Why the news about the DOJ investigating Multnomah County over their homeless screening method is relevant to me:
When I first came to Portland in the spring of 2023, I actually didn't come here with a plan to make this my new home, but I got into a shelter and was evaluated on the old system, the VSPDAT or whatever it was called.
It was a long questionnaire that a social worker would run through the questions with you, to evaluate you for placement in housing.
Let's back up a bit to explain how it works here. First of all, there is what I call a 'shadow government organization' becuase they operate in secrecy - as in there is no address, no phone number, no way to contact these people or get in touch with them, or any information as to whom works there or has this position of authority over the lives of the homeless. Back in 2023 they called it the Joint Office of Homeless Services, but more recently changed their name to the Homeless Services Department. It is a local government entity that does not even converse with housing and shelter caseowrkers who do these VSPDAT/MSST evaluations. They are just filthy rich people, disconnected from reality, making split-second decisions on who shall recieve housing and who will not recieve housing.
The intention is supposed to be to give Permanant Supportive Housing (PSH) to disabled people first, so that we can have indefinite (as in no end date), life long housing. Instead, I have found this system, those at (formerly) JOHS, now Homeless Services Department, would grant the PSH only to those who are heavilly addicted and use 24/7/365, and they have denied me PSH every single time.
So the old VSPDAT, whatever it was, was several pages long and the shelter worker or caseworker would ask you so many questions about how often you use, how much you need to use, how using impacts your life, and so forth.
The shelter worker or caseworker can ONLY submit this form for you once every 6 months for consideration for PSH from those sitting on the thrones at the Homeless Services Department.
I must have done the old version 3 times, and now have had the new version, the MSST, submitted on my behalf from my caseworkers 3 times as well.
What has changed with the MSST? Well now it's only your name, info, stats, and a small blurb your caseworker writes to plead your case as to why you need/deserve Permananet Supportive Housing, and they are only given a small space to hand-write this little plea for you.
And Yet, I am still denied a long term roof over my head, as someone who uses a motorized wheelchair, who can barely walk, is on insulin, is immunocomprimized with MRSA and prone to random skin infections - and I stand to become homeless again on June 1, 2027 when my voucher expires, and I can assume I must vacate my apartment and have all belongings removed before that date.