts contribute to record levels of poverty

August 17, 2022

A bright orange collage. In the background is the pattern of an orange plastic fence, commonly associated with sweeps of homeless encampments. Above that and slightly opaque are piles of trash bags and a tent. In the foreground is a thermometer indicating

City contractors swept homeless Portlanders during state of emergency

Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a state of emergency July 22 due to the impending danger of extreme heat, but city contractors continued sweeping homeless encampments until at least July 25 at noon

K. Rambo

August 3, 2022

A photo of the Hillsboro Bridge Shelter which is a shelter converted from an Econolodge motel. The view of the units is from the parking lot and there are cars in the lot and black pavement.

HUD launches affordable housing and rehousing initiative to combat national homelessness crisis

“Homelessness is not a political issue. It’s about human lives.”

Piper McDaniel

August 3, 2022

A face covering/mask and a gavel sit on a wooden table with a piece of paper that says "Eviction Notice. Notice to quit" and a letter starts below that says, "Dear Tenant"

Oregon eviction rates keep rising in a time of historic need

Pandemic-era rent assistance and eviction protections are dwindling. In a state with skyrocketing rent, tenants struggle to keep up.

Piper McDaniel

August 3, 2022

An illustration of a giant padlock locked up and wrapped around a house.

Eviction Representation for All wants renters to have right to counsel

Multnomah County tenants' advocacy group seeks to place a ballot measure ensuring the right to legal representation if their landlord tries to evict

Piper McDaniel

July 27, 2022

The ornate arches of Old Town/Chinatown in Portland.

Portland’s new shelter referral system becoming less effective with time

Street Services Coordination Center offering fewer shelter referrals as sweeps increase

Tyler Walicek K. Rambo

July 20, 2022

A photo of the White Stag building. The "Portland Oregon" sign sits atop the building. The sign has an outline of the state of Oregon and a deer leaping over the words. Black text says, "swept away" on the right side of the image.

Old Town’s 90-day ‘reset’ yields sweeps with little notice, no advance postings

Unhoused Portlanders swept using the tactic say it undermines safety, stability and human dignity

K. Rambo

July 6, 2022

Tape that says "police line do not cross" sections off an area. In that area, three police officers are standing watch. People behind them are gathering possessions and tents on the sidewalk.

Police know arrests won’t fix homelessness. They keep arresting people anyway.

Melissa Lewis

June 29, 2022

City of Portland posts many homeless encampments at least twice before a sweep

The city extends the legal window for sweeps by posting and reposting encampments, which can cause distress and logistical issues for unhoused Portlanders

K. Rambo

June 22, 2022

Illustrations of a house with a chimney, front door and a hammer and dollar bills atop the roof. The illustrations are on a blue background.

Just keep building?

The housing shortage plays a role, but building more homes won't fix the affordability crisis.

Piper McDaniel

June 1, 2022