Sisters of the Road and the Welcome Home Coalition conducted research from 2023 until 2025 to learn from people who are currently homeless, or have been homeless in the past five years, what they want and need to stay housed. The study applied participatory action research methods, including 429 surveys, as well as focus groups, community analysis groups and data walks, and was advised by researchers from Portland State University and Oregon Health & Science University. Over the course of survey collection, data analysis, and policy recommendation drafting, Finding Home engaged over 650 people with lived experience with homelessness in the Portland metro area for the report, Finding Home: Lasting Housing Solutions Rooted in Community Expertise.
Frann Michel talks with Sisters of the Road Executive Director Nicki Dardinger and Systemic Change Organizer Katie Sponagle about the surprising and unsurprising results of the research, why this report was needed, and how listeners can contribute to addressing the problems of housing in Portland and environs.
Image: Cover of Finding Home: Lasting Housing Solutions Rooted in Community Expertise, with colorful graphic of a housekey. Used with permission.