Portland pilot program puts homeless in residents' backyards

[Bo-4]

This is a pretty cool concept - wouldn't do it if i had kids, but ...


PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Faced with an intractable homeless problem, officials in Portland are thinking inside the box.

A handful of homeless families will soon move into tiny, government-constructed modular units in the backyards of willing homeowners. Under the pilot program taking effect this summer, the homeowners will take over the heated, fully plumbed tiny houses in five years and can use them for rental income.

The project, called A Place for You, is believed to be the first in the nation to recruit stable residents to address a homeless crisis that's gotten so bad the city last year declared a state of emergency and made it legal to sleep on the street.

Portland has an affordable rental shortage of 24,000 units and nearly 4,000 people sleep on the street, in a shelter or in transitional housing each night. Residents just passed a $260 million housing bond, but it will be two years before those units are ready, said Mary Li, director of Multnomah County's new Idea Lab, which developed the concept.

MAS:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ef4f9...ents-backyards

[Tahuyaman]

The compassion demonstrated by liberals is impressive. They think it's showing great compassion by allowing them to live in the equivalent of a tool shed in their back yard.

This is reminiscent to the time that they tried to teach them how to prepare a decent meal from scraps found in a restaurant dumpster.

[Bob the Slob]

Nice someone is looking out for the homeless. I knew a guy who worked hard to help the homeless. He would sure love this.

[Bo-4]

Nice someone is looking out for the homeless. I knew a guy who worked hard to help the homeless. He would sure love this.

Yep - I lived in Portland all through the 90s and the homeless problem was bad then with a lot of folks living under downtown bridges.. hear it's getting worse.

Apparently Tahuyaman failed to read the story - not a bad deal compared to the Burnside Bridge.

Under the pilot program taking effect this summer, the homeowners will take over the heated, fully plumbed tiny houses in five years and can use them for rental income.

[Bob the Slob]

Yep - I lived in Portland all through the 90s and the homeless problem was bad then with a lot of folks living under downtown bridges.. hear it's getting worse.

Apparently Tahuyaman failed to read the story - not a bad deal compared to the Burnside Bridge.

Under the pilot program taking effect this summer, the homeowners will take over the heated, fully plumbed tiny houses in five years and can use them for rental income.

I love the concept....it's good for both the homeless and the home owners.

[nathanbforrest45]

Nice someone is looking out for the homeless. I knew a guy who worked hard to help the homeless. He would sure love this.

You can buy these sheds at Lowes or Home Depot for a couple of thousand dollars. He should put two or three in his back yard to provide housing for the homeless.

[nathanbforrest45]

Yep - I lived in Portland all through the 90s and the homeless problem was bad then with a lot of folks living under downtown bridges.. hear it's getting worse.

Apparently Tahuyaman failed to read the story - not a bad deal compared to the Burnside Bridge.

Under the pilot program taking effect this summer, the homeowners will take over the heated, fully plumbed tiny houses in five years and can use them for rental income.

Who pays for it up front? The city has no money, it has to steal it from taxpayers. And they they turn around and give it to homeowners?

[Bo-4]

I love the concept....it's good for both the homeless and the home owners.

Yep, if it works we might see other cities pick up on the concept.

A homeless person in rainy Portland would be happy as hell to have a roof over their head with full plumbing and heating.

And in 5 years, the homeowners could probably rent the things for $300-400 a month or so.

[nathanbforrest45]

Four homes for $360,000.00 plus donations????? $90,000.00 for tool sheds????????????????????????

What is wrong with people?

Housing officials are still ironing out many details, but they will buy the first four modular units with $365,000 in government money and a charitable donation. The 200-square-foot units under consideration will be large enough to house an adult and one — or possibly two — children, Li said.

[Bo-4]

Who pays for it up front? The city has no money, it has to steal it from taxpayers. And they they turn around and give it to homeowners?

Combination of grant money and donations.

Might have cost you a penny - i call that a bargain compared to the strain they put on rescue missions and such.

Trump will probably end it and send these folks back under bridges - not to worry ;-)