Increasing homelessness rates affect the community of Oregon. What are the causes for unsheltered students and youth in the Oregon community? Students from West Salem High School share ideas on how they would change this problem for the better. 

Throughout the years the state of Oregon has struggled with the problem of homelessness. An estimated 22.5% increase in rates of homelessness from 2023 to 2022 shows the severity of this problem from the Central Oregon Daily News report.

Many causes have been identified in hopes of finding more solutions. A huge cause includes the lack of development in housing for Oregon’s growth in population. With the costs of houses skyrocketing, according to data collected in October 2023 from the Oregon Housing Market 2023 Report made by Hannah Griffith, the median home sale price in Oregon was $492,700.

This represents a 3.5% increase compared to October 2021 in sales price. Because of this, affordable houses for those working minimum-wage jobs are scarce. 

In Salem, Oregon, from West Salem High School,  freshman Sarah Jollo shares her opinion on some of the causes.“I think that it is really hard for people to find good housing that they can afford and there’s a lot of like mental illness, drug-related issues with people who are on the streets, so they can’t find a way to get out of it because they’re not offered much help.” With mental illnesses also playing a cause in the problem, help is not always offered that is free or affordable for those who need it. 

What most don’t realize is there are around 1,150 unsheltered and unaccompanied youth in Oregon, some as young as 12 years old, according to the Statesman Journal. Another report made by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development states these are youth without a parent or guardian to ensure safety, health, and happiness. 

In a 2018-19 study, the Statesman Journal found that around 1,160 students from the Salem-Keizer Public Schools district were identified as experiencing homelessness, making up an estimated 2.78% of the overall student body. 

Society has assumed that these youth are unsheltered due to running away from home or rebelling, but there are many other reasons for being on the streets that aren’t assumed at first glance. Various reasons include poverty, drug/alcohol-addicted parent(s), physical/ and or sexual abuse in the home, unemployed parents or guardians, or the youth being thrown out due to their sexual orientation. Sometimes even the youth needs help due to mental illness or substance usage/abuse.  

Your friends or other students at school may be facing these problems with or without your knowledge. Being a friend or supporter of these people can sometimes change the outcome. “I feel like we need to help bring attention to the problem…and make sure that the people who need help get the help that they need,” says Sarah. Raising attention or finding ways to donate or help support solutions for homelessness is something we shouldn’t disregard. No matter the reason, no youth should be unsheltered and homeless.