New "Safe Sleep Policy" Legalizes Homeless Camping in Portland, Oregon
Diversity, Inclusion & Equity HousingSummary
In Portland, the homeless population continues to rise but the number of available shelter beds are decreasing. Portland’s mayor introduced a “Safe Sleep Policy” to legalize overnight camping on city streets for groups of up to 6 people at a time. The point of the law is to prevent large groups from gathering at a specific spot, as recent camps have resulted in fires, violence, and large amounts of drug use. The policy also comes after the city had to kick out approximately 400 homeless people that camped along a trail system, which made trail users fear for their safety. There are shared views on the policy, some congratulate the policy saying it is a highly comprehensive policy. However, some stakeholders filed lawsuits to challenge the fact that the mayor passed the proposal stating that he had no authority and it should have been voted upon by Portland’s Council. This is not a permanent solution however, the city is planning to add more shelter beds but lacks funds and infrastructure. Neither of the solutions address the underlying causes of homelessness but the city is looking ahead to tackle this issue. Portland Council has allocated $30 million to address the issues of housing and homelessness.
(Twitter Headline) Portland’s mayor introduced the “Safe Sleep Policy” which legalizes overnight camping on city streets for groups of up to 6 people at a time #Homelessness #Planning @smartcitiesdive