City of Portland Provides Update on Camping Enforcement

The City of Portland resumed enforcement of its public camping ordinance on November 1, with a focus on connecting homeless individuals to available shelter services. In the first five days, officers contacted 101 people at campsites, issued 83 warnings, and helped 39 individuals transition from street camping to overnight shelters. Mayor Keith Wilson commended outreach workers for their efforts, emphasizing the dual goals of compassion and community safety. The city had previously paused enforcement to increase shelter capacity and improve its service-first approach. Outreach teams collaborate with shelter operators and public safety partners to tailor shelter offers before any enforcement action.

The statistics indicate that 41 services were accepted, and 2 deflections were made during this period. The city will issue a follow-up update summarizing issued citations next week. This proactive approach aims to balance enforcement with supportive services for the homeless population.