Unhoused Individuals Want Permanent Housing, Face Steep Financial Barriers
We are excited to highlight new research featuring Assistant Professor Kathleen Conte, who teaches in the MPH Health Management and Policy and Health Systems and Policy PhD programs. Conte is the lead investigator of a newly released report prepared by faculty from PSU’s Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative (HRAC) and the OHSU‑PSU School of Public Health for the Multnomah County Homeless Services Department. The study was also recently featured by KGW News, helping bring broader public attention to its findings. You can watch and read the KGW coverage.
Titled “Findings from Surveys of People with Recent Experience of Homelessness in Multnomah County”, the Pathways study aims to answer a critical question: What is the most effective way to support people experiencing homelessness? The report draws on nearly 10 months of engagement with 541 individuals experiencing homelessness. Importantly, the study is coproduced by the TREES committee – a group of people with lived experience who collaborated for 2 years to bring this project to fruition, and to make sure the research questions and findings reflect what matters to those currently experiencing homelessness. The findings underscore the importance of listening to those most affected and provide evidence‑based insights to inform more effective policies and services, from housing access to addressing financial instability. A second report examining specific “Pathways” people navigate will be released this summer.