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.
- Read more about Finding Home
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.
- Read more about The Next Generation

A photo of an empty lot at 3000 SE Powell Blvd. There is a fence, wet pavement and some puddles of water.

Safe Rest Villages and then what?

Advocates and officials agree: investment required beyond temporary shelter

November 10, 2021

Photo of a row of tents underneath trees with leaves that are yellow, orange and red.

City can’t say when they will plan, build Safe Rest Villages

The city has only identified two of six sites, hasn’t broken ground on a single camp or released information on contracted service providers

Taylor Griggs

October 27, 2021

Photo of an alarm clock over a page of a monthly calendar.

Federal rent relief may be short-lived

After months of delays, OERAP is steadily distributing rental assistance funds, but the state may run out of money without more federal funds

Aurora Biggers

October 20, 2021

Photo of a green notice announcing an "illegal campsite" taped to a pole.

Analysis of 2021 sweeps raises questions about pandemic policies and procedures

Analysis of sweeps in 2021 shows potential inconsistencies with CDC guidelines, instead correlate with the city's ‘reopening’

K. Rambo

October 6, 2021

Photo of Portland Community of Christ church that will serve as a rotating shelter location for Family Promise Metro East.

Empty churches to serve as family shelters in East Portland

More than four years after Daybreak closed, an interfaith group plans to reopen family shelters at various churches

Aurora Biggers

September 22, 2021

Multnomah County unsure when thousands will receive federal rent assistance

County officials say it will take until March to review all rental assistance applications, unsure when federal money will dispense

Aurora Biggers

September 1, 2021

Bobby Weinstock photo in front of an illustration of a city skyline.

Powerful medicine: Housing advocate Bobby Weinstock on affordable housing

With three decades of experience working to house people in need, Bobby Weinstock shares his perspective on how to keep people housed

Jay Boss Rubin

August 25, 2021

Empty shell Britain: A family’s experience with furniture poverty

Anita Dance was moved into an empty home. Sleeping on the cold floor for over a year, she’s one of around two million UK households experiencing furniture poverty.

Jem Bartholomew

August 17, 2021

Photo illustration showing notebook with "rent relief" written on it, a set of keys and a jar with some money in it.

Oregon emergency rental assistance in disarray, increasing risk of eviction

Oregon rental aid program flounders while clock on eviction protections for renters runs down, putting thousands at risk of eviction

Aurora Biggers

August 11, 2021

Photo showing gavel laid down in front of small model of house

Retaining an eviction attorney is nearly impossible for Multnomah County tenants

Despite the often life-altering consequences of eviction proceedings, tenants secured legal representation in just 3% of the nearly 6000 eviction cases filed in Multnomah County in 2019. Attorneys say the COVID-19 pandemic has only made the issue more severe

Chris May

July 28, 2021