Homelessness

The JPR news team gathers for a roundtable discussion of the top news stories they've worked on this week.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released its annual report assessing homelessness across the country. California and Oregon continue to have large numbers of people without permanent housing.

In June, the nation’s highest court ruled in favor of the City of Grants Pass, deciding that cities could impose criminal penalties without running afoul of constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment.

City leaders around the state want more authority to remove encampments they deem problematic. Homeless advocates say it’s a distraction from real solutions.

Gov. Newsom launched an ambitious program that uses Medi-Cal to help Californians access housing, healthy food and more. Now, its fate is in the hands of President-Elect Trump.

This year, a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court gave cities the power to clear homeless encampments. In Yreka, authorities decided to wait until those removed had a place to go. They’re still waiting.

Thousands of people statewide have been at least temporarily housed through Project Turnkey, an Oregon program that turned $125 million into nearly 1,400 new shelter beds, mostly by buying and converting existing hotels and other vacant buildings into shelters.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's proposed two-year budget boost spending on three of her core issues — even if it crowds out some other priorities.

Many California cities offer their homeless residents one-way bus tickets to other places.

Looking at the data, it’s mostly bad news for the state of housing across Oregon, from a lack of supply to an increasing homeless population. And in recent years, the median home price has increased seven-fold compared to wages.

Homeless Californians face many barriers to casting a ballot, even in elections that affect their lives. Some counties and nonprofits are trying to boost turnout.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden met with high school students in Phoenix Thursday to take their hard-pressing questions on the environment, education and more.