How one state is tackling homelessness by turning abandoned buildings into shelters

Oregon is addressing homelessness with a new transitional housing program. The United States saw an increase in homelessness in 2023, a recent HUD report found.

Nina Jarl never thought she would be homeless.

But as housing grew increasingly unaffordable in Oregon, Jarl, 63, said a series of unfortunate events left her sleeping in her car on the street in the cold weather.

"I raised four kids here by myself and always had a home and work and we made do," Jarl told ABC News. "So for me not to be able to afford me, by myself, is just crazy."

A stroke and a leg injury made it hard for Jarl to work, and when she couldn't pay rent, she was kicked out of the trailer she was renting, she said -- it "just all came and hit me at once."

"It's scary, very scary. I slept in my car, out by the bridge and I'd wake up, and there'd be all types of people staring in," said Jarl, who said she was "too proud to ask for help for a while."