The city responded to an increase in homeless deaths by intensifying encampment sweeps and adding emergency shelter at the expense of permanent housing. Experts say this has perpetuated the problem.
Portlander here… article is trying to lay the blame on homeless services but completely ignores what else was going on:
FTA:
"By late spring 2021, the city committed to a new strategy that then-Mayor Ted Wheeler said would “reprioritize public health and safety among homeless Portlanders,” ultimately allocating $1.3 billion by the end of 2024.
But although the city spent roughly $200,000 per homeless resident throughout that time, deaths of homeless people recorded in the county quadrupled"
What was REALLY happening was State Ballot Measure 110 took effect in February, 2021, decriminalizing drugs. What then happened was an explosion of open air drug markets and fentanyl overdoses.
“The number of unintentional overdose deaths related to illicitly manufactured fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2022, increasing from 223 to 843 overdose fatalities. (Data source: CDC SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data). In 2022, illicitly manufactured fentanyl contributed to 65.5% of all overdose deaths in Oregon, making it the most prevalent illicit drug involved in overdose fatalities.1”
"during calendar year 2023, at least 456 people died without a home of their own.
The number, significantly more than the 315 deaths reported in 2022, is the highest since Multnomah County began its analysis — reflecting what health officials believe is the height of the fentanyl crisis that swept our community in 2023.
Of the 456 deaths, 251 were linked to fentanyl, roughly triple the number reported in 2022 and a clear sign of the synthetic opioid’s deadly impact. Overdose deaths in 2023 overall climbed to 282 people, more than double the 123 deaths reported in 2022."
Measure 110 would finally be repealed in September of 2024.
M110 didn’t drive more overdose deaths. This increase echoes exactly what was happening around the rest of the country with fentanyl exploding on the scene.
Furthermore drug dealing and public drug use were not decriminalized, but the shitty PPB wanted to stick it to the public by not enforcing the law. State Dems also kneecapped the bill by not distributing any of the treatment funding and instead held onto it until they could repeal the bill, against the will of the people, and then redistribute all that money to lazy and corrupt police departments.
I would say this is definitely on the Portland government when they spent $200k on each homeless person with absolutely nothing to show for it in the end. I’m sure that money is lining the pockets of political donors and sleazy companies who treat tax dollars like their own personal piggybank.
Portlander here… article is trying to lay the blame on homeless services but completely ignores what else was going on:
FTA:
"By late spring 2021, the city committed to a new strategy that then-Mayor Ted Wheeler said would “reprioritize public health and safety among homeless Portlanders,” ultimately allocating $1.3 billion by the end of 2024.
But although the city spent roughly $200,000 per homeless resident throughout that time, deaths of homeless people recorded in the county quadrupled"
What was REALLY happening was State Ballot Measure 110 took effect in February, 2021, decriminalizing drugs. What then happened was an explosion of open air drug markets and fentanyl overdoses.
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/preventionwellness/substanceuse/opioids/pages/fentanylfacts.aspx
“The number of unintentional overdose deaths related to illicitly manufactured fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2022, increasing from 223 to 843 overdose fatalities. (Data source: CDC SUDORS Dashboard: Fatal Drug Overdose Data). In 2022, illicitly manufactured fentanyl contributed to 65.5% of all overdose deaths in Oregon, making it the most prevalent illicit drug involved in overdose fatalities.1”
https://multco.us/news/multnomah-county-releases-2023-domicile-unknown-report-homeless-deaths
"during calendar year 2023, at least 456 people died without a home of their own.
The number, significantly more than the 315 deaths reported in 2022, is the highest since Multnomah County began its analysis — reflecting what health officials believe is the height of the fentanyl crisis that swept our community in 2023.
Of the 456 deaths, 251 were linked to fentanyl, roughly triple the number reported in 2022 and a clear sign of the synthetic opioid’s deadly impact. Overdose deaths in 2023 overall climbed to 282 people, more than double the 123 deaths reported in 2022."
Measure 110 would finally be repealed in September of 2024.
M110 didn’t drive more overdose deaths. This increase echoes exactly what was happening around the rest of the country with fentanyl exploding on the scene.
Furthermore drug dealing and public drug use were not decriminalized, but the shitty PPB wanted to stick it to the public by not enforcing the law. State Dems also kneecapped the bill by not distributing any of the treatment funding and instead held onto it until they could repeal the bill, against the will of the people, and then redistribute all that money to lazy and corrupt police departments.
I would say this is definitely on the Portland government when they spent $200k on each homeless person with absolutely nothing to show for it in the end. I’m sure that money is lining the pockets of political donors and sleazy companies who treat tax dollars like their own personal piggybank.