Portland's Caring Community
Old Town, Portland, Oregon
What makes OTCT unique among Portland neighborhoods?
January 2019
-
It is a vibrant area, filled with attractions, nightlife and art galleries
-
It is an inner-city food desert and heat island with low air quality
-
Despite its name, it lacks a resident and commercial Asian community
-
It is a multi-faceted healthcare sector serving the homeless in a single neighborhood
Old Town Chinatown is all of the above, but it's not obvious that the neighborhood has a major healthcare sector. In our Guide to the Housing Landscape (page 6) we detail how 57% of the neighborhood’s housing units provide supportive care and shelter for the homeless. It defines the neighborhood. Healthcare is important economically to the City in other ways. It is one of five economic clusters prioritized by Prosper Portland based on middle-wage job accessibility, local employment concentration, historic and future growth and global reputation/brand. However, our neighborhood is best known as the "entertainment" district a disconnection we cover on pages 23 and 24.
​
Photo
Bud Clark Commons offer 130 studio homes serving residents who have been experiencing homelessness. Part of an innovative center that serves persons who are homeless, the community is located at the western foot of the Broadway Bridge, near mass transit and services in Portland, Oregon.
