Our Stories: Mapping a Path Forward
Mapping a path forward: Oregon’s commitment to ending street homelessness
At the heart of this effort are mapping sessions, a key tool for identifying gaps and opportunities in local homeless response systems. These sessions bring together community leaders, service providers, and individuals with lived experience to analyze how resources are structured and deployed.
“These sessions create a shared language and understanding of what it takes to rehouse people,” said Jonathan Danforth, a consultant who is leading these mapping sessions with housing organizations in Oregon. “They help communities see how they can better align their work toward the common goal of ending homelessness.”
Each mapping session typically spans two days and delves into three critical stages of the rehousing process:
- Initial Contact: Where individuals experiencing homelessness first encounter services, such as through street outreach or shelters
- Housing Problem-Solving: The actions and resources available to help individuals move toward stable housing
- Stable Housing Options: The long-term solutions available for individuals transitioning out of homelessness
By examining these stages, communities gain a clearer picture of their system’s strengths and bottlenecks. In Clatsop County, for example, mapping revealed strong initial points of contact and several resources available for housing problem-solving but a dramatic shortage of stable housing options. These insights help communities prioritize investments and create more balanced systems.
The success of these mapping sessions depends on diverse representation, including local government leaders, subject matter experts, service providers, and individuals who have experienced homelessness. This inclusive approach fosters collaboration and ensures all voices are heard.
“When you bring everyone into the same room, you realize that while people face different challenges, they’re all working toward the same goal,” Danforth said. “The process helps shift the focus from competition over resources to collective problem-solving.”
The sessions also identify broader structural and policy barriers that impact rehousing efforts. By addressing these barriers, communities can create more effective and sustainable systems.
Oregon’s commitment to addressing homelessness has been bolstered by an influx of funding from the governor’s executive order. These resources have enabled communities to scale up rehousing efforts and focus on unsheltered populations.
“We have an incredible opportunity to expand this work and rehouse more people directly from the streets,” Danforth said. “The next step is to develop long-term strategies with clear, measurable outcomes so we can ensure these improvements are sustained.”
The progress made through mapping sessions and other initiatives demonstrates Oregon’s potential to make lasting change. By equipping communities with tools and resources to address unsheltered homelessness, the state is building a framework for a future where everyone has access to safe and stable housing.
“With the level of investment we’re seeing and the collaboration across state and local levels, I believe Oregon can end street homelessness,” Danforth said. “The focus now is on aligning our efforts and maintaining momentum.”
Through strategic planning, collaborative partnerships, and a shared vision, Oregon is paving the way for a more compassionate and effective approach to homelessness. These efforts represent a crucial step forward in ensuring that every Oregonian has a place to call home.
Watch and read more on how the governor’s homelessness emergency response is transforming lives at our-stories.