Five Principles
A Human‑First Approach to Addressing Homelessness
A clear, coordinated, and compassionate framework for helping people move from the street into stability, recovery, and
productive lives in Multnomah County.
The Five Principles outline a human‑first, outcomes‑driven approach to addressing homelessness in Multnomah
County. They call for unified leadership, coordinated outreach, whole‑person care, evidence‑based prevention, and the protection of our shared public spaces.
This framework represents a fundamental shift in how budgets, policies, and programs are structured replacing
fragmented efforts with a single, accountable system that leads with compassion and measurable results.
Theory Of Change
We advocate a human-first approach recognizing that all who are homeless experience trauma, but all have the capacity to change, including, in many cases, supporting themselves without subsidy. This requires a fundamental shift in budgets, policies, and programming.
1. Unified leadership
A single entity with professional leadership to supervise and coordinate all activities addressing homelessness in
Multnomah County, utilizing an integrated methodology and global budget.
2. Outreach
Consistent policies, procedures and data input must be implemented across all outreach efforts. At first contact,
outreach workers should introduce individuals to a Service Coordinator Specialist (SCS) to identify their needs, the
services and programs available to them, and to chart a path to recovery.
3. Treat the Whole Person
Both treatment and housing in a comprehensive approach are necessary for success.
A list (by name) outlining each client’s needs and tracking their path towards recovery from first outreach through each
later contact, available to and used by all service providers, as a key step toward development of an Individual
Recovery Plan.
Build a seamless continuum of services to provide detox, mental illness stabilization, physical shelter, transitional
shelter, permanent housing, and employment assistance, matching the individual with the level and type of service they need at each step of recovery without timing gaps between the end of one service and the beginning of the next.
Governmental, church or nonprofit organizations should utilize outcome-based contracts to award funding, including metrics that address quality of care, the number served, cost per person, and the path to move individuals to recovery, and they should review each contract annually based on the agreed outcomes to determine whether funding should
continue.
4. Prevent Homelessness from Occurring
Use evidence-based programs to prevent people from falling into homelessness and outcome-based evaluation of such
programs.
5. Protect the Commons
Respectful enforcement of laws against unsanctioned camping, drug and alcohol use, emphasizing deflection,
diversion, and mandatory referral to services.
Minimize the impact on the general public’s safety and quality of life.
Implement court-mandated drug withdrawal programs.
Modify civil commitment laws and guidelines to ensure that individuals who are unable to care for themselves are not
left untreated on the street.
Failure to protect the Commons results in businesses closing and taxpayers moving away, leaving less money for
homeless programs and other government services.
Endorsing The Five Principles
The Five Principles offer a clear, coordinated, and compassionate path forward for Multnomah County. Endorsing this
framework signals your support for a system that treats people with dignity, aligns resources under unified leadership,
and ensures accountability for real outcomes.
Join community members, organizations, and leaders who believe Multnomah County can and must do better.
ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSING THE FIVE PRINCIPLES
Unified Leadership, Lasting Impact
The Five Principles creates a coordinated, trauma-informed system where every person has the capacity to recover when supported. By aligning leaders and partners around shared accountability, we transform fragmented services into seamless pathways to recovery. Our approach bridges compassion with measurable outcomes, ensuring Portland’s communities receive consistent, dignified support.
