Engaging Democracy: A Citizens' Assembly on Youth Homelessness

NCDD Member Organization, Healthy Democracy, recently shared an article on a citizens' assembly in Deschutes County, Oregon, brought together a diverse group of residents to deliberate on youth homelessness. Participants, selected through a lottery, engaged in structured discussions and expert-led panels to develop policy recommendations. The initiative demonstrated how ordinary people can navigate complex political issues effectively, fostering constructive dialogue in contrast to the usual polarization seen in public discourse. Read more in the blog post below and on Healthy Democracy's site here.

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What Could Citizens’ Assemblies Do for American Politics?

In an era of political division, an innovative citizens' assembly in Deschutes County, Oregon, offered a refreshing approach to decision-making. Thirty randomly selected residents gathered for five days to tackle the pressing issue of youth homelessness. The initiative, organized by nonprofits and supported by local officials, aimed to reflect the county’s demographic diversity and empower ordinary citizens to contribute to policy solutions.

Participants from various backgrounds—ranging from small-business owners to retirees—met over two weekends at Oregon State University-Cascades. The first sessions focused on building understanding through expert presentations and small-group discussions. Attendees, some of whom had personal experiences with housing instability, engaged in thoughtful deliberations, generating key questions to be addressed in the following sessions. The second weekend featured panels of service providers and government representatives who answered queries ranging from systemic poverty to specific funding allocations for housing projects.

Many delegates were initially skeptical that their recommendations would lead to real change. Early in the weekend, when asked if she thought politicians would act on their ideas, one participant laughed and said, “No.” But by the end of the assembly, her perspective had shifted—if only slightly. “I definitely came in a skeptic,” she admitted. “Now I’m optimistically skeptical.”

One notable moment occurred when a delegate proposed limiting property purchases by wealthy outsiders to control housing costs. The idea, framed as protecting local residents rather than a wealth tax, sparked meaningful discussion about possible policy interventions. Such moments illustrated how diverse perspectives, when given a structured platform, can yield fresh insights into complex issues.
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The Deschutes citizens’ assembly exemplified how participatory democracy can bridge political divides and foster informed decision-making. In contrast to the inflammatory rhetoric often seen in public meetings, participants engaged in civil, solutions-oriented dialogue. This experiment in governance raises an important question: Could citizen-led assemblies become a regular feature of American democracy? By giving communities a voice in shaping policies, such initiatives may offer a path toward more effective and inclusive decision-making.

URL: https://healthydemocracy.org/press/2025/01/06/what-could-citizens-assemblies-do-for-american-politics/