Oregon governor's race: Candidates offer plans for solving homelessness

Oregon voters on Nov. 8 will choose from among five candidates to be the state's next governor: Republican Christine Drazan, unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson, Democrat Tina Kotek, Libertarian R Leon Noble and Constitution Party candidate Donice Smith.

The Statesman Journal asked the candidates about their position on a variety of issues, from guns to abortion to forest management. We will run their answers, presented in their words, over the next several weeks.

(Answers may be edited for clarity and length. Information in italics was added by the Statesman Journal. The order of the responses will be rotated with each question).

Election 2022:More on the candidates, issues on your ballot

What is your plan for solving Oregon’s homelessness crisis, both in terms of the immediate changes and long-term structural changes you would make?

R Leon Noble:

Government caused the problem. Government cannot fix the problem.

Getting government out of the way and letting private entities address the issue, without restriction, is the only way that the problem can be solved.

Betsy Johnson:

I have a four-step solution. First, before I am sworn in, I will convene the state and local officials, law enforcement and non-profit organizations responsible for ending homelessness to demand greater urgency, action and accountability results.

Second, we must end dangerous, unregulated camping by establishing safe, designated camping areas and more emergency shelters with access to essential services. The street cannot be the waiting room for services and housing.

Third, we need to acknowledge that homelessness is not just about housing. We need integrated solutions that connect mental health, drugs, addiction, lawlessness, poverty, housing and jobs.

Fourth, we need to end Oregon’s politician-created housing affordability crisis by ending our housing supply crisis. I will strip away the outdated rules, regulations, fees, and taxes that make the construction of all types of new housing too expensive and too slow.

Donice Smith:

My plan for solving Oregon’s homelessness crisis in terms of immediate changes are to improve upon empty depressed properties that are not being repaired or utilized. We need to have a management team in place that is not like the many slum landlord management companies we have throughout Oregon. Those who are homeless should not have to live on the street or in their cars months and months.

Long-term structural changes would include making sure that Oregonians and their children, and/or senior citizens over 55 years of age are given emergency consideration in closed or depressed properties. These need to be brought up to standards with the grants and donations that have been going into a black hole and into "general fund accounts.”

Christine Drazan:

I will start by declaring a homeless state of emergency to prioritize public health and ensure community safety by coordinating services, enforcing local ordinances and marshaling resources to respond to needs on the ground.

I will work to repeal policies like Measure 110 ... while also maintaining and expanding on recent addiction and mental health services to ensure that those who need help can get help. Instead of enabling homelessness with poor public policies, my administration will lead with a mindset of both compassion and accountability.

Tina Kotek:

I will mobilize new street outreach teams so that trained workers will go tent by tent connecting people to services and shelter, which will ultimately lead to permanent housing.

I will expand access to state-owned properties for emergency shelters and navigation centers.

I will address the fractures in our behavioral health and recovery systems so people can get the help they need. And I will clean up trash by partnering with local governments and people experiencing homelessness to provide sanitation services to these temporary camps.

Inflation and increased costs are making it harder for people to cover their bills and pay rent. I will fix the issues plaguing our emergency rent assistance delivery system and give the courts more time to mediate eviction cases and connect tenants facing eviction to community-based services to help them stay housed.

I also will direct the Public Utility Commission to implement an arrearage strategy for unpaid utility bills and make sure utility bill assistance programs around the state are working effectively.

The root of this problem is that we don’t have enough housing to meet Oregonians’ needs, so my action plan also addresses housing more broadly: Build enough housing to meet the need for people currently experiencing homelessness, address the current shortage of housing, and keep pace with future housing demand.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon governor's race: Solving homelessness