Portland city officials say its shelters, the Expo and hotels providing emergency shelter to asylum seekers are all at full capacity.
According to CBS 13, a lack of affordable housing is making it difficult for asylum seekers to find other alternatives, forcing many people to live on the street with no shelter and limited access to food.
Patricio Massanga, a member of one of the 10 families who’ve been living on the streets of Portland for the last six days, translated for Muanza Joseph, who says they’re struggling to survive in Portland’s climate.
“Right now we don’t have anything. We don’t have anything that can help us to survive,” said Joseph. “We are suffering with kids outside. With the cold weather and no food.”
Landlord forms are being given to those in search of housing, but Massanga says there is no real help in doing this.
“The market is very high and the actual budget that the city is giving them is very low,” said Massanga.
City leaders are looking for help from surrounding communities and ask anyone to reach out if they have any available shelter space to offer.
