Portland mayor to ban homeless camps on streets

An Oregon mayor plans to ban camping on Portland streets and move unhoused people to campsites designated by the city, as the growing homelessness population has become the top concern for the vast majority of residents.

The resolution would establish at least three large, designated outdoor camping sites, with the first opening within 18 months of securing funding. The designated camping sites would initially be able to serve up to 125 people and would provide access to services such as food, hygiene, litter collection and treatment for mental health and substance abuse. The sites could eventually be scaled up to serve 500 people.

Ted Wheeler, Portland Mayor said "Those Portlanders who are unhoused and on the streets deserve our understanding, our compassion and our help. The goal should be to connect people with whatever services people need to be able to get off the streets and stay off the streets."

More than 3,000 people are living without shelter in Portland, a 50% jump from 2019, and there are more than 700 encampments across the city.