Oregon Public Broadcasting

The number of homeless people sleeping on Portland's streets has increased by 11 percent over the last two years. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

A count on the night of January 28th showed that about 1600 people were living in their cars, or under the bridges and in the doorways of Portland.

Auditors found another 850 sleeping in Multnomah County's emergency shelters.

City Commissioner Nick Fish says the 11 percent increase doesnít mean Portlandís ten-year plan to end homelessness is failing.

Nick Fish: "Quite the contrary. When you look at other cities around the country, theyíre experiencing increases in homelessness that are considerably higher than we are here in Portland."

Since 2005, when the city's plan to end homelessness started, about 4000 people have been placed in permanent housing in Portland.

Fish and others say the current increase is a result of the bad economy.