"For example, according to one study, Los Angeles was spending $6 million a year to pay for 50 extra police officers as part of a crackdown on crime in the Skid Row area at a time when the city budgeted only $5.7 million for homeless services.
The growth in homelessness fuels the debate. In Multnomah County, a count in January found 1,591 people sleeping outside, 820 in emergency shelters and 27 staying in motels with vouchers. That was 13 percent higher than in 2007. The deterioration in the economy since January means there are probably more homeless on Portland streets now, officials said.
A recent study by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development found that Oregon has the highest concentration of homeless people of any state in the nation, .54 percent of the population.
Portland tried to work out a solution in 2007 by providing benches, public bathrooms and the promise of a new center for homeless people where they could hang out during the day and access services such as permanent housing."
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2015 note. As of last year FLORIDA has the highest percentage of HOMELESS FAMILIES.
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