What would you assume it should cost annually to provide for the needs of a homeless person—and how would that compare to the average net income of Oregon taxpayers? You might want to sit down for this one.
Welfare and social programs in Oregon total, on average, around $60,000 annually per homeless person counted in the state's "Point-in-Time" (PIT) homeless counts. The state has also handed out nearly $2 billion in grants to address homelessness over the last three years. That works out to roughly $60,000–$80,000 per homeless person counted in Oregon's PIT counts over those three years—or more than $20,000 annually on top of ongoing services.
How long do people remain homeless in Oregon? Roughly 40% (about 10,000 people) are classified as chronically homeless—defined as being homeless for a year or more. Of those 10,000, more than 40% have been homeless for five years or longer, and around 20% have been homeless for a decade or more.
Consider the math: Up to $60,000–$80,000 spent per homeless person per year, with thousands staying homeless for 5, 10, or more years. That's a tremendous amount of money going to individuals with little to show in results—often exceeding the average person's yearly net income. The average net income of working adults in Oregon is $55,000.
So tell me again: Why is it acceptable for the homeless to receive more in social services and welfare—for as long as they remain on the streets—than the average hardworking Oregonian earns in a year?