[NOPO]

We need housing first. It works. Finland has tried it to wide success. They’ve basically eliminated homelessness. Housing should be offered with services, but refusing anything beyond maintenance of housing should not be a barrier for having a home. Mental illness and addiction should not be a barrier to being housed. Housing first has been shown to be cheaper than the triage we currently implement.

Further, I want to address the idea that we need more police in Portland. There’s direct evidence of white supremacy, fascism, racism, and homophobia in the force. These are people who directly interact with our most vulnerable neighbors. We need more of the Portland Street Response, social workers, and mental health workers. Not more cops; they should be put under heavy investigation to clean up shop.