These photos were shot for a a story that ran in the Portland Tribune about "Zombie Homes" in the Portland area. The article tells the story of about 430 abandoned houses on Portland's East-Side that often are taken over by squatters, and the Portland Police Department's uphill battle to keep these squatters out and the homes in good condition. Portland is in the midst of a housing crisis. There aren't enough modestly-priced homes and apartments in the city to house everyone that needs housing. Homes where squatters have moved in are often in a state of disrepair and a blight to the neighborhoods they occupy, as well as posing a public safety issue to neighbors. This problem has been left up to "Neighborhood Response Teams" made up of police officers who patrol known abandoned homes and field calls about problem houses, in an attempt to keep them vacant.
