- Portland has estimated that there are 6,297 homeless people, 5,398 of whom are unsheltered.
- Tent cities plagued by disease and crime emerged as the problem increased from 1,887
- The city built villages of small houses, but some people are building their own
<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Homeless people are building their own tiny houses in Portland neighborhoods overrun by homeless people as the crisis deepens.
The one-room shacks are joined together with wood taken from pallets and abandoned trash, with windows and doors.
One clever architect even added a basketball hoop to the side of one wall, made of wood and some type of reclaimed material folded into a ring.
But the creative, if unauthorized, solution to staying out of the elements had a darker side: one local claimed the criminals were using a small house.
The one-room shacks are joined together with wood taken from pallets and abandoned trash, with windows and doors.
Another was still under construction, showing the haphazard nature of DIY construction with disparate pieces of wood.
Portland’s homeless population increased 65 percent, from 1,887 to 6,297 between 2015 and 2023, of which about 5,398 are unsheltered.
“I am finding small houses built by homeless people appearing on almost every block in some neighborhoods,” wrote social worker Kevin Dahlgren.
This one is quite nice and even has a basketball hoop. Another one I saw today was used for prostitution and another for drugs.
The hoop house was surrounded by extra wood, two grocery carts, and random trash.
Another was still under construction, showing the haphazard nature of DIY construction with disparate pieces of wood.
Portland has official tiny house villages it built to get homeless people off the streets, and plans to add another 100 in the coming months.
The shelters cost about $16,000 each and measure about 8 feet on each side—enough room for a single bed and a few drawers.
Portland has official tiny house villages it built to get homeless people off the streets and plans to add another 100 in the coming months.
A person lies on the street in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood in downtown Portland
Tents line the sidewalk on SW Clay Street in Portland as 5,398 people sleep rough in the city
Each of the Safe Rest Villages spread across the city costs between $15 million and $3 million a year to operate, including staff, maintenance, mental health support and food. Utilities are additional and vary by site.
Last August, there were 400 homes in seven villages and the city has added more since then. Each village has bathrooms, laundry, kitchen and garden.
However, opponents argue that tiny house villages waste money that would be better spent building affordable housing.
Portland’s homeless population increased 65 percent, from 1,887 to 6,297 between 2015 and 2023, of which about 5,398 are unsheltered.
Multnomah County plans to create enough shelters for about 2,700 people by the end of next year.