Portland report maps complex journeys through homelessness

A comprehensive study published by Portland State University and the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health delves into the complex journeys of individuals experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. Titled "Without a Map: A Lived Experience Study of the Paths People Create Through Homelessness," this second part of the Pathways study builds upon survey findings from April 2026 that showed 98% of participants desire permanent housing.

The research, co-designed with 29 in-depth interviews conducted with people who have experienced homelessness, reveals that navigating the homeless system involves much more than simply accepting a service. Participants must balance staying safe, meeting basic needs, understanding a convoluted service system, preserving relationships, advocating for themselves, and overcoming long delays and repeated setbacks.

Hidden homelessness, such as couch surfing, vehicle living, and temporary hotel stays, often precedes becoming unhoused. Bereavement was identified as a significant factor, with over 30% of interviewees noting that a loved one's death contributed to their housing loss. Once unhoused, participants frequently become ensnared in a cycle of continuous housing attempts thwarted by systemic bottlenecks, missing identification, changing case managers, and unreturned calls.

One interviewee described the current service framework as one that rewards maintenance rather than transformation.

Administrative requirements and rigid program thresholds often create a mismatch between individuals' immediate needs and available assistance. Participants reported being denied services due to conditions not fitting exact priority definitions, forcing them to navigate fragmented systems without clear guidance.

While the report acknowledges the importance of numbers, charts, and data, it emphasizes that remembering the human aspect of homelessness should be the priority. Participants highlighted that successful pathways out of homelessness often result from the right combination of support, relationships, and opportunities at the right time.

The TREES committee, comprised entirely of individuals with lived experience of homelessness, outlined six core priorities for action in the report. These include diverse affordable housing, prevention, coordinated services, protection from displacement, community support, and leadership from people with lived experience. The report underscores that no single organization can build the path to ending homelessness alone, as people are trying to navigate housing, healthcare, and other systems that often lack proper integration.

To create functional and humane pathways out of homelessness, the report calls for better collaboration between these systems, rather than expecting people in crisis to find their own way without a map.