Addressing urban homelessness is a high priority for mayors and local governments across

the country.

Here at City Journal, we've got a long history of writing about the homeless problem in American

cities and about the agencies and politicians that have attempted to grapple with the problem

and often failed. A while back, I spoke with City Journal

contributor Michael Totten, a native of Portland, Oregon to discuss the homeless situation in his hometown,

the subject he wrote about in a 2016 article called Portland's Homeless Challenge.

Thank you. Portland's Homeless Challenge. Hello, I'm City Journal editor Brian Anderson.

Thanks for joining us for the Ten Blocks podcast featuring urban policy and cultural commentary

with City Journal editors, contributors, and special

guests.

The Pacific Northwest has long been a magnet for street people, and nowhere is that truer

than in Portland, Oregon.

But today the city is experimenting with unusual reforms to ease its problem.

Joining me today to discuss what's going on in the city is Portland native Michael Taunton.

He's a contributing editor to City Journal and author of six books, including Tower of the Sun and Where the West Ends.

Michael's latest City Journal article, Portland's Homeless Challenge, which is available on our website,

and in our winter 2016 issue will be the starting point of today's discussion.

Welcome, Michael.

Thanks, Brian.

How bad is Portland's homelessness problem and what's behind it?

It's pretty bad.

...