Portland nonprofits that work with the homeless are already looking ahead to November to find ways to encourage and make it easier for them to vote.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Four of Multnomah County’s five commission seats are up for election Tuesday in Oregon’s primary, which could lead to big changes in how county leaders approach homelessness policy , substance abuse and behavioral health.
Homeless Portlanders who spoke to KGW before the election said they want to see county officials focus on permanent housing and drug services — but voting isn’t easy and doesn’t is not a top priority for many of them.
“I’m homeless and I have a lot of other things to take care of,” said Steven, who, instead of voting, spent his morning sweeping dirt from a sidewalk in Old Town after having participated in his methadone treatment program. block. “I signed up. I just didn’t make it there.”
“Voting isn’t really a priority…Why would I want to give back to a community that doesn’t seem to want to help me?” added Jeremy, who is also homeless in Old Town.
“I guess I don’t know how to get my information out there like this and get the opportunity,” said Dominic, another homeless person.
The vacant seats on the county commission are positions that will help decide how money will be spent on homeless services. Gerod — who is homeless and also didn’t get a chance to vote in this election — said he hopes elected officials focus on investing in more permanent housing.
“I see a lot of modules going around — it doesn’t really look permanent,” he said. “Right now it’s quite difficult for me because I would have liked to speak with my voice, but I’m just unstable right now.”
Also on the ballot is the race for Multnomah County District Attorney, a position that provides the power to prosecute drug dealers and has major impacts on public drug use in the inner city.
“If I want to smoke dope on the street corner, let me smoke dope. As long as there are no kids around,” argued Dominic, who was using drugs Tuesday morning at the corner of Northwest Everett Street and 3rd Avenue.
“If there are no penalties, they will continue to do what they want, that’s the truth,” added Emiliano, who recently moved to Portland.
It’s clear that change is needed on Portland’s streets, but homeless people like Steven said they’re not looking to local government to solve the problem.
“To tell whether a politician is going to help us or not, you have to be as lucky as tossing a coin in the air and guessing heads or tails,” he said.
Some nonprofits that work with the homeless are looking ahead to the November election and applying to become unofficial ballot drop-off sites to make it easier for homeless people to vote.
