Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s big campaign promise was to end unsheltered homelessness in the city by 2026. One part of that effort involves reuniting unhoused people with family members or loved ones outside of Portland.

Individuals can opt into the program or be referred by a member of the city’s outreach team. Outreach workers then connect with the person’s family or friends and arrange transportation to their new community. Contact largely ceases after the individual arrives at their destination.

Skyler Brocker-Knapp is the director of Portland Solutions, the office that oversees homeless services in the city. She joins us to talk more about the reunification program.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/22/think-out-loud-portland-program-unhoused-people-family-friends-outside-city/