239 NW 13th Ave., #205 Portland, OR 97209 503.220.0575 www.dhmresearch.com October 5, 2017 To: John Tierney, KGW News From: John Horvick, DHM Research Re: Portland Homeless Survey, #00638 INTRODUCTION & METHODOLOGY From September 27 to October 4, 2017, DHM Research conducted an online survey of Portland residents for KGW News. The purpose of the survey was to assess their opinions about homeless and tent camping in the city. Research Methodology: The online survey consisted of 300 respondents and took approximately 15 minutes to complete. This is a sufficient sample size to assess residents’ opinions generally and to review findings by multiple subgroups. Respondents were invited to participant though a professionally maintained online panel. Individuals “opt in” to the panel and are invited to participate in the survey based on their demographic profile to ensure a sample that is representative of the adult population in Portland. Quotas were set by age, gender, race, education level and area of the city to match the US Census figures. In gathering responses, a variety of quality control measures were employed, including questionnaire pretesting and validation. Statement of Limitations: Any sampling of opinions or attitudes is subject to a margin of error. The margin of error is a standard statistical calculation that represents differences between the sample and total population at a confidence interval, or probability, calculated to be 95%. This means that there is a 95% probability that the sample taken for this study would fall within the stated margin of error if compared with the results achieved from surveying the entire population. The margin of error for this survey is ±5.7%. DHM Research Background: DHM Research has been providing opinion research and consultation throughout the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the United States for 40 years. The firm is nonpartisan and independent and specializes in research projects to support public policy making. KGW News Homeless Survey N=300 Portland residents 15 minutes; margin of error ±5.7% DHM Research #00638 Thank you for participating in this survey. We are interested in hearing your opinions about the city where you live. We think you’ll find the topics interesting, and the results will be shared with community leaders so that they better understand your concerns. SCREENERS 1. Do you live in the official city limits of any of the following cities? Response Category Portland, Oregon Vancouver, Washington Beaverton, Oregon Tigard, Oregon Gresham, Oregon I do not live in any of these cities n=300 100% ------ These questions ensure our sample is representative of the population. 2. In which area of Portland do you live? Response Category Northwest Southwest North Northeast, west of 82nd Ave Northeast, east of 82nd Ave Southeast, west of 82nd Ave Southeast, east of 82nd Ave West Inner East Outer East 3. In what year were you born? (Open) Response Category Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-54 55-64 65+ DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 n=300 11% 14% 8% 13% 15% 19% 20% 25% 40% 35% n=300 0% 11% 24% 36% 15% 14% 2 4. Do you describe your gender as: Response Category Male Female Another gender n=300 49% 49% 1% 5. Which of the following best describes your race or ethnicity? (allow for multiple responses) Response Category n=300 African 1% Asian/Pacific Islander 10% Black/African American 3% Hispanic/Latino 8% Middle Eastern/North African 1% Native American/American Indian 2% Slavic n=0 White/Caucasian 80% Other 3% White only Another race 75% 25% 6. What is the highest level of education that you have completed? Response Category n=300 Less than high school 3% High school diploma 23% Some college / 2-year degree 32% College degree / 4-year degree 27% Graduate/professional school 15% 7. Are you registered with a political party? Response Category Democrat Republican Non-affiliated Some other party I am not registered to vote n=300 53% 9% 25% 9% 4% 8. All things considered, would you say that Portland is headed in the right direction, or are things off on the wrong track? Response Category n=300 Right direction 41% Wrong track 44% Don’t know 16% 9. What is the one most important issue in Portland that you would like your local elected leaders to do something about? (Open) Responses provided in separate verbatim file. DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 3 Please indicate if you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the following issues in Portland. (Randomize) Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Don’t Response Category satisfied satisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied know 10. Cost of housing 3% 9% 23% 62% 3% 11. Traffic congestion 1% 10% 33% 49% 6% 12. Road maintenance 3% 28% 32% 32% 5% 13. Quality of K-12 public schools 4% 33% 23% 17% 22% 14. Crime and public safety 3% 43% 33% 16% 4% 15. Availability of good jobs 9% 39% 28% 12% 12% 16. Access to health care for low 13% 31% 26% 16% 14% income people 17. Shelter for people who are 2% 8% 30% 55% 5% homeless 18. From the same list of issues, which do you think is the most urgent for Portland’s elected leaders to do something about? (Randomize) Response Category n=300 Cost of housing 37% Shelter for people who are homeless 25% Crime and public safety 11% Traffic congestion 9% Quality of K-12 public schools 6% Availability of good jobs 5% Access to health care for low income 5% people Road maintenance 4% How safe would you feel walking by yourself at night in the following places? (Randomize) Very Somewhat Not too Not at all Response Category safe safe safe safe 19. Downtown 8% 45% 29% 15% 20. Old Town/Chinatown 3% 25% 33% 29% 21. Springwater Corridor 4% 13% 25% 32% 22. Your neighborhood 37% 44% 12% 6% Don’t know 3% 10% 26% 1% 23. In some areas of the city individuals or groups will sit on the sidewalk outside of businesses asking pedestrians or customers for money. Which of the following best describes how safe you would feel if you came in contact with this behavior? Response Category n=300 Very safe 13% Somewhat safe 43% Not too safe 30% Not at all safe 14% Don’t know 1% DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 4 24. In some areas of the city individuals or groups will sit on the sidewalk outside of businesses with their belongings and pets. Which of the following best describes how safe you would feel if you came in contact with this behavior? Response Category n=300 Very safe 12% Somewhat safe 40% Not too safe 31% Not at all safe 16% Don’t know 2% The following questions are about people experiencing homelessness in Portland and the ways that the City has responded. 25. When you think of homelessness in Portland, what are the first words or thoughts that come your mind? (Open) Responses provided in separate verbatim file. Indicate how much you feel each of the following emotions when you think about or see others who are experiencing homelessness in Portland. (Randomize) Very Not too Don’t Response Category much Somewhat much Not at all know 26. Sad 45% 38% 11% 4% 3% 27. Fear 13% 35% 36% 16% 1% 28. Anger 17% 34% 24% 19% 7% 29. Compassion 30% 45% 17% 5% 2% 30. Confusion 6% 35% 31% 26% 3% 31. Embarrassment 12% 33% 25% 26% 5% Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with how the following people and groups in Portland are addressing homelessness in the city? (Randomize) Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Don’t Response Category satisfied satisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied know 32. Ted Wheeler, City of 4% 14% 30% 27% 25% Portland Mayor 33. Deborah Kafoury, 2% 14% 27% 19% 38% Multnomah County Chair 34. Portland Police Bureau 5% 26% 30% 26% 14% 35. Portland’s business 3% 24% 30% 22% 20% community 36. Local news organizations 4% 27% 33% 18% 17% 37. Local social service 6% 35% 24% 16% 19% providers DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 5 38. Do think homelessness is a bigger or smaller problem in Portland than it is in other American cities of about the same size? Response Category n=300 Much bigger problem in Portland 31% Somewhat bigger problem in Portland 49% Somewhat smaller problem in 8% Portland Much smaller problem in Portland 1% Don’t know 10% 39. Do think homelessness is a bigger or smaller problem in Portland than it is in other cities along the I-5 corridor from Los Angles to Seattle? Response Category n=300 Much bigger problem in Portland 22% Somewhat bigger problem in Portland 44% Somewhat smaller problem in 17% Portland Much smaller problem in Portland 2% Don’t know 15% Over the following periods, would you say that the number of people experiencing homelessness in Portland has increased, stayed about the same, or decreased? Stayed about Don’t Response Category Increased the same Decreased know 40. Six months 59% 32% 2% 8% 41. One year 66% 26% 1% 7% 42. Five years 78% 9% 3% 9% In your typical week in Portland, about how many days per week do you personally see the following? (Randomize) Zero 7 Don’t Response Category Mean days 1 2 3 4 5 6 days know 43. Someone panhandling for money 5.1 3% 4% 10% 6% 7% 20% 5% 42% 3% 44. Someone sleeping in a public space, such as a park or 4.9 3% 8% 6% 9% 12% 13% 10% 37% 3% sidewalk 45. Someone who appears to be 4.2 9% 10% 12% 7% 8% 10% 5% 33% 6% living in a car or RV 46. Someone who appears to be 5.2 2% 8% 7% 4% 9% 14% 6% 46% 3% living in a tent 47. Someone in a public space who 3.5 13% 12% 11% 13% 10% 11% 5% 19% 7% appears drunk or high on drugs 48. Needles or other drug 2.2 31% 17% 11% 7% 5% 8% 4% 9% 8% paraphernalia on the street 49. Human urine or waste in a public 2.7 28% 12% 9% 6% 7% 8% 3% 15% 11% area DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 6 50. How many days in a typical week do you see someone who appears homeless in the neighborhood where you live? [0 – 7 days] Response Category n=300 Mean 4.1 Zero days 13% 1 day 8% 2 days 13% 3 days 9% 4 days 5% 5 days 11% 6 days 2% 7 days 37% Don’t know 2% 51. How many days in a typical week do you see someone who appears homeless in the parts of Portland where you regularly travel for work or errands? Response Category n=300 Mean 5.3 Zero days 3% 1 day 5% 2 days 8% 3 days 6% 4 days 5% 5 days 19% 6 days 3% 7 days 50% Don’t know 1% Which of the following are true for you? Response Category 52. I have a friend or family member who is currently homeless 53. I have a friend or family member who was previously homeless 54. I have personally been homeless at some time in my life DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 True Not true Don’t know 18% 80% 2% 41% 52% 7% 21% 78% 1% 7 In the last year, have you done any of the following? (Randomize) Response Category 55. Talked to someone in Portland who is homeless about their experience 56. Volunteered time for an organization that addresses homelessness in Portland 57. Donated money to an organization that addresses homelessness in Portland 58. Contacted a local elected official about homelessness in Portland 59. Taken steps to learn more about the causes of, and solutions to, homelessness Yes No Don’t know 35% 64% 1% 19% 79% 1% 35% 64% 0% 15% 85% 0% 44% 54% 2% In the last year, have you done any of the following because of concerns you have about homelessness in Portland? (Randomize) Don’t Response Category Yes No know 60. Considered moving to a different neighborhood 23% 76% 0% within the city of Portland 61. Considered moving outside the city of Portland 34% 64% 2% 62. Discouraged friends or family from visiting 15% 84% 1% Portland 63. Avoided visiting certain parts of Portland 48% 52% 0% 64. From the following list, what do you think are the three main causes of homelessness in Portland? (Randomize) Response Category n=300 Mental illness 62% Lack of affordable housing 60% Substance abuse 59% Unemployment 32% Personal choice 26% Low-paying jobs 18% Eviction 9% Medical or health costs 7% Family disputes 5% Domestic violence 5% Loss of home to fire or other disaster 3% Foreclosure 2% Other (Open) 1% Don’t know (Exclusive) 1% DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 8 65. Which of the following comes closest to your own views on homelessness, even if neither is exactly right? (Randomize) Statement A: The number of those experiencing homelessness in Portland is directly related to the cost of housing. Policies that focus on making housing more affordable for people with low incomes or people struggling with addiction or mental health problems are the best way to reduce homelessness in the state. Statement B: Homelessness in Portland is best viewed as a separate issue from affordable housing. Policies that focus on making housing more affordable will not be as effective as those aimed at alleviating the real root causes of homelessness, such as drug addiction and mental health issues. Response Category Statement A Statement B Don’t know n=300 51% 43% 7% 66. Which of the following comes closest to your own views on homelessness, even if neither is exactly right? (Randomize) Statement A: Homelessness is a solvable problem in Portland. There are things we can change about our city to end it completely. Statement B: Homelessness is an intractable problem in Portland. Even if we make changes to our city, there will still be some people who are homeless. Response Category Statement A Statement B Don’t know DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 n=300 41% 54% 6% 9 In February 2016, former Mayor Charlie Hales implemented a policy to allow people to camp in public spaces during the night because there more people experiencing homelessness in the city than available shelter beds. The policy was ended in August 2016, but many people experiencing homelessness are continuing to live in tents throughout the city. 67. Do you support or oppose the City of Portland allowing people to camp in tents on public property until there enough shelter beds in the city to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness? Response Category n=300 Strongly support 23% Somewhat support 24% Somewhat oppose 19% Strongly oppose 28% Don’t know 6% 68. In the last year, do you believe the number of people in Portland living in tents has increased, stayed about the same, or decreased? Response Category n=300 Increased 69% Stayed about the same 25% Decreased 2% Don’t know 4% 69. Are there people living in tents in your immediate neighborhood? Response Category n=300 Yes 48% No 46% Don’t know 6% DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 10 Indicate if you agree or disagree with the following statements. (Randomize) Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Response Category agree agree disagree 70. It is better to allow people who are homeless to set up tents in public areas than to force them 19% 39% 21% to seek shelter in abandoned buildings, under bridges, or to sleep out in the open. 71. Allowing people who are homeless to set up tents in public areas only encourages 29% 32% 17% them to stay on the streets rather than seek permanent housing. 72. Without clean water, bathrooms, or trash collection, groups of 56% 36% 5% people camping in tents is a public health hazard. 73. Tent camping harms Portland’s economy. Shoppers stay away from stores near campsites, and 39% 35% 14% tourists don’t want to visit a city with people living in tents. Strongly disagree Don’t know 11% 10% 15% 7% 3% 1% 5% 6% Indicate if you support or oppose the City of Portland taking the following actions when people illegally set up tents and camp in public spaces. (Randomize) Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don’t Response Category support support oppose oppose know 74. Confiscate their tents and camping gear and require a fee 14% 8% 23% 50% 5% to reclaim it 75. Confiscate their tents and 11% 9% 22% 52% 6% camping gear and dispose of it 76. Arrest people who illegally camp 12% 15% 28% 38% 6% 77. Give bus tickets out of town to 13% 22% 25% 27% 13% those who illegally camp 78. Bring social service providers to camp sites to help direct people 58% 32% 3% 3% 4% living there to shelters 79. Bring social service providers to camp sites to deliver basic 48% 32% 9% 6% 5% health care 80. Provide trash and sanitation 40% 37% 10% 8% 4% services at camp sites 81. Ignore the law and allow people to camp if there are not enough 14% 28% 24% 29% 5% shelter beds in the city DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 11 Please indicate if you would support or oppose the following in your immediate neighborhood. (Randomize) Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Response Category support support oppose oppose 82. Allowing people experiencing homeless to camp in your 10% 16% 24% 43% neighborhood park 83. Building a permanent shelter that provides beds and services for 50% 32% 7% 7% people experiencing homelessness 84. Building a temporary shelter that provides beds for people 39% 36% 13% 7% experiencing homelessness during winter months only Don’t know 7% 4% 1% 85. If someone in Portland is homeless and there are not enough shelter beds available, where do you think they should go to find a place to sleep? (Open) Responses provided in separate verbatim file. 86. The City of Portland allows individuals to sit or lie on the sidewalk, as long as they are not blocking a “pedestrian through-area.” Do you support or oppose this policy? Response Category n=300 Strongly support 17% Somewhat support 35% Somewhat oppose 27% Strongly oppose 17% Don’t know 4% 87. Some cities have regulations that prohibit sitting or lying on any portion of the sidewalk. Would you support or oppose such a regulation in the City of Portland? Response Category n=300 Strongly support 21% Somewhat support 25% Somewhat oppose 28% Strongly oppose 22% Don’t know 5% DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 12 DEMOGRAPHICS 88. Which category best describes your 2016 gross household income, before taxes? Remember to include everyone living in your household. Your best estimate will do. Response Category n=300 Less than $25,000 20% $25,000 to less than $50,000 30% $50,000 to less than $75,000 17% $75,000 to less than $100,000 12% $100,000 to less than $150,000 11% $150,000 or more 7% Don’t know 2% 89. Do you rent or own your home? Response Category Rent Own Something else DHM RESEARCH KGW PORTLAND HOMELESS SURVEY OCTOBER 2017 n=300 45% 48% 7% 13