PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Downtown Portland’s struggles with homelessness remain highly visible, but new data shows the crisis does not affect all residents equally — particularly people of color.
The findings are part of KATU’s ongoing series, “A Year in Downtown,” which tracks changes in a section of the city bounded by West Burnside Street and Southwest Harvey Milk Street, and between Southwest 11th Avenue and Broadway. The area has long been considered a hotspot for homelessness and drug activity, making it a key indicator of broader downtown conditions.
Homelessness continues to shape daily life in the neighborhood. During a recent visit to the North Park Blocks in February, a man threatened a KATU news crew. Moments later, near the Cart Blocks, another man approached the crew and behaved unpredictably. Encounters like these underscore the ongoing challenges tied to homelessness in the area…