Homelessness is continuing to take center stage. Now there are aggressive moves being put forth on how to address the growing issue. Portland’s homeless crisis has grown increasingly visible in recent years. During the area’s 2019 an estimated 4,015 people were experiencing homelessness. Half of the number counted are considered “unsheltered” or sleeping outside. Advocates say the numbers have likely significantly increased.
The mayor of Portland, Oregon, recently banned camping on the sides of dangerous roadways. Other officials are exploring more aggressive options to combat homelessness. Advocates for the homeless have denounced aggressive measures. People are not blight or fodder for politicians. They believe that the problem is a humanitarian crisis.
Many are now stating that the reality of homelessness is that it is now a crisis in Oregon. People coming into town will see makeshift shelters abut busy roadways, tent cities line sidewalks, tarps cover broken-down cars, and sleeping bags tucked in storefronts. However, encampments are now being removed as other strict measures are being put in place to address homelessness.
In Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell ran on a platform that called for action on encampments and crime. He targeted highly visible tent cities in his first few months in office. Tents and belongings were removed across from City Hall last Wednesday. Activists occupied the camp, working in shifts to keep homeless people from being moved by the mayor.
In Portland, a familiar face and advisor to the mayor has espoused a plan that political conservatives would love. Sam Adams, a former Portland mayor outlined a plan that would force up to 3,000 homeless people into massive temporary shelters staffed by Oregon National Guard members. Advocates say the move would criminalize homelessness. Oregon’s governor Kate Brown rejected the idea.
Citizen complaints are skyrocketing in Portland, where the number of campsites removed each week plummeted from 50 to five after COVID-19 hit.
Businesses have expressed frustration. The LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic relocated from Portland last year due to safety concerns related to a nearby homeless encampment. Despite spending $300,000 on security and implementing a buddy system for workers to safely be outdoors, the division of the U.S. Geological Survey is looking to move as well.
