Overview:
This report summarizes findings from a set of interviews designed to inform the design of Portland's proposed Street Response pilot. The people surveyed were overwhelmingly positive, supportive, and excited about the Portland Street Response as an alternative to police response. Numerous individuals emphasized the importance of respecting human dignity and treating people who are unhoused as human beings with a variety of complex life circumstances and needs.
Some of the most illuminating information from the survey comes from reading the experiences of those living unhoused, in their own words. It shows how critical it is to find the right response to the right situation at the right time.