Multnomah County homeless deaths in 2023 show 'devastating toll' of fentanyl crisis: Report

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Multnomah County released its 2023 Domicile Unknown report on Friday, showing a surge in deaths among homeless people and that most of those deaths are related to substance use.

The annual report -- which reviews deaths among the county's homeless population -- found at least 456 people facing homelessness died in 2023, which is not only an increase from the more than 315 deaths reported in 2022 but also marks the highest number of homeless deaths since Multnomah County started publishing the reports.