Portland State University 2019 Homelessness report

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Portland State University Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative [PSU 2019]. "Governance, Costs, and Revenue Raising to Address and Prevent Homelessness in the Portland Tri-County Region." Lead author, Dr. Marisa Zapata. PSU report, August 21, 2019.

This report does not explicitly articulate a "Right to Housing" concept, but it notably uses broad definitions and makes wide estimates of how many people in the region experience homelessness in some form, or are considered vulnerable to falling into homelessness. By proposing government assistance, in the form of housing provision and rent assistance, for these entire populations, it arguably approaches an idea of "Right to housing." 

"This report takes a comprehensive look at the scale of homelessness and housing insecurity experienced in the Portland tri-county area. Our goal in producing this report is to help community members understand the scope and scale of the challenges we face when addressing homelessness and housing insecurity. We examine governance options, provide cost estimates for providing housing, supports, and services, and present revenue-raising options for our local governments to address homelessness and housing insecurity.

Before getting too far into the report, we want to make sure to note a few things. Many of the available counts of those experiencing homelessness use a narrow definition. We believe this leaves people behind. For example, the official Point-in-Time counts do not include those living doubled up, those sometimes described as the hidden homeless or precariously housed. This vulnerable population is sleeping on friends’ couches or cramming in unsafe numbers into bedrooms..."  

 

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References 

• Portland State University Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative [PSU 2019]. "Governance, Costs, and Revenue Raising to Address and Prevent Homelessness in the Portland Tri-County Region." Lead author, Dr. Marisa Zapata. PSU report, August 21, 2019. https://www.pdx.edu/syndication/sites/www.pdx.edu.syndication/files/HRAC-NERC%20Final%20Draft%20JG%207AM8_20_2019.pdf.
   
• Sand, Kaia. "To confront the housing crisis, it is time to think big." Street Roots (Portland, OR), 23 Aug 2019. https://news.streetroots.org/2019/08/23/confront-housing-crisis-it-time-think-big.