PSU: Project Turnkey significantly improves outcomes for homeless Oregonians

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A new form of emergency housing has been found to substantially improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness in the state of Oregon, according to a new report .

Conducted by researchers from Portland State University, the report focused on the impacts of Project Turnkey, in which the Oregon legislature funded 19 specific sites for $74.47 million. The funding allowed communities to buy local motels and convert them into emergency shelters, known as Turnkey sites.

According to the researchers, typical emergency shelters have guests share a large common sleeping area, require them to leave during the day and only stay in the shelter for 30 days or less.

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However, Turnkey sites allow guests to stay in private rooms, provide access to food and hygiene supplies, case management, as well as other on-site services. Additionally, they aren't required to leave the shelter during the day and can stay at the site for at least three months.

The report also noted guests voiced a sense of community between them and shelter staff, allowing for progress and to "get things in order."

"I couldn't have done it anywhere else," one guest said.

Fifteen of the 19 sites provided data for the report, which found 42.2% of residents at the sites returned to unsheltered homelessness after their stays. However, of the former residents surveyed, 27.9% went into permanent housing, 11.6% into temporary housing and 9.5% landed in emergency shelters.

The report's lead researcher Anna Rockhill said these numbers signify a key turning point in how the state deals with the homelessness crisis.

"I think it points to a missing piece in that continuum in most communities," she said. "Emergency shelters, congregate shelters, the traditional emergency shelters probably have their place. They probably do give somebody an opportunity not to be outside when it's freezing. But in terms of really assisting people to move forward into something that's more stable, that meets their needs, and frankly, to deal with the systems that we make people have to navigate, that's not enough."

Overall, Rockhill said the goal is to provide policymakers with specific analysis of what worked in Project Turnkey, so it can be replicated in other projects across the state.