We’re often asked how we address homelessness beyond our most well-known services—operating three homeless shelters and 19 affordable housing communities. While these services require the most resources in terms of staffing and funding, there are other, equally important programs that we operate which are just as critical in the fight to end homelessness.

From career coaching to financial wellness education to emergency rent and utility assistance, our goal is to help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness—due to eviction, for example—access the skills and resources they need to either prevent becoming homeless entirely, or to remain housed once they’ve secured affordable housing.

Last Friday, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development released a new report that indicates that the rate of homelessness rose 18% from 2023. Although the data is nearly a year out of date, local statistics confirm the rise of homelessness in our region. The combination of stagnant wages, dwindling pandemic assistance, and ballooning housing and utility costs are the primary factors contributing to the increased number of homeless individuals in need of housing.

There are only so many affordable housing units that can be built in a year. With the development of Our Just Future’s newest affordable housing community—the Legin Commons in Southeast Portland near Portland Community College—we will add another 124 affordable apartments to help more people secure housing they can afford. Development is slated to begin in Spring of 2025; we expect to begin receiving residents in 2026. These new units will bring the total of OJF affordable housing units to 1020—roughly 4.5% of the 23,000 that are desperately needed.

These numbers paint a clear picture that while providing emergency shelter and housing are critical components of our community’s housing approach, preventing homelessness must be a part of the larger strategy for solving this crisis in our communities.

The need for more and better interventions to prevent homelessness has never been greater, and at the same time, public funding for such programs face budget and staffing cuts. With an incoming administration that is openly hostile to community care and that favors privatization to the exclusion of social supports, our need for community funding support has also never been greater.

As we enter the final days of 2024, we ask that you please give as generously as your wallet and your heart will allow that we may continue our essential services that improve the quality of life for everyone in our community.

As we prepare to turn the page on the calendar and enter a new year full of change and uncertainty, let’s reaffirm our commitment to helping the most vulnerable in our community access the resources and support they need to build a path out of poverty.