Portland's Effort For A New Shelter


             Portland has become one of the top places to live in the country. The glaring issues we see daily are an influx of traffic, people without places to live, and housing prices rising rapidly. It’s pretty easy to complain about these problems because it helps to ignore another problem that has been growing quietly over the last decade. The rising population of homeless in Portland is apparent when driving through any part of the city. “Tent-Cities” have popped up along major thoroughfares, under overpasses, and along the rivers. Every few months, Portland Police will crack down and get rid of one, and two more will pop up somewhere else. But the underlying issue isn’t the homeless population setting up in city areas; it is the lack of resources and care that many of these people need.  
In a recent article by KGW News, a survey states “41 percent (of Portland citizens) have a friend or family member who has been homeless and 21 percent have personally been homeless at some time in their lives”. The shutdown of shelters in the last few years has left many without necessary resources like food and beds. The resulting impact is large numbers of homeless citizens taking to camping in those areas. A rise in drug paraphernalia and human waste can be attributed to the lack of facilities and resources for drug counseling. This, combined with Ted Wheeler and the Portland Police Bureau’s continued crackdown on homelessness in the last few months has left a sour taste in the public’s mouth, as we are forced to confront this issue head on.
Last week, Columbia Outfitters, took a stance on progress for homeless life in Portland. Columbia had found itself in the news recently after CEO Tim Boyle voiced his concerns over the large population of homeless that frequently campled outside their downtown flagship store. Employees made efforts to clear the sidewalks and were confronted with threats of violence that led Boyle to consider moving the store. “Boyle’s November op-ed prompted Wheeler to order police to enforce a broader no-sit policy”, that in effect led to protests and vocal outrage over the “solution” that continued to leave this issue unresolved.
Tim Boyle told Oregon Live that his “personal philosophy (is) that if you say something, you better do something”. He has pledged to pay $1.5 million to begin construction on a brand new, 100 bed shelter that would be placed on city land near the Broadway Bridge. Project officials are calling it a “Navigation Center”, whos goal is to offer homeless a spot to sleep and eat, facilities to bathe and do laundry, and connections to health care and social programs designed to help them get back on their feet.
Previous plans have included the effort to utilize the Wapato Jail, the county owned prison, as a homeless shelter, as well as affordable housing and a homeless campus that would include all the amenities and services one would need access to. While most of these efforts have hit a snag with city government officials and county developers, Boyle’s new initiative is a step in the right direction and one that everyone in Portland should join in. Homelessness is an issue that needs addressing and one that we can all find ways to contribute to the quality of life for the city we live in, and those that live here with us.

To read more on the efforts to help homeless in Portland, see the following links:


http://www.kptv.com/story/37861798/commissioner-renews-call-to-use-vacant-portland-jail-as-homeless-shelter

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