How Far Will $30 Million Really Go?

Leaders from Portland, Gresham, and Multnomah County have taken the first steps in combatting the problem of homelessness by signing off on a groundbreaking new plan. The plan was drafted by the city and the city council, later dubbed “A Home for Everyone,” with the goal of reducing the number of homeless by 50 percent. In total, $30 million will be spent by 2019 or at the latest 2020 and will hopefully reduce homelessness in the area by 50 percent. According to the plan, the money will be allocated as such:

$12.5 million to house the homeless

$10 million for the construction of affordable housing

$5 million to improve homeless shelters

$2.5 million to homelessness prevention

As of 2015, a homeless count set up by the city and the county found 3,801 people homeless. Specifically, 1,887 were without shelter, 872 were in emergency shelters, and 1,042 were in transitional housing. Compared to results from 2013, the number of homeless women increased by 15 percent along with a 24 percent increase in homeless families. Furthermore, there was a 48 percent increase in homeless African Americans. Because of this, the plan focuses on alleviating the number of homeless women and minorities by aiming to house 1,350 people and creating 650 new shelter and alternative beds.

This is a huge step forward for Portland, allocating millions of dollars to target a problem that desperately needs the help. Although the results of this groundbreaking plan will not be seen until 2019, in the long run it will revolutionize Portland and surrounding areas. Seeing that the homeless population, especially that of women and minorities, has increased in recent years, the implementation of this plan will hopefully relieve some of the stresses these groups are currently enduring. 

Despite this, the allocation of the $30 million, in my opinion, is not the best. Although the money will make a difference, I think that more should go towards preventing homeless instead of just focusing on those already homeless. If more money was given to prevention, in the long run it would result in less homelessness, which would mean we wouldn't need any more major money plans like this one in the future.

Learn more about the plan here!

-Maddy Zimba