Proposed Oregon legislation would give the state’s homeless $1,000 per month. The recipients could choose to use this money at their own will.
Last month’s bill would have established a People’s Housing Assistance Fund Demonstration Program that would provide 12 monthly thousand-dollar payments for those who are homeless or facing homelessness.
The bill states that payments can be used to pay rent, emergency expenses or food.
The funding would be available to those who rent more than 50% of their monthly income and those who earn less than 60% of the area median income.
The legislation also requires the Portland State University Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative (PSUHRA) to examine how effective long-term cash assistance programs would be among different demographics and households, and take into account other factors, such as domestic violence.
The program would run until January 2026. At that time, the study would have to be presented, according to the bill.
The Post asked for comment immediately from neither state senator Wlnsvey Campos nor state rep. Khanh Pham.
Data shows that as many as 14.650 people in Oregon are homeless.
For many years, the state has faced a long-standing homeless problem. This is especially true in Portland, where 700 tent camps have taken over parts of the city.
After passing a law last year decriminalizing street drug usage, the state has been facing increased drug trafficking and use. Seven months after the law was put into effect, the state Health Authority declared that it had “failed”.