Portland Grapples with 61% Surge in Homelessness Over Two Years

Portland, Oregon, is contending with a significant escalation in its homelessness crisis, with the tri-county area experiencing a 61% increase in its unhoused population over the past two years. This stark reality is often reflected in public observations, as noted by local social media user ghost Tara Faul, who tweeted, "> Sleeping standing up - a chronic human condition #portland." This sentiment underscores the visible and pervasive nature of the crisis impacting the city's residents.

According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count conducted by Portland State University’s Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative, 12,037 individuals were experiencing homelessness in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. This figure represents a substantial rise from the 7,482 people surveyed in 2023, despite ongoing efforts by city and county officials to address the issue. Multnomah County alone reported 1,126 more people in emergency shelters in 2025 compared to 2023.

The crisis is largely attributed to a severe housing affordability shortage, compounded by economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, high eviction rates, and a lack of adequate mental health and addiction services. Oregon also faced the highest percentage of unsheltered families experiencing homelessness among major cities in 2023, at 74%. The issue disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Portland has been under an official "state of emergency" regarding homelessness for eight years, with city leaders acknowledging the situation as a "humanitarian catastrophe." In response, the city has committed millions to programs, including behavioral health outreach and increasing shelter capacity. However, experts from Portland State University's Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative emphasize that while increased services may lead to higher reported counts by reaching more people, significant progress in addressing the housing crisis is crucial to ending homelessness.