Vulnerable People and Places Blog

In recent years, Portland has faced a growing homelessness crisis, with the number of unsheltered people in the city increasing significantly. In response to this, the city has established sanctioned homeless camp locations, which provide a safe and regulated environment for people experiencing homelessness to live in. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits and challenges of these sanctioned homeless camp locations in Portland. Portland is known for its progressive policies and dedication to providing support for those in need. One area where this is especially true is in the city's approach to addressing homelessness. In recent years, Portland has implemented a number of sanctioned homeless camp locations throughout the city. These camps are intended to provide a safe, secure space for those experiencing homelessness, while also helping to address the issue of unsheltered individuals in the city. Sanctioned homeless camps are designated areas where people experiencing hom...

  Portland Homeless Liaison Steps Down Photo Credit:  Kaia Sand Rebecca Ellis of OPB reports that after wide publicization and a lengthy hiring process, Stephanie Herro, Portland’s first Police Homeless Liaison, has left the position with little information given to the public as to why.   The police bureau is not seeking to fill the position any time soon, with Lt. Greg Pashley pushing the prospect back to the beginning of the next fiscal year. The Office of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler put out a statement stressing the importance of filling the position again, but gave no definite dates either.  Herro’s departure leaves many essential projects left unfinished. This ranged from the prevention of jailing for drug offenses, integrated training between police and the Portland Street Response, and a reclassification of hate crimes to include those directed at the homeless.  With coronavirus pushing more people out of their homes, this restructuring of police an...