Portland task force cites Tom McLaughlin’s research on homeless prevention in Portland

A Bangor Daily News story on a Portland task force on homelessness that will present its findings to the Portland City Council on Oct. 3, 2012 quotes and references a three-year research study that 51Æ·²èProfessor of Social Work Thomas Chalmers McLaughlin, Ph.D., conducted, evaluating the Portland's Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program.

McLaughlin also wrote the draft of the report that the task force is presenting to the Portland City Council.

The story notes that "McLaughlin’s team followed nearly 100 greater Portland homeless individuals with disabilities — receipt by receipt — and compared their draw on public money before being provided stable housing and after. In 2009, he reported that, in their second year in stable housing, the homeless people tracked cost taxpayers a total of $622,386 less than in the year prior to entering the housing."

The task force, according to the story, is urging local stakeholders to summon the political will to fund the construction of 105 more specialized housing units for the homeless, according to its draft report.

"By implementing the major steps recommended in the report, which include a renewed focus on an individualized case management system for homeless people, the task force argues it could save the community more than $3 million annually in emergency shelter and health care costs, among other things."

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