Real Estate

Meira Gebel
May 26, 2023 - Development

Portland's fifth tiny home shelter site opens

A photo of seven tiny homes part of Portland's Safe Rest Villages program.

A section of the new Safe Rest Villages site in St. Johns. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios

On Wednesday, Axios toured the newest Safe Rest Villages site — Peninsula Crossing in St. Johns, right off North Macrum Avenue.

Why it matters: This is the fifth tiny home shelter site to open in Portland, and based on Multnomah County data, the program has shown early success in moving people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing.

What $1,500 gets you in Portland apartments

Illustration of apartment doorbells with an intercom shaped like a dollar sign.

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Portland apartments don't give you much room for your buck.

Why it matters: Apartment vacancies are easing but still tight in Portland at 5.09%, according to an April landlords report. Low supply pushes up rents, which has been linked to homelessness, including in the Portland area.

Portland's high rise in high-income renters

Data: RentCafe; Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios Visuals
Data: RentCafe; Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios Visuals

Apartment developers looking to attract high-income renters say they're thinking beyond gyms and pools when it comes to amenities.

Why it matters: The push comes as many would-be homebuyers rent longer due to macro housing trends across the country. This incentivizes properties to compete for a growing demographic of high-income renters, Axios' Sami Sparber and Tory Lysik report.

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