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Official website for City of Portland Mayor Tom Potter. |
| Questions and answers about the protest at City Hall - May 6, 2008
Why are people protesting outside City Hall? Most of the protesters are homeless individuals who are asking the City to provide more affordable housing, designate areas where people can camp and suspend the anti-camping and sidewalk obstruction ordinances. The protestors argue they have nowhere to sleep at night, and are forced to move by police who “sweep” their camping sites. They also feel that Portland does not have enough year-round shelter beds to meet the demand and that the beds that are available do not accommodate people with disabilities, couples and people with pets.
What is the City doing to respond to the protestors? The City is working with Salvation Army to open additional and immediate shelter space for May and June. As of May 1, 12 additional “beds” for women each night are being provided by the Salvation Army SAFES emergency housing program. By mid-May, 70-90 additional “beds” for homeless adults will be provided at the Salvation Army Harbor Light facility. The Bureau of Housing and Community Development and the Mayor’s Office are simultaneously working on a plan to effectively address some of the current gaps in the homeless emergency system. [more]
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