Lawmakers in Oregon are trying to make it to where if you’re homeless, it actually pays! That’s right folks – a newly-proposed bill in the State of Oregon would give monthly payments to homeless people and those on the brink of homelessness with absolutely no strings attached.
There is a bill being considered by the state of Oregon that would give homeless and low-income people $1,000 a month as a universal basic income.
Through the state’s Department of Human Services, the Oregon legislature is considering legislation to establish the People’s Housing Assistance Fund Demonstration Program, according to FOX News.
It is the latest in a string of blue states that are seeking to give handouts to people through universal basic income (UBI) programs.
The bill, if enacted, would give 12 monthly thousand-dollar payments to those suffering from homelessness or who are on the brink of becoming homeless.
The bill’s text reads, “Payments may be used for rent, emergency expenses, food, child care or other goods or services of the participant’s choosing.”
This funding would also be available to households spending more than 50 percent of their income on rent, as well as those earning less than 60% of the area’s median income.
Moreover, the legislation would require Portland State University Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative to examine the effectiveness of a long-term cash assistance program across a variety of demographics and households, along with other circumstantial factors, such as domestic violence.
The bill states that the program would last until January 2026, when the study will be due for presentation.
There are approximately 14,650 homeless people in Oregon, according to data cited by the NY Post.
There has been a long-standing homeless issue in the state for several years, especially in Portland, where up to 700 tent camps have taken over sections of the city.
As a result of the decriminalization of street drugs last year, the state has also been dealing with increased drug use and trafficking. Seven months after the legislation went into effect, the state Health Authority declared the legislation “failed”.
It’s simply a terrible idea to give money to the homeless with no strings attached. Unfortunately, anyone with a brain knows that money handed out like this will be spent on alcohol, drugs and other vices instead of rent and living essentials. Doing hard work and facing challenges is what molds us into who we are and it’s what some people need in order to want to better themselves. Lawmakers should stop enabling these handouts and instead work towards finding stable, long-term solutions that can have a more lasting impact on the lives of those struggling financially.
Let’s continue this conversation, in the comments below.
