PORTLAND, Ore. — Surrounded by tents and piles of debris, Eric plays his guitar to drown out the hum of street life. He’s been homeless in Portland for the past nine years, and his latest spot to camp is near the Ross Island Bridge on the corner of South Corbett Avenue and Woods Street.
Eric chose it because of its proximity to the downtown core.
“It’s in the city but far enough away from like, downtown,” he explained. It’s also right across the street from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM).
“It is quite disruptive for some patient visits,” said medical student Yolanda Fernandez of the camp.
“I’ve been administrating an IV when somebody threw a brick at the glass and the glass cracked — and it’s not what you want to have happen while you’re trying to insert a catheter,” she continued.
“I had a patient comment, ‘Oh, there’s a boat out there and there’s a school bus.’ I know everybody needs a place, but this isn’t just a school — this is also a healing environment,” added Hannah Ruisi, another NUNM medical student.
A white skiff sits on a trailer between two school buses in part of the encampment, where Bo lives out of the two buses.
“I don’t cause trouble. I try to keep my stuff picked up,” said Bo, whose vehicles were recently posted for removal by the city.
“Everybody wants us to get off the streets, out of the tents, and all that and then we go and get a vehicle, they don’t even let us park on the road,” Bo complained.
“At NUNM, we are deeply committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for our students, faculty, and staff, as well as for the surrounding community.
We are aware of the encampment and its proximity to our campus. Despite our concerns, there has not been significant action on behalf of the city to address the encampment. We understand the difficulties the city encounters in addressing such complex and multifaceted concerns. We have been in communication with local authorities and relevant city departments to express our concerns and advocate for appropriate measures to address the situation. Our priority is to ensure the well-being of everyone involved, including those experiencing homelessness.
As an institution dedicated to health and wellness, we recognize the complex societal issues that contribute to homelessness and remain committed to supporting efforts that address root causes and provide meaningful solutions.”
Portland Police Bureau (PPB) records show officers have been called to the camp and school twice this month. Most recently was on Friday morning for a report of an unwanted person.
“Everybody has an issue with us being out here. No one wants to fix it. No one wants to take accountability for sh—, but everybody wants to have a problem with the lifestyle we choose to live as human beings,” said Chris, who lives at the camp and is a self-described “lifelong drug addict.”
A spokesperson for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office told KGW Friday that the camp would be cleared in the coming days and that outreach workers would be offering those they connect with shelter, among other services.