KEEP PORTLAND CONNECTED
Simple Solutions. Real Change
Digital Connectivity
THE PROBLEM:
1 in 3 people experiencing homelessness haven't used the internet in the past 3 months — 5x the rate of the general population. Job applications, housing waitlists, and benefits are all online. No connection means no access.
THE FIX:
Portland's Multnomah County day centers offer phone charging and wifi. Oregon's Lifeline Program provides free phones to qualifying residents. More access points in high-need areas could close the gap
Document Storage
Lose your ID, birth certificate, or Social Security card and you're locked out of every service that could help you. Encampment sweeps make it worse — belongings are cleared but rarely stored.
THE PROBLEM:
THE FIX:
LA and Austin both run free secure storage programs for unhoused residents. Portland could adopt a similar model — locked bins or digital document lockers — protecting the paperwork that unlocks everything else.
Mail & PO Box Access
THE PROBLEM:
No address means no mail. No mail means missed benefit letters, job offers, and court notices. Getting a state ID requires proof of residency — impossible without a lease or utility bill.
THE FIX:
Transition Projects and JOIN PDX both offer mail services in Portland. Expanding dedicated mail programs would give more unhoused Portlanders a stable address.