want to move here, but wondering about homelessness crisis (Portland: rentals, motel)

[transientsalmon]

is there a state wide homeless problem, or is it mostly just concentrated in the portland area?

I want to move here to the state of oregon, but I want to be able to find housing and not be stuck on the streets.

[Nell Plotts]

The cost of housing is usually closely related to employment opportunities. Varies greatly across the state.

[Steve Pickering]

Several metro cities have the problem. But it is not unique to Oregon.

[Mini-apple-less]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

The cost of housing is usually closely related to employment opportunities. Varies greatly across the state.

Not in Portland or Corvallis. Pretty wide disparity there. Can't speak for the other cities in the state, but Eugene seems a little more reasonable in that regard. Still not great, though.

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by transientsalmon

is there a state wide homeless problem, or is it mostly just concentrated in the portland area?

I want to move here to the state of oregon, but I want to be able to find housing and not be stuck on the streets.

Much of the homelessness problem comes from (1) mental issues and/or (2) moving here without a financial plan.

The latter is a big issue, as PDX and other urban environs are much more expensive to live in than places like the Midwest or the South. Therefore, if you come from an area w/pretty reasonable housing costs, prepare for sticker shock. And if you're in the rental market, anticipate very low turnover (aka good rentals go VERY quickly).

[Irish Eyes_Mrs. Z]

IME, small towns don't tend to have as much homelessness. I think I found the reason why. Talking to police in small towns, I've asked why there isn't much in the way of services available to provide assistance to the homeless in their area (following stories in newspapers about homeless people in small towns who would break a business' window, or break into an empty, but very visible, private home so they could go to jail and get a couple of days and nights of free meals, and a place to sleep and shower). Their answers are invariably variations on the theme of "If you provide it, they will come". They don't want "them" to come.

So if you're looking for someplace relatively unencumbered by a visible and assertive homeless population, I'd recommend living in small towns. Despite small towns usually lacking in a sufficient amount of decent jobs, and therefore a larger possibility of people being displaced, it seems that the homeless DO tend to head towards towns and cities that provide more in the way of community services for them.

[Elk Wallow]

In other words, make your town like Roach Motel and they will come and will not leave.