Portland Area Report Finds 'Highly Troubling' Rise In Homeless African Americans

I see a lot of quotes in that article but no source. Just "surveys done by government agencies and nonprofits". Actually citing the studies is important so that their methodologies can be critiqued properly. What constitutes "living in Portland for two years"? Being here for at least 6 months out of the year?

Of all the homeless I interact with on a daily basis working downtown there are two to three (depending how you view them) pretty distinct types: the obviously mentally ill, drug addicts, and the "street kids". I've never once seen a normal person that is homeless due to circumstance (from what I can tell--maybe I'm not a good judge of that), but that could be due to not noticing them because they don't stick out, or maybe that type of person doesn't hang around downtown, or because they're just trying to get their life together. I hope it's because those that are able and actually need services are taking advantage of them to improve their situation. But it might just be location--if you're legit down on your luck I would imagine you'd hang out in your own neighborhood.

I think the idea that we need to do things like give apartments to the homeless is absolutely insane. We have to address the root problem, not the end result. Is the person mentally ill? We should be giving them access to treatment, treatment that goes beyond just handing out medication. We need to provide services that allow addicts to kick their addictions (part of which I'm sure requires housing, that's fine). For those that are not addicts, mentally ill, or homeless by choice... I'm not sure. My first instinct is a jobs program, something like the CCC during the depression. Get the people that need help getting their life back together the opportunity. If we have to invest in a jobs program to do so, I'm on board with that.

For those who have come here without ailments and not out of necessity but by choice, fuck 'em. Help those in need, fuck the others.

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