Clackamas County in Oregon, one of two counties into which Portland extends, has reduced the rate of homelessness by 65% from 2019 to 2023, a number that officials say reflects a more comprehensive strategy.
According to Clackamas County’s quarterly report on the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) outcomes, the county has rehoused 314 people in six months.
429 people and 223 homeless households were placed in permanent supportive housing, exceeding the stated goal for the period by 20.
“[J]ust over the last couple of months, we’ve placed 30 households in the Rapid Rehousing program through the support of housing services,” said Melissa Erlbaum, executive director of Clackamas Women’s Services. “We’re doing amazing work and partnership with the county.”
According to KATU News, officials also said in the report that SHS prevented 1,369 people, and 591 households from being evicted, which they added is one of the chief strategies for reducing the number of homeless on the street; provide assistance to people on the precipice of homelessness.
“We work hard to reduce and prevent homelessness early on before it even happens, with rental assistance, and we make sure that we have the resources and the assets up and running to give people housing when they need it,” Ben West, Clackamas County commissioner, told KATU News.
The permanent supportive housing is another component of the approach detailed in the report, and offers the combination of a permanent personal space with the social services necessary to help those who have experienced homelessness to stabilize things.
