Shocking scenes of a growing homelessness crisis in an Oregon town have led to fears it may become the ‘next Portland’ due to the city’s policies to ‘encourage’ vagrants to move there.
Independent journalist Kevin Dahlgren captured shocking images of rundown areas in Tigard, Oregon, located about 10 miles south of Portland.
Dahlgren has made a name for himself being a vocal critic of the homelessness crisis in the area and warned that Tigard could become the ‘next Portland.’
Portland and its suburbs are notorious for their problems with homelessness, with thousands of vagrants moving to the city and triggering spikes in drug abuse and crime.
In one clip from Tigard, Dahlgren showed a damaged home he claimed had become overrun with squatters.
The building had open doors, smashed windows and piles of trash strewn across the yard.
Another clip showed a man sprawled out on a sidewalk next to a shopping cart.
Dahlgren said he spoke with several people living on the streets of Tigard who told him they came to the city from Portland because it is considered a ‘comfortable place to be homeless.’
Independent journalist Kevin Dahlgren (pictured) captured shocking scenes in Tigard, Oregon, a city outside Portland
Dahlgren is a vocal critic of the homelessness crisis in the area and showed images of people sprawled out on sidewalks in Tigard
One homeless woman told Dahlgren she had seen an increase in sexual assault and human trafficking in area.
Other images shared by the self-described ‘disrupter of the Homeless Industrial Complex’ showed piles of trash on Tigard’s Main Street.
Dahlgren accused Tigard Mayor Heidi Lueb of ‘indirectly encouraging the homeless to move to Tigard by significantly expanding homeless programs that far exceed the current need.’
Lueb was elected in 2022, and during her tenure the Tigard City Council adopted the goal to ‘Reduce Houselessness’ by increasing shelter capacity and wraparound services and reducing the impact of homelessness on the business and residential community.
Since then, the city invested $1 million into a non-profi tto purchase a former Quality Inn hotel and turn it into shelter for 70 families, according to the city’s website.
In March, another non-profit opened a $12.4 million state-of-the art homeless shelter in Tigard.
The shelter has 60 beds and offers fresh meals, shower facilities, case management, housing navigation and behavioral health services.
At the shelter’s unveiling, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed a law that established a statewide homeless shelter program.
He warned that Tigard could become the ‘next Portland’ because the mayor is ‘indirectly encouraging the homeless to move there’
Since Mayor Heidi Lueb (pictured) was elected in 2022, the city council adopted the goal to ‘Reduce Houselessness’ and multiple million dollar shelters have opened up in the area
Dahlgren’s footage showed rundown squatter houses, massive piles of trash throughout the streets and tent encampments popping up
In a statement, Lueb outlined the steps Tigard has taken to address homelessness, including adding shelter beds, launching a program for people living in their cars, and regulating how people camp.
‘The Portland Metro region is facing a housing crisis, and Tigard is not immune,’ the statement read.
‘We have more dedicated funding and shelter beds in the region than ever before, but with the reduction in eviction prevention funds, and rise in cost of living, our system is struggling to keep up with demand.’
Dahlgren, a former homeless outreach specialist, admitted to lying and stealing from the city of Gresham, Oregon while providing services there in January, The Oregonian reported.
He pleaded guilty to first-degree theft, aggravated identity theft, and first-degree official misconduct and was sentenced to five days in jail.
Dahlgren left his $80,000 a year role with the city in March 2021 after his supervisors grew concerned that he was buying personal groceries and gas with a city procurement card and then claiming he gave the supplies to people whose identities he made up.
He touts himself as a ‘boots on the ground independent journalist’ who covers homelessness in the state ‘after many years of watching our government fail in ending this crisis.’
