PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s second mass sanctioned campsite for homeless people, also known as a Temporary Alternative Shelter Site (TASS), will soon welcome residents. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler held a news conference inside the site Monday afternoon.
Outside the site stood a small group of peaceful protestors from the surrounding neighborhood, arguing that the location off busy North Portland Road, surrounded by industrial businesses, is not the safest place to place homeless people.
Wheeler said the site was chosen primarily because it was large enough to fit dozens of RVs — one thing that makes the site stand out from other Portland shelters.
“It’s the first combined RV and alternative shelter site within the city of Portland, but it probably won’t be the last,” said Wheeler.
California-based nonprofit Urban Alchemy will run the site. They run other tiny home sites around Portland, including the city’s first TASS that opened last year.
“We want to say thank you. We’re excited about this site, we’re excited about the lives that will be changed,” said Kirkpatrick Tyler, a spokesperson for Urban Alchemy.
The North Portland site can house nearly 200 people, spread between 90 shelter pods and 70 parking spots for RVs. Roughly 20% of those on the streets in Multnomah County live in a vehicle, according to a recent Point in Time survey.
“This site provides an opportunity for us to get RVs and derelict vehicles off our streets and out of Portland neighborhoods,” said Wheeler.
The site is low barrier, which means there are no background checks and no requirement to be sober. However, drugs or weapons won’t be allowed inside.
“Yeah, that’s probably what worries me the most,” said Michael, who has lived in St. Johns for 20 years. “Just bringing people unchecked into your neighborhood is always kind of a frightening thing."
It’s the surrounding neighborhood that’s giving mixed reviews about the site. But comments varied between people who spoke with KGW.
“It’s good to know that the homeless are actually going to be able to get into a shelter,” added another neighbor, Lucien Lavoie.
“Ted (Wheeler) could have made a better choice for a site — he could’ve used the money in a better way,” said Charlotte MacDonald, who also lives near the site.
The site, once used for boat manufacturing, sits between a wastewater treatment plant and the Columbia Slough. The city had to remove trash and debris from the property, including more than 3,000 tires, all while not disturbing the soil, which was being tested for toxins — ultimately delaying shelter construction.
“It has not been easy, it’s been no small feet, but it’s been incredibly rewarding and worthwhile,” Wheeler said.
About three minutes down the road from the site is an unsanctioned homeless camp, where about a dozen people live in RVs and other vehicle. The fact that the camp is so close to the site is no coincidence.
“That’s why we stayed right here on (North) Portland Road,” said Matt, who is originally from Colorado. He's been homeless in Portland for nine years.
“I moved up here because I heard it was a little bit more homeless-friendly,” Matt said.
Despite the rumors, Matt couldn’t find a shelter that would accept his trailer, until now.
“I’m going to go down there right this moment and see if they’re going to let us in,” Matt said, referring to the North Portland shelter.
Urban Alchemy staff will be on site 24/7 and they will try and connect with people camping in the area. The city has still agreed to meet with concerned neighbors on a monthly basis. Homeless people will start moving into the site in the middle of November.