The other and IMO larger factor is the rise in housing costs vs. wages. The soaring cost of housing in the Portland area has forced many people who formerly could afford rent into the streets. My 1950 sq. ft house in the suburbs, that I purchased in 1992 for $136K, is now appraised at about $500K. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the suburbs is around $1400/month. Wages simply aren't keeping up with the booming economy. While addiction and mental illness are significant contributors, its money, or the lack of it, that has driven the recent increase in the homeless population. I was just talking to a guy the other day (I'm in law enforcement) who is living in a van with his wife. He is disabled and his wife works, but they can't afford rent on her paycheck in the Portland area market. What's he supposed to do? Telling him to move on isn't going to solve anyone's problem. It's just kicking the can down the road. Portlands leadership needs to stop wringing their hands and come up with a workable solution. There are lots of communities that have made the effort and are seeing results.
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LOL .... It' not to there benefit, they will never come to a workable solution, only talk about finding a solution .
I was born in Oregon, live here, but been around the world a couple times and have seen enough to recognize most of the basic Con games that are played on people . Oregon government talks and plays the basic low-life Con Game Bullshit as all thieves do . Oregon is never going to give up a Dollar-$ or make a plan to help bring housing prices to affordable level compared to average wages earned .
On the same note, Oregon Gov. will never help the working Homeless, or transient Homeless . Oregon Governments. plan is not helping more people live under a roof with a warm bed and basic utilities . The basics of life, just living, making the Mortgage payment, property tax's , paying the Rent is brought to levels of basic survival for many in Oregon, by Oregon government itself . Thieves and Con's only take, they don't give .
The cost of housing for all that live here will never come down until the local Oregon economy crashes ( again ) to temporarily deescalate the rising cost . Oregon government itself brings the cost of housing ( Buying and Renting ) to an inflated unaffordable sky High cost by a premeditated plan run by it's own greed and overload mindset of control .
There zoning control enforcement 'land use control' , just dribbles out a bare minimum of land for development to buy and build on . Ensuring by there control, forcing the cost of a postage size developed lot to build on, is sold at an ever growing price year by year .
There control plan ensures getting the maximum density of people living per Sq. Ft. of property. With Oregon Gov. end goal, in pocketing the maximum amount of Property Tax-$$$ collection they can squeeze from all . and every year, they kick you in the nuts raise Property tax's to a higher percent % because your property's worth is assessed to another artificially inflated price .
Residents struggle to make there Mortgages,Property tax's, pay the Rent . Oregon Government mindset is ..The rest of the people who do work hard but cant make it, go to the streets .
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www.reviewjournal.com 
www.oregonlive.com 
