Out of the Streets of Portland

The new data dashboard by the Joint Office of Homeless Services in Multnomah County provides a comprehensive and dynamic view of homelessness, enhancing transparency and accountability. The Joint Office of Homeless Services introduced a new data dashboard that consolidates various reports into a single, user-friendly platform. Lori Kelly, the planning and evaluation manager, explains, "We're looking for a very user friendly site that has a lot of definitions. It has line charts and bar charts depending on what kind of data we're sharing." This dashboard will allow users to filter data by demographics, such as age, gender, and chronic homelessness, providing a detailed and nuanced understanding of the homeless population. The dashboard will also track inflow and outflow, as well as output and outcome metrics for housing, shelter, and prevention services. Kelly noted, "The dashboard will also include output and outcome metrics on housing, shelter, and prevention, and so it will have everything ranging from shelter occupancy and a number of people being served in shelters all also filterable by demographics, as well as how many people were serving in prevention, how many people were serving in different types of housing, how many people are housed effectively, and how many people are waiting for housing inside our programs." Additionally, the dashboard will feature retention rates for those who have been housed, helping to assess the long-term success of housing initiatives. Kelly elaborated, "We track retention afterwards, and we can also figure out that they are no longer stably housed if they show up in asking for housing or in a shelter system." This dynamic tool is designed to support both frontline workers and policymakers in making informed decisions and improving services. The Joint Office of Homeless Services uses a by-name list to more accurately track and serve the homeless population, reflecting a more sophisticated and compassionate approach. The by-name list, a key component of the data dashboard, offers a more accurate and comprehensive view of homelessness compared to the point-in-time count. Lori Kelly explained, "The by-name list is intended to be used for things like case conferencing and prioritizing people for services. And so it's really looking at people who are actively engaging in the system and helping people understand and find people so they can do their work. This method ensures that the data reflects the real-time status of individuals experiencing homelessness, rather than just a snapshot on a specific night. The by-name list also includes a 90-day inactivity policy, which helps maintain the accuracy of the data. Kelly stated, "If nobody has an interaction with a person for over 90 days, and they are not enrolled in a program, we assume they're still homeless, but we put them into something called inactivity." This approach ensures that the list remains current and useful for service providers, while also respecting the privacy and consent of individuals. The by-name list is also designed to avoid stigmatizing individuals. Kelly emphasized, "We do not require people to give their legal name in order to be on this list. We do request or hope that they will give a name that allows them to be regularly found, meaning they can be Marilyn Monroe every time they talk to us." This flexibility helps build trust and encourages more people to engage with the system, leading to better outcomes for those in need. The concept of data excellence is central to the Joint Office's approach to managing and reporting data. Lori Kelly defines data excellence as "moving towards a state of greater data maturity, which means we have a very robust quality assurance plan. We have increasingly larger amounts of programs and spaces in which we collect data, and we have protocols in place to make sure our data is up to date, accurate, and reflects the populations and the services that we're serving." This commitment to data excellence ensures that the information used to inform policy and service delivery is reliable and actionable. The data dashboard reflects this commitment to data excellence by providing a clear and comprehensive view of the homeless population and the services provided. Kelly mentioned, “One other thing you will see is that we continue to increase the amount of people we're housing and sheltering on a regular basis. I love seeing that. You can already see that in our system performance reports, but now you can see it all in one place." This transparency is intended to build public trust and support for the ongoing efforts to address homelessness. Furthermore, the Joint Office is working to ensure that the data is accessible and understandable to the public. Kelly added, "There will be glossaries so people understand what our terms mean. Sometimes they're intuitive, sometimes they're not, and we're having them reviewed by a variety of communications experts to try to make them as easily digestible as possible." This effort to make the data accessible underscores the Joint Office's commitment to transparency and community engagement.

The "Out of the Streets of Portland" podcast, produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, focuses on sharing the stories of individuals who are currently or formerly homeless and the services provided to help them move into housing. This episode features Dustin, a housing specialist from the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA), and Benita, a resident of the Francis and Claire Apartment building, who shares her journey from homelessness to permanent supportive housing. This podcast episode highlights the work of NARA in providing outreach and housing services to people experiencing homelessness, particularly focusing on the story of Benita, who navigated the challenges of homelessness and eventually secured a home with the help of NARA and Dustin. Dustin, a housing specialist with the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA), shared his journey from being a BIPOC CHAT team member to a housing case manager. "My primary job was to assess individuals who came in looking for housing needs and then help them with document readiness and get prepared for housing," he said. His role evolved to include more case management, where he used his personal experiences to connect with clients. "I have experienced a lot of what they are experiencing, you know, all of our individual experiences of course are gonna be different," Dustin explained, highlighting the importance of empathy and personal connection in his work. Benita, a newly-housed resident of the Francis and Claire Apartment building, echoed the significance of having an advocate who could relate to her struggles. "Once I got connected to them, it was, he was just on it for me. He's just been the best advocate I've ever had for helping with situations that are really this severe," she said, referring to Dustin. Benita's journey from homelessness to permanent housing was marked by personal challenges, including a history of domestic violence and mental health issues. "Every time I needed something, he was right there. He would always take my phone calls, so he made it really easy for me to be homeless, you might say, and be in that situation," she added, emphasizing the impact of having a supportive and understanding advocate. Dustin, a housing specialist with NARA, pointed out that the assumption that homelessness is primarily driven by addiction is often misguided. "Probably 60% of the people that come to our offices looking for help are not experiencing drug addiction, and they're experiencing abuse of some other sort. They're experiencing financial hardship," he said. Benita's story is a poignant example of this complexity. "I ended up going into the hospital with a mental breakdown from all of the stress from [the racism and harassment she experienced at her apartment complex], and then after getting out of the hospital, that's what got me into getting hooked up with NARA," she explained, detailing the series of events that led to her homelessness, including racial profiling and domestic violence. Culturally responsive services can significantly enhance the effectiveness of support for marginalized communities. The Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA) was founded to provide a safe and culturally relevant space for Native Americans seeking help with substance abuse and other issues. "It started as a treatment center, when Buzz Nelson and some of his close friends decided that there needed to be a place for Native Americans to go to be able to heal from the disease of alcoholism, because at the time, Alcoholics Anonymous in Portland was pretty racist and they weren't really too happy to see Natives coming into their white spaces trying to heal and recover," Dustin explained. NARA's approach to holistic care, which includes medical, dental, and mental health services, is rooted in Native American spirituality and values. "We really try to just treat the whole individual, as far as coming across people who are experiencing addiction and homelessness, I can honestly say that I was surprised myself about how many people come through the doors looking for services for while they're homeless, who are not affected by substance use disorder," he added. Benita, who has Chickasaw Indian heritage, found this culturally responsive approach to be a significant factor in her recovery. "I think a lot of agencies are just so overwhelming. If you get in and get to a good advocate, you're lucky," she said, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive and personalized support in helping individuals like her navigate their way out of homelessness. Some of the insights surfaced through this interview: ·         Homelessness is a multifaceted issue, with only 40% of individuals seeking services at NARA experiencing active addiction. ·         Many individuals facing homelessness are dealing with severe health issues, domestic violence, financial hardship, and discrimination. ·         There is a significant gap between the perception of homelessness (often linked to drug addiction) and the reality (many individuals are not drug users and face other complex issues). ·         The process of getting into housing can be long and challenging, with construction delays and other factors causing delays. ·         Empathy and support from advocates and service providers are crucial in helping individuals navigate the complex system of services. ·         The Francis and Claire Apartment building, run by Catholic Charities of Oregon, provides 61 units of affordable, permanent supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of chronic homelessness. ·         NARA offers a range of services, including housing, medical care, mental health support, and addiction recovery, with a focus on Native American spirituality and values.  

On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we speak with Elijah, who is one of the site managers for the Menlo Park Safe Rest Village in East Portland.  Menlo Park Village came about through extensive collaboration and cooperation of the city of Portland and Multnomah County, and is run by the grassroots organization Cultivate Initiatives. It's a village-style shelter with individual sleeping pods, outdoor gathering spaces and pet areas, as well as kitchen, shower and laundry facilities on site. Accessing a safe and supportive shelter can be a critical part of many people's journey from homelessness back into stability. Within the shelter environment, staff provide safety, empowerment, connection to services, and community support to ensure a transformative experience for all participants. Elijah, one of the staff members with Cultivate Initiatives who help manage the Menlo Park Safe Rest Village site, located at southeast 122nd and Burside in southeast Portland. More information on this alternative shelter, and the numerous other shelter options funded and supported by the Joint Office, can be found at our website https://johs.us in the Emergency Shelters section. The 'Out of the Streets of Portland' podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide, street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community.  

The latest episode of the Joint Office podcast “Out of the Streets of Portland” features the story of Michael, who successfully navigated out of decades of homelessness and substance use to support and recovery in one of the alternative, village-style shelters that have significantly expanded over the past two years thanks to unprecedented collaboration between the City of Portland and Multnomah County governments. Out of the Streets of Portland is an award-winning monthly podcast produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, sharing the stories of people who have experienced homelessness, and explaining the systems and services available to help people move out of homelessness and into stable, supportive housing.

On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we bring you a panel discussion about the Regional Long-Term Rent Assistance, known by its acronym RLRA. The program is funded entirely by the Supportive Housing Services measure, which was passed by Portland Metro voters in 2020 and implemented beginning in 2021. RLRA has been a key factor in helping people maintain stable housing, providing rent assistance to the most vulnerable households. In 2024, the number of households using RLRA vouchers increased by 53%, showing the program's success in facilitating new placements, and helping more households secure long-term housing. Since the inception of RLRA on July 1, 2021, the program has helped nearly 1,000 households and over 1,400 individuals secure stable housing in Multnomah County alone. Over the past three years, the program has steadily increased, providing support for more households to move out of homelessness and into stable, supportive housing. We bring you an excerpt from a session about RLRA held at the Spectrum Conference organized by Multifamily Northwest in September 2024, featuring Chelsea Blair from Washington County, Erin Goldwater from Multnomah County, and Jake Kirsch from the Housing Development Center, among others. Thank you for joining us for this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland. This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide, street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community. Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland'. And you can find this podcast, along with a ton of information, data and reports, at our website johs.us  

Eric struggled with alcoholism most of his adult life, and has been in and out of homelessness. He had a period of successful employment in his 30s, then fell back into homelessness, and was unable to get himself back on his feet. At age 50, he had a heart issue that caused a physical disability and left him unable to work. Thanks to the FUSE program and East County Housing, Eric and his dog Misty are housed and stable, and he is able to get the healthcare and recovery support that he needs. FUSE, which stands for Frequent Users Systems Engagement, uses data and intensive case management to help people experiencing chronic homelessness. It has a specific focus on those people who are the most frequently engaged in the homeless services, criminal justice and healthcare systems. The program involves collaboration between the Health Department, the Department of Community Justice, Health Share of Oregon, and the Joint Office of Homeless Services. 2024 is a pilot phase of the FUSE program, with the goal of housing forty people by the end of the year, and then sharing the findings to potentially expand the program to serve more people. More info about the FUSE Pilot program.  

Welcome to ‘Out of the Streets of Portland' - a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or are developing, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing.  On this episode, we will hear from Pastor Dwight Minnieweather and his partner LaToya Minnieweather about the work they have been doing in the community for the past twenty years, and what they have planned for the new village shelter that will be opening in December. The Joint Office of Homeless Services is funding and supporting the new Light Community village-style shelter, which is in the process of being constructed on 82nd Avenue in southeast Portland. The village is set to open in December 2024. This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide, street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community.  

On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we bring you a panel discussion at Southeast Uplift, which is a coalition of southeast Portland neighborhood associations. The panel features people involved in creating micro-villages in neighborhoods in northeast and southeast Portland. A recent study by the Homelessness Research and Action Center at Portland State University on Alternative Shelters found that alternative, village-style shelters provide better outcomes for people experiencing homelessness than traditional, congregate shelters. More information on alternative shelters supported by the Joint Office of Homeless Services can be found on the JOHS website. This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community. Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland'. And you can find this podcast, along with a ton of information, data and reports, at our website johs dot us. Thanks again for listening to Out of the Streets of Portland.  

Welcome to Out of the Streets of Portland, a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or are developing, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing.  On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we bring you part two of a two part episode featuring the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault system of care funded and supported by the Joint Office of Homeless Services in Multnomah County. This system serves Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as their children or other dependents.  On this episode, we speak with three staff members at Raphael House - Shaykeishya, Ashley and Rachel, who help survivors navigate the system to get the help and support they need. Here are some phone numbers people who think they may be in a domestic violence situation can call to get some help. The first number is Call to Safety - 503.235.5333 - a 24-hour staffed crisis line for people in the Portland metro area. En espanol - tenemos un Línea de Crisis 503-232-4448. Es un Línea 24 horas para las sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica y/o asalto sexual. Survivors can also call the Gateway Center for Domestic Violence Services during regular business hours at 503-988-6400 to go through an assessment, which can then determine eligibility for Raphael House or other Joint Office funded programs in the Portland area.   Shaykeishya, Ashley and Rachel have all been through the process of recovery from domestic violence and addiction themselves, and are now working at Raphael House in a program called Domestic Violence Recovery Mentors helping other people flee domestic violence situations. The program is open to people of all genders who are fleeing an abusive relationship and experiencing an addiction - substance use disorder or another type of addiction. The program they run is called Domestic Violence Recovery Mentors. To find out more about this program, contact Shaykeishya at 503-593-3874 or shardin@raphaelhouse.com. One of the key values of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault is self-determination for survivors. The work is grounded in a “survivor-centered” or “survivor led” service model; recognizing that survivors know best how to meet their own needs. This focus serves to prevent replication of power & control that might resemble that used by an abuser and is one of the most important values of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Continuum as a whole. You can find more information, including how to get assistance with a restraining order, at the Multnomah County website - multco.us/dv.   A full list of shelters funded by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, including congregate, motel and alternative, village-style shelters can be found at johs dot us slash shelter.   Thank you for joining us for this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland.This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community.   Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland'. And you can find this podcast, along with a ton of information, data and reports, at our website johs dot us. Thanks again for listening to Out of the Streets of Portland.  

Welcome to Out of the Streets of Portland, a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or are developing, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing.  On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we bring you part one of a two part episode featuring the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault system of care funded and supported by the Joint Office of Homeless Services in Multnomah County. This system serves Survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as their children or other dependents. To give an advance warning to our listeners, this episode will contain references to and descriptions of intimate partner violence. On this episode, we share the story of a woman who we'll call Jane Doe, a survivor of domestic violence who received support from Joint Office funded providers in Multnomah County. In the next episode of this podcast, we'll keep the focus on the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault support system, and will speak with some of the providers and staff who help survivors navigate the system to get the help and support they need. Here are some phone numbers for people who think they may be in a domestic violence situation can call to get some help: Call to Safety - 503.235.5333 - a 24-hour staffed crisis line for people in the Portland metro area. En espanol - tenemos un Línea de Crisis 503-232-4448. Es un Línea 24 horas cada dia para las sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica y/o asalto sexual. Survivors can also call the Gateway Center for Domestic Violence Services during regular business hours at 503-988-6400 for one-on-one support with experienced advocates who will help you develop a personal plan and connect you with other services.  One of the key values of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault is self-determination for survivors. The work is grounded in a “survivor-centered” or “survivor led” service model; recognizing that survivors know best how to meet their own needs. This focus serves to prevent replication of power & control that might resemble that used by an abuser and is one of the most important values of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Continuum as a whole. You can find more information, including how to get assistance with a restraining order, at the Multnomah County website - multco.us/dv. This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community. Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland'. And you can find this podcast, along with a ton of information, data and reports, at our website johs.us.

Welcome to Out of the Streets of Portland, a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or are developing, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing.  On this episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, in honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, we are featuring the story and work of Kenton Women's Village. This village was opened in the Kenton neighborhood in June of 2017 - the second village-style shelter to open in Portland. Dignity Village, the first in the country and the model for many other village-style shelters, opened in the year 2000 and is still in operation. The Kenton Women's Village is a 20-pod village which came about as the result of a concerted advocacy effort that included designers, houseless advocates, and service providers. The village was the outcome of an effort in 2016 and 2017 called the Partners On Dwelling Village Coalition. Members of Portland State University's Center for Public Interest Design were asked for pod designs for use at Hazelnut Grove and other newly forming villages. Rather than concentrate on the design of pods, the Center suggested a process that would result not only in a series of new pod prototypes, but also open up dialogue with the public about local government's role in supporting village efforts. Local architect Mark Lakeman, who is also the founder of Portland's annual Village Building Convergence, provided guidance on the design of the pods by Portland State University students. Fourteen design teams created the different styles of sleeping pods in two months, for two thousand dollars each. In 2019, the village was relocated to its current location on Columbia Boulevard. Kenton Women's Village is open to currently houseless self-identified women, including trans women, and offers opportunities for community, leadership, self-governance, and self-determination. In this podcast, we speak with Valerie Yvette Peterson, a case manager at the village. We also hear from a participant at the Kenton Women's Village on what led to her losing her housing, and how Kenton Women's Village is helping her get back on her feet. More information about the Kenton Women's Village can be found on their website And a full list of shelters funded by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, including congregate, motel and alternative, village-style shelters can be found on the JOHS website. This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide, street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community. Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland'.  

Welcome to Out of the Streets of Portland, a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or are developing, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing.  Today we explore the impact of the Supportive Housing Services measure, passed by Metro area voters in 2020. The Ten-year regionwide program goals include connecting 5,000 chronically homeless households with supportive housing, building new outreach teams, stabilizing 10,000 households experiencing or at risk of homelessness in permanent housing and expanding the network of culturally specific service providers. In 2023, Multnomah County met most of the annual goals set by Metro for implementation of the supportive housing services measure, and 99% of people housed in 2022 remained in housing a year later. We speak with Cristal Otero of the Supportive Housing Services team at the Joint Office of Homeless Services to find out more. We also hear from Jessica, who recently got into housing thanks to funding from the Supportive Housing Services measure. She was supported by provider Do Good Multnomah and volunteers with PDX Saints Love, an organization that provided her help and support on the street, and where she now works doing outreach and peer support. More information about the Supportive Housing Services measure, including the 2023 annual report, can be found at johs.us/shs. This podcast is produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a Multnomah County department with funding from the County, the City of Portland, Metro, and the state and federal governments to house, shelter, and provide, street outreach, navigation, employment assistance, assistance obtaining social security income, and case management to people experiencing homelessness in our community. Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland'. And you can find this podcast, along with a ton of information, data and reports, at our website johs.us. Thanks again for listening to Out of the Streets of Portland.

Welcome to Out of the Streets of Portland, a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or are developing, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing. On today's episode of Out of the Streets of Portland, we share the stories of two people. First up is Nettie, a street roots vendor who sells papers in the Woodstock neighborhood. She's also part of the Street Roots mobile journalism team, funded and supported by the Joint Office of Homeless Services. We also hear from Ryan, who has stabilized from years of struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. He is now a resident and Board member of Hazelnut Grove, one of the more than twenty villages of tiny homes that have grown up in recent years to provide stability for people coming out of homelessness. Most of these villages receive support from the Joint Office of Homeless Services. Please subscribe to our podcast to get notified every time a new episode is posted. Look out for our next episode, in January 2024, which will focus on the PATH Team - Providing Access to Hope - at Multnomah County. The PATH Team helps those who are houseless or about to lose housing get treatment for a substance use disorder. You can find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for ‘Out of the Streets of Portland.

On this episode of 'Out of the Streets of Portland', we look at the village model for shelter, and how communities and neighborhoods in Portland have come together to support unhoused neighbors in their area.  We'll speak with Caleb and Matt, who responded to the news of a homeless shelter opening next door by holding a community potluck for the neighborhood, welcoming existing neighbors and shelter residents alike. That initial meet and greet turned into the formation of Cultivate Initiatives, one of the most dynamic homeless services organizations in East Portland. We'll also speak with Cara Rothe, who heads up Beacon Village. That village is a 10-unit transitional shelter formed on a church parking lot in northeast Portland at the height of the pandemic. ‘Out of the Streets of Portland' is a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or continue to develop, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing. More resources on this topic: Alternative Shelters - Joint Office of Homeless Services Research Study & How-To Guide for Village Shelters - produced by the Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative at Portland State University

Welcome to Out of the Streets of Portland, a podcast focused on sharing the stories of people who are currently or formerly homeless in our community, and helping navigate the systems and services that the Joint Office of Homeless Services and its partners either have in place, or are developing, to help people move out of homelessness and back into stable, supportive housing. Today we have an exclusive interview with the Manager of the County's new Behavioral Health Resource Center, Alexandra Appleton.  Alexandra was born in North Portland, struggled with homelessness for a decade starting as a teenager, and managed to get into services funded through the Joint Office and Multnomah County, from shelter to supportive housing, and go to college while raising her family. And now Alexandra is helping other people out of homelessness and into stable, supportive housing. The Behavioral Health Resource Center provides a day center that's run almost entirely by peers - people who have been through homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges themselves. They work one-on-one with people experiencing homelessness to identify and remove barriers, and offer immediate services including showers and respite. The Resource Center also includes shelter and bridge housing programs that focus on behavioral health services, in partnership with the Joint Office.   Music used in this episode (from freemusicarchive.org): Moonbeam Kelly - Live on KBOO Radio - 2017 Ketsa - Cartel de Funk

This is a special episode of the podcast, to introduce the new Joint Office of Homeless Services Director Dan Field.  The Joint Office of Homeless Services is a collaborative effort between the city of Portland and Multnomah County. The Office was founded in 2016 and had one director, Marc Jolin, from its founding until 2022. After an extensive hiring process, the office hired a permanent director, Dan Field, who started his new role on April 28th, 2023. Dan joins the office after 30 years in the healthcare field. 

The podcast produced by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, 'Out of the Streets of Portland, has released its fourth episode. The topic for this episode is 'Using Data to End Homelessness'. This episode focuses on one of the most important, time-consuming and altogether under-recognized tasks of the Joint Office of Homeless Services: the collection and analysis of sets of data to help guide and prioritize the work to end homelessness. The Data and Evaluation Team at the Joint Office engages in data collection, visualization and analysis and rigorous quality improvement to help ensure our work is as transparent and responsive as possible. On this episode, we speak with Lori Kelley, the JOHS Planning & Evaluation Program Manager, Beth Sandor with Community Solutions, and Dr. Marisa Zapata, the head of the Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative. And we share the story of Gary, who is now in stable housing and receiving much-needed medical care thanks to Street Roots, the Veterans Administration, the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and the evidence-based Housing First practice.

The topic for this episode is 'Housing First, Not Housing Only' - featuring Portland professor Dr. Marisa Zapata, the President of the Portland Urban League Nkenge Harmon Johnson, and Juha Kahila of the Y-Foundation in Finland, who talks about the effectiveness of the Housing First strategy in Finland. And we share the story of T., who grew up in St. Louis and Portland before experiencing homelessness for over two years. She's now back in stable housing thanks to support from the Urban League, the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and the evidence-based Housing First practice. Timestamps: Nkenge Harmon Johnson: 3:33 - 4:00 T. sharing her story: 4:48 - 16:47 Dr. Marisa Zapata: 18:18 - 28:39 Juha Kahila: 29:00 - 35:48  

                Today on Out of the Streets of Portland, we're going to hear about how our expanding and innovative shelter system works, how people can access shelter, and what it means to expand shelter alongside a Housing First, but not Housing Only practice that centers the people's needs in the re-housing process. We'll speak with Gwyn, who along with her partner, Dan, made it off the streets and into permanent housing after staying for eight months at shelters run by Do Good Multnomah. Since it launched in 2016, the Joint Office of Homeless Services has embarked on an historic expansion of shelter beds in Multnomah County. In 2020, when the COVID-19 global pandemic began, these efforts accelerated. At full capacity, the number of shelter beds supported through the Joint Office  increased from 800 in 2016 to almost 2000 as of January 2023. And hundreds more beds are on the way. We have shelters for adults, people in families, unaccompanied youths, and domestic violence survivors. Shelters are reservation-based, open 24/7, and welcome partners, pets and personal belongings. They offer meals, and some have full kitchens. They also offer laundry access, showers, and case management and housing navigation services. You can find more information about our shelter system, including a map of locations, at https://multco.us/johs.  Over the past two years, seventeen new shelters have opened with support from the Joint Office - including alternative village-style shelters, motel shelters and traditional congregate shelters. . So why have a both-and “housing first” approach that provides shelters while also ensuring people have options so they can move on from shelter — or never have to come to one in the first place?   Research conducted by Portland State's Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative found housing first participants experience higher levels of housing retention and use fewer emergency and justice system resources than people in shelter-only communities.This produces cost savings for hospital emergency departments, a decrease in inpatient hospitalizations, and reduced dependence on the criminal justice system. Cara Kangas works at 2-1-1 Info, which is a free phone number that anyone can call anytime of the day or night to find out about services and get help and support. There is a group of people who have long histories of cycling through the mental health, corrections, and homeless services systems. By aligning those systems to identify and better serve those people – we will save the community money and improve outcomes for those served. Housing specialists work one-on-one with shelter residents to identify and remove barriers (getting new IDs, clearing old debts, etc.). We also work with landlords to request some flexibility and create positive rental relationships, including ongoing mediation or mitigation funding that supports a long-term housing situation. Housing specialists continue working with newly housed families to ensure long-term stability, including rent assistance, workforce assistance and access to needed social services.  

            This inaugural episode spends time with Doll Crain, the intern coordinator at Cultivate Initiatives. Doll oversees work at Cultivate that's funded through the Joint Office and the Supportive Housing Services Measure. She shares her story of how she became homeless after growing up in Portland, what it was like living on the streets, and how she was able to find work and stable housing through Joint Office services. We also spend time this episode with Salinda Mingo, a housing navigator with the Urban League of Portland, who talks about her daily work helping people leave tents for apartments. Mingo says that work — funded and supported by the Joint Office — doesn't stop at moving day. Months after her clients are in housing, she visits them to make sure they have what they need to stay in their new homes.             That conversation is part of a tutorial on something called “Coordinated Access,” which refers to Multnomah County's system for reaching and entering people onto a by-name list specifically for supportive housing. We interview Katie Dineen from the Joint Office to learn more about coordinated access — how it works, how to get on the list, and which organizations are involved.   Music used in this episode (from freemusicarchive.org): Moonbeam Kelly - Live on KBOO Radio - 2017 Ketsa - Cartel de Funk