Homelessness PDX Connection Spring 2022

New study examines tiny pod villages as shelter

The Village Research and How-to Guide released by Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative this spring is one of the first comprehensive studies that examines the effectiveness of tiny pod villages as alternative shelter. The multidisciplinary study included researchers Todd Ferry, School of Architecture; Dr. Marisa Zapata, College of Urban and Public Affairs; and Dr. Greg Townley, Department of Psychology. The research was supported through a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust.

Key findings:

86% of villagers were largely or very satisfied with their pod, 69% were satisfied or very satisfied with their village, 79% were satisfied or very satisfied with their neighborhood.
45% of villagers report food insecurity.
Villages have disproportionately served white men: 17% of villagers in this study identify as BIPOC despite BIPOC residents representing 40% of the unsheltered population in Portland.
69% of villagers said that they should share in decision making at the village.

Full Report and How-to Guide

Information graphic with key findings from the report, which are included in the story.

Alternative to police response shows success

Portland Street Response (PSR) — an alternative first response for people experiencing homelessness or mental health crises — responded to 903 calls in the first year resulting in 0 arrests, 405 service referrals and 9 housing placements, according to its year one evaluation by Dr. Greg Townley, co-founder of Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative.

PSR also met its program goals of reducing the number of calls typically responded to by police; reducing the number of behavioral health and non-emergency calls responded to by police and fire; and reducing the number of non-life-threatening 911 calls that are transported to the ER.

Key findings:

(All from PSR’s service area and during hours of operation)

4% reduction in total calls traditionally responded to by police.
27% reduction in police response on non-emergency welfare checks and dispatches coded as “unwanted persons” calls.
12.4% reduction in fire department activity on behavioral health calls and illegal burn calls.
Only 29 clients (3.2% of all calls) required transport to hospital. Most treated on scene.
PSR clients rated PSR 5 on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the best.

Read the full report

Researchers featured on national podcast

Portland State University researchers took over The Academic Minute podcast March 28 through April 1. The podcast features researchers from colleges and universities around the world discussing their research in two-minute episodes:

Dr. Greg Townley (Psychology, HRAC) discusses the results of an evaluation of the Portland Street Response program.
Dr. Kacy McKinney (Urban Studies and Planning, HRAC) talks about how comics changed the narrative around student housing insecurity and homelessness.
Todd Ferry (Architecture, HRAC) shares the results of a multidisciplinary, community-involved collaboration that produced a "how-to" guide of best practices for improving services and accommodations in tiny pod villages, particularly for members of BIPOC communities.
Dr. Elise Granek (Environmental Science & Management) discusses the need to understand the impacts of human activities on coastal ecosystems.
Dr. Elliott Gall (Mechanical and Materials Engineering) discusses the chemistry of indoor air during wildfire smoke events to help inform building design, operation, and modifications.

Catch up on research talks, interviews & more

Researchers have had a busy spring with multiple talks, interviews and roundtable discussions. Here are a few highlights to catch up on what you missed or to share an event with a colleague:

All Things Considered on OPB — Center Director Dr. Marisa Zapata talked to Host Tiffany Camhi about data and homelessness, including the most recent PIT Count.
Changing the Narrative: Humanities Approaches to Houselessness — Researchers from multiple disciplines talked about the impact of the humanities on their work. Panelists included Dr. Maude Hines, Dr. Kacy McKinney, Todd Ferry, Dr. Marisa Zapata and Kanani Cortez from Street Roots.
Rooted in Community: Best Practices for Tiny Pod Villages — HRAC researchers discuss their work and findings from the first comprehensive study on tiny pod villages as alternative shelter. Researchers include Todd Ferry, Dr. Marisa Zapata, and Dr. Greg Townley.
The Housing Crisis Remains a Top Concern for Oregon Voters: OPB quotes Dr. Marisa Zapata about the role of housing as the only solution to homelessness.
YIMBYtown 2022 — The annual conference included talks on housing that are now posted on its website. The event also featured a panel discussion How Do We Get Home? with guests including Dr. Marisa Zapata. OPB's Think Out Loud will air the talk at the end of May.

We're fans of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)

The NLIHC educates, organizes, and advocates to ensure decent, affordable housing for everyone. The coalition releases the annual gap study that shows the lack of affordable housing by state. This year's report shows that Oregon is among the five worst states in the country for its affordable housing gap. Oregon has 26 affordable rental units for every 100 extremely low-income renter households.

Learn more

Information for researchers, educators, & leaders

The Portland State University Library and the Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative curated a special topics page on homelessness for researchers and the general public.

Learn more about definitions, policy and advocacy groups, research and history on race and homelessness, the effectiveness of housing first, resources for educators, and where to find help.

Visit the library page

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