In another example of well meaning but misguided homeless advocacy policies, Portland is seeing a dramatic increase in suffering and death – at much higher rates than the rest of the country that is seeing declines. A report from the Multnomah county medical examiner shows homeless deaths have been increasing at a dramatic rate year over year – despite some of the strongest implementation and policies that spending millions in free tents, permit free camping, wide distribution of free ‘harm reduction’ drug use kits, legalization of drug use, suspension of prosecution for drug crimes, and open door offers of free treatment.

It turns out that after a decade of homeless advocacy groups encouraging these policies, they are actually increasing deaths at an alarming and clear rate far higher rates than even imprisonment ever did. The death rates can be mapped almost 1-1 with policy implementation. The end result is dramatically more suffering and deaths.

Which should be no surprise. Activists and advocacy groups are not medical or scientific groups. They’re simply (at best) social workers with a particular agenda – many without any training or background in the causes they are behind. It’s probably time we started questioning the policies and money spent by activists and advocacy groups just like we do the proposed policies of politicians. If someone truly cares about the plight of homeless, it’s our duty to question and hold these groups accountable for the deaths the policies are causing.

All of this also in spite of a massive new homeless income tax – proving once again that it’s not a money or compassion problem – but a leadership problem.

Data available in the annual Domicile Unknown Multnomah County Health Department report.