The amount spent on homelessness in the Portland metro area has increased to a 'shocking' level.

In 2020, local governments and nonprofits in the Portland area spent over $500 million to combat homelessness, representing a 70% increase from the previous year, as per a recently released study.

John Tapogna, a senior policy advisor at ECOnorthwest, who analyzed the data, stated to KOIN 6 News that the number was astonishing.

In fiscal year 2023, the Portland metro area, comprised of Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, spent a total of $531 million on homelessness interventions, as per ECOnorthwest's analysis.

Nearly $90 million in federal pandemic relief funds and a regional homeless tax approved by voters in 2020 contributed to the huge increase, according to the report.

Tapogna informed Planet Chronicle Digital that the "revenue inflows are constantly changing and fluctuating."

In the tri-county area, over 7,500 people are currently living in emergency shelters or on the streets. However, the report also indicates that more than 13,000 individuals have recently left homelessness and now receive rental support. Additionally, the report highlights over 81,000 people who are at risk of becoming homeless due to low incomes and high housing costs.

Tapogna stated that when considering the expenditures in relation to 100,000 people being served, it appears as though the amount is not significant.

According to the report, the bulk of the funds were spent on temporary shelter and services, followed by housing placement. Administration and other operating costs consumed approximately $50 million.

Although spending on services has increased, the number of homeless individuals in Multnomah County has continued to rise. The county announced a decrease in chronic homelessness, but an overall increase in people counted with and without shelter since 2022. As of the 2023 point in time count, there were nearly 6,300 homeless individuals in the county.

In 2023, the homeless populations in Washington and Clackamas counties decreased.

In January, Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan told Planet Chronicle Digital that the trend needs to reverse, just like it does in neighboring counties.

Ryan explained that Multnomah County offers the most services, which in turn draws more homeless individuals.

Oregon lawmakers have passed a bill that will make drug possession a misdemeanor crime beginning Sept. 1, while drug use and dealing remain prevalent in Portland due to the state's drug decriminalization experiment.

It is essential to monitor who is taking action amid the escalating homeless crisis, according to Tapogna, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Not all states are careful with their tracking, the report notes.

The state audit published in April revealed that California's leaders are facing criticism after spending $24 billion on homelessness over the past five years, yet failing to consistently monitor how the funds were utilized or if they resulted in improved outcomes.

""We are the exception, not the rule, as not many places in the country maintain such detailed records of sources and uses," Tapogna stated in an email to Planet Chronicle Digital."