PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY and HOMELESSNESS RESEARCH & ACTION COLLABORATIVE release study

The substantial VILLAGE RESEARCH & HOW-TO GUIDE surveys the successes and shortcomings of six existing alternative shelter villages in the Portland Metro area. The work is scholarly and enlightening. From the introduction:

The design of this document aims to provide an accessible and nuanced picture of villages through a profile of each village, results of surveys with villagers, a how-to-guide of best practices for the creation of future villages, and portraits of stakeholders involved in village efforts. While unable to fully capture the full story of each village or list each stakeholder, it endeavors to respectfully acknowledge the work of countless people engaged in the act of village-making and learn from these efforts. This document is not intended to be read as advocacy for or against the creation of new villages, but aims to provide a critical understanding of the village model toward better outcomes for those deciding to undertake the creation or support of future villages. The solution to homelessness is permanent housing and supportive services. While we collectively strive toward providing permanent housing for all, we hope that this document will contribute to dialogue and efforts aimed at supporting our neighbors experiencing homelessness in the near-term.