PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – A new report on homelessness among LGBTQ+ people in Portland says the city is failing queer folks when it comes to getting them support and shelter.
Two years in the making, the report comes from advocates who spoke with local queer and transgender community members about their experiences in the city while analyzing data to make new policy recommendations.
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A coalition of nonprofits like Basic Rights Oregon , Pride Northwest and the Cascade AIDS Project say that despite Portland’s gay-friendly national reputation, its community may not be well equipped to handle an influx of folks looking to relocate here.
“A lot of people are coming here because they want freedom,” said Faera, who identifies as transgender and Black. “But the system is not built for us.”
First, the report found data on homelessness among LGBTQ+ Portlanders is incomplete. For example: Point-in-time counts of people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County surveyed gender identity, but not sexual orientation.