PORTLAND, OR — In what officials are calling a “bold step toward community engagement,” a new proposal circulating in Portland suggests organizing the city’s first-ever “Best Homeless Home” competition, inviting participants from across the city’s growing Portland homeless population to showcase their living setups.
According to early drafts, the grand prize would be a Ring Battery Doorbell, allowing the winner to monitor activity outside their tent, tarp structure, or carefully assembled pallet-based residence.
Organizers say the prize was chosen because it “adds a layer of modern home security to even the most temporary living situation.”
Judging Criteria Includes “Aesthetic Balance” And “Scent Profile”
The proposal outlines a volunteer jury made up of local residents who would evaluate entries based on:
- Overall design and visual appeal
- Structural creativity under pressure
- Smell consistency and intensity
- Quantity, arrangement, and storytelling value of surrounding debris
“We’re not just judging survival,” one organizer explained. “We’re recognizing effort.”
Additional bonus points would be awarded for:
- weather-resistant engineering
- innovative use of found materials
- proximity to coffee shops, outlets, or free Wi-Fi
Grand Prize Raises Practical Questions
While the Ring Battery Doorbell has been described as “a symbol of dignity and technological inclusion,” some residents questioned how exactly it would function in practice.
“Where would you mount it?” one local asked while walking near Burnside Street. “And what counts as a front door?”
Others pointed out that the device’s motion alerts might create an overwhelming number of notifications.
“I already get too many alerts from my phone,” another resident said. “I can’t imagine getting one every time someone walks past your tent.”
Residents React With Confusion And Concern
Reaction across Portland has been mixed.
Some see the proposal as an attempt to acknowledge the visibility of homelessness in the city, while others feel it misses the point entirely.
“I don’t think the issue is that these places aren’t being judged enough,” said one resident. “I think the issue is that people are living in them in the first place.”
Still, a few locals admitted the idea feels oddly consistent with the city’s tendency to approach serious problems in unconventional ways.
“At this point, I’m just waiting for the judges to have scorecards,” one person added.
Potential Participants Unsure About Entry
Outreach workers say reactions among unhoused residents have ranged from confusion to cautious curiosity.
One man living in a tent said he might consider entering if the prize is real.
“I mean, a Ring Battery Doorbell sounds nice,” he said. “But I don’t even have a door. I guess I could just… hold it?”
Another resident reportedly asked whether there would be a category for “Most Frequently Relocated Setup.”
Organizers Say It’s About “Awareness”
Supporters insist the competition is meant to highlight the realities of the Portland homeless situation in a way that forces people to pay attention.
“This is about visibility,” one organizer said. “People walk past these spaces every day. This makes them stop and actually look.”
Critics, however, say the concept risks turning a serious crisis into something performative.
“This isn’t a home improvement show,” said one community volunteer. “It’s people trying to get through the day.”
Bigger Questions Remain
Despite the bizarre nature of the proposal, many residents say it reflects a deeper frustration with the ongoing homelessness situation in Portland.
Encampments remain widespread, and debates about solutions — from housing to services to enforcement — continue without clear agreement.
“People want solutions,” said a local business owner. “Not contests.”
City Yet To Confirm Whether Plan Is Real
Officials have not formally approved the proposal, and it remains unclear whether the competition will move forward or quietly disappear into a folder labeled “Ideas We Talked About Once.”
For now, Portland residents are left processing the possibility that the city’s most unusual housing initiative could involve a smart doorbell, a judging panel, and a question no one expected to ask:
“Does this count as curb appeal?”
