PORTLAND, Ore. — The city of Portland is testing out a new way to connect with people living on the streets. Starting Thursday, anyone can call 311 to refer either themselves or someone else to an outreach worker. It’s a needed service in Portland, especially for homeless people like Jessie who aims to stay out of sight yet still wants shelter.
“We try to venture off to where we can’t be found,” Jessie said, as he was picking up old scrap metal at a camp he once stayed at along I-5 in North Portland.
“There are certain people who do want help and for us people that want help; it’s impossible to get any help,” he added.
The city of Portland is trying to change that by launching a new program for people like Jessie to call and connect with outreach workers.
“The goal is to put an outreach worker in front of an unsheltered homeless individual when they’re asking for it and ready to take that next step,” said Hank Smith, a policy and communications advisor for the mayor.
When someone calls 311, they will be asked to answer a few questions. That information will go into a city database where they’ll keep track of who needs help and where they are located. An outreach worker will try and connect with each person within three days of that initial phone call. Homeless people with disabilities will be prioritized.
“I think that’s great. I hope it works. I know once I tell my girlfriend this, she’s going to call tomorrow for sure,” Jessie said.
There are currently six city outreach workers and each can handle about 75 homeless people. The city says they are prepared to grow that team if needed.
“So, will it be enough? It will be enough to help a lot of people. If the demand is more than they can handle, then that’s the right kind of data that helps us build resources to meet the need,” Smith said.
