Intelligent and compassionate people in Portland realize that there are broad, long-ranging social problems that bring us to a situation where thousands of people without a place to call home simply make themselves at home either (a) on public property where doing so is illegal (and for good reason -- this is called trespassing and it directly impacts the social contract as well as others' rights, e.g. to have a safe park for children to play in; and (b) on private property, which is also trespass and a violation of both property rights, privacy and all "castle" principles inherent in a nation built on a foundation which assumes and encourages private property ownership, leasing, etc. A free for all is what we're on the edge of and it's getting close to chaos. The City's obligation will hopefully put a quick end to the lawsuit against using a vacant city terminal to provide a safe shelter -- where many of these trespassers can stay temporarily.
L
Lauren Sylvis
10 years ago
I've lived in SE Hawthorne neighborhood for 26years, and paid property taxes for as long as I've lived here. In the past three years I no longer feel safe going for a walk in my own neighborhood. And especially taking my dog to Sewellcrest Park. Something needs to be done about this homeless lifestyle problem. And it is a lifestyle, not just people down on their luck. Although I imagine there are people who would prefer not to live outside.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
FYI where will the folks camping on the Springwater trail settle? Please consider opening the unused jail. Warm and dry
J
Jacob Hamilton
10 years ago
Seems like common sense.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Called the police to report a man passed out in the sidewalk outside the Blind Commission with drug paraphernalia and knives and screwdrivers laying around. No officer ever came to address the situation. Tired of the unsafe neighborhoods.
M
Mark D Nunnenkamp
10 years ago
Quit giving the free opportunities to these freeloaders. The money it costs to provide for the migration of homeless/freeloaders could be used for schools, road repair, etc.
J
Judith Trenberth
10 years ago
Many of these people are travelors, they are not homeless Portland people. They take advantage of our liberal laws!
E
Elizabeth Million
10 years ago
Twitter @sepdxhomeless
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
It may not be illegal to be homeless, but that's not an excuse to not enforce the law.
D
Donna Stanley
10 years ago
The homeless situation is beyond disgusting and who pays to clean up after them? The taxpayers. They don't pay a dime but expect all the freebies. There are tons of Help Wanted signs around town but then they'd have to be responsible. Fat chance.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Good work! Is there more that we can do? The city/county needs to find an acceptable place for the homeless to be and the resources to deal with the situations! The homeless are ruining Portland!
R
Ronna Neuenschwander
10 years ago
Featured
The laws should not favor one population over another. As a homeowner, I am not allowed to block the sidewalk with my furniture nor litter indiscriminately, nor defecate in my neighbors' bushes. We are only willing to shoulder a percentage of this emergency ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD!
R
Ronald D Doctor
10 years ago
The "Safe Sleep" policy should be abandoned. It is not safe for neighbors to walk past the sleep sites at night.
J
Josh Robben
10 years ago
Stop abandoning Portland citizens to the onslaught of crime, drugs, and garbage.! Clean up our parks and sidewalks now!
M
Mary Ann Schwab
10 years ago
Featured
20 Tents camping on SE Oak Street, and one person slept on our front porch again, leaving beautiful porch swing pillows and a king-size hand-knitted afghan. I've left two cell phone messages last week -- have yet to file a report.
J
James Roe
10 years ago
Disturbing that the enforcement operations in other parts of the city seem to only be relocating people to the inner south east.
This area is experiencing rapid development and the failure to enforce policy jeopardizes all of that.
L
Lori Geske
10 years ago
Please pay attention to what your neighbors are saying. Something's gotta give.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
Featured
We live in Buckman and my high school daughter can't walk to the bus stop because of tents, mattresses and people laying on the sidewalk. No other city I've lived in allows this situation. Please enforce the laws we are all supposed to be living by.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
#citythatworkspeopleover needs to fix this, or the tax paying businesses and homeowners will LEAVE.
K
Karen Hilley
10 years ago
Just had a homeless person in my backyard looking around. I have lived in my house 30 years and never had to deal with this. The city has to take action.
Intelligent and compassionate people in Portland realize that there are broad, long-ranging social problems that bring us to a situation where thousands of people without a place to call home simply make themselves at home either (a) on public property where doing so is illegal (and for good reason -- this is called trespassing and it directly impacts the social contract as well as others' rights, e.g. to have a safe park for children to play in; and (b) on private property, which is also trespass and a violation of both property rights, privacy and all "castle" principles inherent in a nation built on a foundation which assumes and encourages private property ownership, leasing, etc. A free for all is what we're on the edge of and it's getting close to chaos. The City's obligation will hopefully put a quick end to the lawsuit against using a vacant city terminal to provide a safe shelter -- where many of these trespassers can stay temporarily.
I've lived in SE Hawthorne neighborhood for 26years, and paid property taxes for as long as I've lived here. In the past three years I no longer feel safe going for a walk in my own neighborhood. And especially taking my dog to Sewellcrest Park. Something needs to be done about this homeless lifestyle problem. And it is a lifestyle, not just people down on their luck. Although I imagine there are people who would prefer not to live outside.
FYI where will the folks camping on the Springwater trail settle? Please consider opening the unused jail. Warm and dry
Seems like common sense.
Called the police to report a man passed out in the sidewalk outside the Blind Commission with drug paraphernalia and knives and screwdrivers laying around. No officer ever came to address the situation. Tired of the unsafe neighborhoods.
Quit giving the free opportunities to these freeloaders. The money it costs to provide for the migration of homeless/freeloaders could be used for schools, road repair, etc.
Many of these people are travelors, they are not homeless Portland people. They take advantage of our liberal laws!
Twitter @sepdxhomeless
It may not be illegal to be homeless, but that's not an excuse to not enforce the law.
The homeless situation is beyond disgusting and who pays to clean up after them? The taxpayers. They don't pay a dime but expect all the freebies. There are tons of Help Wanted signs around town but then they'd have to be responsible. Fat chance.
Good work! Is there more that we can do? The city/county needs to find an acceptable place for the homeless to be and the resources to deal with the situations! The homeless are ruining Portland!
The laws should not favor one population over another. As a homeowner, I am not allowed to block the sidewalk with my furniture nor litter indiscriminately, nor defecate in my neighbors' bushes. We are only willing to shoulder a percentage of this emergency ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD!
The "Safe Sleep" policy should be abandoned. It is not safe for neighbors to walk past the sleep sites at night.
Stop abandoning Portland citizens to the onslaught of crime, drugs, and garbage.! Clean up our parks and sidewalks now!
20 Tents camping on SE Oak Street, and one person slept on our front porch again, leaving beautiful porch swing pillows and a king-size hand-knitted afghan. I've left two cell phone messages last week -- have yet to file a report.
Disturbing that the enforcement operations in other parts of the city seem to only be relocating people to the inner south east. This area is experiencing rapid development and the failure to enforce policy jeopardizes all of that.
Please pay attention to what your neighbors are saying. Something's gotta give.
We live in Buckman and my high school daughter can't walk to the bus stop because of tents, mattresses and people laying on the sidewalk. No other city I've lived in allows this situation. Please enforce the laws we are all supposed to be living by.
#citythatworkspeopleover needs to fix this, or the tax paying businesses and homeowners will LEAVE.
Just had a homeless person in my backyard looking around. I have lived in my house 30 years and never had to deal with this. The city has to take action.