PORTLAND, Ore. — There could be a new camping ordinance coming to the Portland area. This week, Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards proposed a countywide ban on homeless camping. The location of each camp would determine whether enforcement falls under city police or the county sheriff's office.
“It absolutely needs to be done … Right now, the county doesn't have any rules on the books, so if you're in unincorporated Multnomah County or you're, for example, on Multnomah County property on the bridgehead of the Hawthorne Bridge, there aren't any restrictions," Brim-Edwards explained. "This is really an attempt to have some uniformity to an approach to camping.”
Currently, cities within Multnomah County — like Portland and Gresham — have their own independent restrictions around homeless camps. Broadly speaking, it's illegal to camp on public property when shelter is available. However, due to a lack of shelter, enforcement is sporadic.
This week, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's office and the city of Gresham offered to partner with the county in this plan for countywide restrictions.
A spokesperson for the city of Gresham sent KGW the following statement regarding the potential Multnomah County camping ban:
“The City of Gresham collaborates daily with our intergovernmental partners, especially Multnomah County, to address the challenges facing our unsheltered populations, including tent camping. Gresham does not allow unauthorized campsites after the City’s homeless services team offers shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness in our community. That is a longstanding policy that works well for our community and the homeless services clients we serve.
"The City supports the County as they determine if/how they will address unauthorized camping on County-owned property and unincorporated areas. We have engaged in positive conversations with both county leadership and the City of Portland on these issues, and we believe that partnership is key to finding sustainable solutions. Our focus is on continuing these collaborative efforts, as we all work together for the betterment of our community."
According to city data shared with KGW, 9,000 campsites have been assessed and 1,400 have been removed since Portland’s camping ban started in July. People at 20 of them were referred to police for enforcement.
Out of those 20 sites, three people were cited, another three accepted the offer of shelter, four moved their campsites on their own before police arrived, one person was arrested for violating the camping ban and two people were arrested for outstanding warrants or drug dealing.
A KGW crew found the one man arrested for violating the camping ban in July. He was taken to jail but released after the Multnomah County Sheriff refused to book someone for violating city ordinances. That homeless man returned to his campsite in Northeast Portland the next day.
A spokesperson for Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office sent KGW the following statement regarding the city’s efforts to enforce the camping ban:
“Enforcement is resource intensive, requiring numerous Neighborhood Response Team officers and staff, which is why the Street Services Coordination Center is focused on the camps that pose the biggest health and safety risks. As Mayor Wheeler stated during the development and adoption of this ordinance, the goal is to connect people with services; not to impose punishment.”
Brim-Edwards seems to agree with that assessment in principal.
“We know that we don't yet have enough for everybody who is unsheltered, so from my perspective that has to be a top priority,” Brim-Edwards said.
Since enforcement of Portland’s ban began, Richard tries to keep his tent hidden. His latest spot is behind bushes in this field along the interstate.
"It's just a Catch-22 ... what are you going to do?” mused Richard, who has lived on the streets of Portland for 10 years. “Why not focus on helping people into places instead of banning it … it's just really hard, I feel bad for a lot of people.”
KGW is told enforcement of the countywide ban would start with the most problematic campsites. Commissioner Brim-Edwards stressed that punishing people for camping should be the last resort and that the focus should be on opening more shelters.
A formal draft of the countywide camping ban will be presented to county commissioners next month and it could go into effect by the end of the year.