A Portland State University study released in March found better outcomes for homeless people who stayed in alternative shelters, including village-style shelters and motels converted into shelters, compared to traditional shelters.
Portland Street Response (PSR) has experienced a surge in demand following the first response team's citywide expansion in April 2022. In the six-month window following the expansion, PSR workers responded to 717 percent more calls than they did during the same time period in 2021, according to a Portland State University study released Thursday. While the demand following the expansion illustrates the city's clear need for the alternative emergency response program, it also exposed cracks.