Wilson presents $28 million plan to end unsheltered homelessness
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals; Photo: Courtesy of the city of Portland
Mayor Keith Wilson outlined the first steps in his plan to eliminate unsheltered homelessness in Portland to city and county leaders this week.
Why it matters: Unsheltered homelessness has reached crisis levels on Portland streets, and ending it was the cornerstone of Wilson's mayoral campaign.
By the numbers: Wilson told the city council there were currently more than 5,300 people living unsheltered in the city.
- His plan calls for the creation of 1,500 emergency night shelter beds by Dec. 1, 2025, which would be housed in businesses, community centers and churches.
- It also calls for four new day centers, one in each of the new council districts.
- The plan is projected to cost an estimated $28 million in its first fiscal year, and slightly less in its second year.
Yes, but: Several council members were enthusiastic about the plan but posed pointed questions to Wilson, particularly about costs, as the city faces a sizable budget deficit.
- "We were just given a letter saying we have a $100 million hole," Councilor Loretta Smith told Wilson. "How do you expect us to afford this?"
- Wilson said he's working with county, state and federal agencies on funding but emphasized the high costs of inaction — the city is projected to spend nearly $11 million on camp removals alone this fiscal year.
- "We can't afford not to do this," he said.
Other councilors asked how the city would convince those resistant to shelter beds and whether enforcing the camping ban would be used to compel people into shelters.
- Wilson said arresting people experiencing homelessness was "the last thing we should be doing," and that the default would be offering resources like overnight shelters.
- But he told county leaders the plan calls for enforcing the camping ban next December, once the shelter bed goal is met.
The other side: Marisa Zapata, director of Portland State University's Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative, said the plan would not end unsheltered homelessness.
- "This is a plan to attempt to have fewer people outside overnight. But they will still be homeless," Zapata told OPB, adding that enforcing the camping ban would bring its own unaccounted costs, including police work and jail expenses.
What's next: Wilson will present his full budget proposal to the council by the end of February.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the city is projected to spend nearly $11 million on camp removals (not the $27 million Wilson cited).