But the comparison with other states is novel. A cleaner downtown (70%) was the most common thing people said would make the city center more appealing. See something we could improve onthis page? In May 2020, voters in greater Portland approved a measure to raise money for supportive housing services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Portland has had a rough couple of years and its reputation has taken a beating. Nearly three years after pandemic lockdowns emptied out the citys core and protests against police brutality turned a few downtown blocks into a battleground, this In April, Morgan-Platt left her job to begin working in a ghost kitchen, a space where cooks make delivery-only food for multiple brands. The first annual 'Night of Remembrance' will be held at Bybee Lakes Hope Center in North Portland. Create an Account . Others argued the city was facing increasing issues with crime and homelessness they say has contributed to a decrease in the number of people coming downtowna fact some believe contributed to Republicans' unexpectedly strong performance in the state during last year's gubernatorial election. Multnomah County hits milestone for supportive housing services This years count I think theres real evidence that its been a failure in protecting against hypothermia in a material way., Portland Police Spent Nearly $8 Million in First Two Months of Nightly Rioting, Rural Oregonians Launch Bid to Secede and Join Idaho: Let Us Go, Portland Riots: How Troubled Youth, Angry Moms Locked Arms to Upend a City, A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Gwyneth Paltrow won't recoup attorney fees in ski crash suit, 'Zombie' misinformation: 'Rape Day' hoax resurfaces on TikTok, 'Very homophobic': Teachers' union leader Randi Weingarten says House hearing crossed the line. Additionally, there would likely need to be materials and services costs as well as supervisory positions added to this cost estimate. The city has also invested tremendously in infrastructure tied to downtown with a transit system built around passing through the city core and two major interstates intersecting just outside downtown. The City Council will prioritize investments associated with this resolution and related resolutions in the 2022 Fall Budget Monitoring Process. Every downtown in the nation faces serious challenges in the wake of the pandemic, which emptied out offices, led to a massive drop in tourism and produced an unprecedented spike in layoffs. Gonzalezs office did not respond to a request for comment from National Review on Thursday. Since they opened in June, theyve moved 49 people off the streets and into the tiny homes. The US Census Bureau estimates about 641,000 people live in Portland as of last July. Many downtown Portland storefronts remain covered in plywood, while other business have shut down entirely, nearly a year after large-scale protests began following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Local General Fund into the Continuums of Care: $30.5 million City and County, McKinney $ into the Continuums of Care: $15.5 million ($5 million add from federal government), Copyright 2023 City of Portland, Oregon, USA, Protecting Health and Safety: Campsite Cleanup Protocol May 2021. The top reasons people cited for visiting downtown less often in the past year were worries about their personal safety (67%), homelessness (60%) and protests (60%). There is absolutely no place for violence in this chamber.. Communal service structures, restrooms with showers, laundry, kitchenettes, on-site management office, social spaces: $130,000 - $200,000 per site. The geographic distribution of homelessness remained relatively unchanged from 2013, except in one area: Gresham/East County. He said Wheeler, who is also the police commissioner, supports the Portland Police Bureaus use of kettling, when appropriate, to contain and detain people who are causing destruction. Kate Brown blocked indoor dining in Multnomah County and other parts of the state. The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. JAMA Netw Open. While other states are heavily focused on digital channels promoting its regional hubs as business locations, Oregons business strategy is in the form of trade shows and relationship building. 2021;4(3):e210477. Planning, outreach and education, strategic, and technology projects. Nine of the residents have since moved into permanent housing. The situation is so dire in Portland that disabilities activists sued the city last year, claiming that the tents on sidewalks have become so pervasive that wheelchair users are unable to maneuver around the city. Sleeping pods It is difficult to know the costs of siting this newly proposed model but should site development require similar space allocations and amenities as the Safe Rest Villages (again, not including the cost of sleeping pods), serving 150 people per site would translate to approximately $1.44 to $2.1 million per site. People living in Portland were oversampled, with 300 taking the poll, but results were adjusted to reflect the view across the metro area. [xxxiii] Per Impact Reduction Programs latest observation. There was also an increase in the number of chronically homeless families: 64 of the people in families on the night of the count were chronically homeless, compared with 52 in 2013, and over half of the chronically homeless families in 2015 were unsheltered. and Privacy Policy (updated January 24, 2023). The City of Portland commits to partnering with Multnomah County to: Support the Behavioral Health Emergency Coordination Network and the opening of a polysubstance/meth stabilization center. In the heart of the city, though, virtually every block has boarded-up storefronts and windows. WebThe next Point-In-Time Count will be January 25th - 31st, 2023. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler nearly lost his re-election bid last November amid widespread unhappiness with the citys response to homelessness, protests and vandalism. While suburban counties are outpacing Multnomah County, the region as a whole is underperforming. Our street and shelter homeless population is aging. In testimony submitted to the committee, some expressed concern about the prevalence of drug use among some of those who are homeless, and feeling unsafe walking around the streets of places like Portland and the state capital of Salem. Lago said she also feels that the city and county havent done enough to hold those who have committed property damage accountable. 2014;65:739-750. Invest in the damn services that were promised as part of 110," they added. Motion to remove under the NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED subsection 1.A.l., a maximum of 500 people per campus when divided into quadrants and replace with, up to six campuses with a maximum of 250 each when divided up and under subsection 1.B., remove three and replace with six: Moved by Rubio and seconded by Hardesty. Articles, blogs, press releases, public notices, and newsletters. Arson is down considerably this spring, as the protests have faded, but burglaries and vandalism remain elevated, according to crime statistics compiled by the Portland Police Bureau. Homelessness activists called the order cruel and evil. And then it snowed. WebAs of 2022, 17,959 people total experienced homelessness in Oregon, with 2,157 individuals being youth under 18, 6,671 being female, 10,931 being male, and 131 being transgender. But Portlands issues are particularly acute. While Oregon saw a dip in the right direction, the rate of people experiencing homelessness was still unusually high compared with nearly every other state in America. ", By Monique Claiborne President and CEO, Greater Portland Inc, {{ isSignedIn ? WHEREAS, the SSCC improved its assistance to unsheltered individuals, including: WHEREAS, unsanctioned encampment removals increased by 2844% from September 2020 to September 2022 (from 9 to 265) (from IRP)[xxxii]; and, WHEREAS, despite the substantial increase in removals, the number of encampments has risen to over 700[xxxiii]; and, WHEREAS, approximately 20% of those camping in self-sited unsanctioned encampments accept an offer for congregate shelter[xxxiv]; and, WHEREAS, even with the improved shelter referral process, of the thousands of people offered a shelter bed, only a total of 405 have accepted[xxxv]; and, WHEREAS, providers engaged in daily outreach around the city estimate that upwards of 60% of those living in self-sited unsanctioned encampments would accept an offer for a designated camping site[xxxvi]; and, WHERAS, qualitative evidence suggests that the majority of campers prefer to remain outdoors, rather than go into congregate shelter, and simply move to another unsanctioned camp location, putting them at risk of removal and continued lack of access to services; and, WHEREAS, Portlands City Council extended the duration of a housing emergency and continued the current housing emergency for three additional years in Ordinance 190756 on March 30, 2022[xxxvii]; and, WHEREAS, stabilization of those living unsheltered in managed communities with peer support is trauma-informed and compassionate; and, WHEREAS, the campus model and phased approach is more effective for connecting individuals with services such as charitable, government, and healthcare, for example, Vancouvers meal train for its Safe Stay program[xxxviii], Medfords Urban Campground for up to 125 people, and Talent Gateway Transitional Housing Project for 159 people in 53 RVs[xxxix]; and, WHEREAS, the City of Portland will soon open all six Safe Rest Villages; and, WHEREAS the City is committed to serving the needs of unhoused individuals with disabilities and connecting them with appropriate services in City shelters and campsites [xli]; and. "There are more than 220 local laws in Oregon criminalizing homelessness, which effectively means if you are ever unable to afford housing, and you don't have friends or family that you can crash with, or rely on for shelter, you are criminalized," Chaichi said in an April 5 livestream promoting the bill. Meanwhile, federal data show Oregon experienced a 27 percent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness between 2020 and 2022, the fourth-highest total in the nation. Large protests ended during the summer, but in the months since the city has been unable to stop small groups of vandals from sporadically attacking businesses and civic organizations at night, which has led many downtown businesses to continue to keep plywood over their windows. Board members with expertise in the area of mental health point out that given the trauma associated with homelessness, a much higher percentage of the homeless population would likely qualify as having a mental health disability than is documented through the survey. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg, -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699. In recent decades, however, those laws have been replaced with ordinances at the local level to restrict the number of homeless persons in public areas, creating an environment advocates say has essentially criminalized the poor. The review found 14,655 people experiencing homelessness across the state. In your own words: As part of a recent poll, The Oregonian/OregonLive asked 600 people living in the Portland area half within the city limits to list three words of their own choosing to describe downtown. 4 min read. Homeless people who feel they have been unfairly treated in violation of the law would be able to sue their tormentors and be eligible for damages of up to $1,000 per violation. I love Portland, generally speaking, said Matthew Forsyth, a 65-year-old Southwest Portland resident who participated in the poll. Governor Kotek helped secure $5 million for the project in 2021 while still serving as Speaker of the House. Using this figure, hiring 50 Navigation Team members would cost approximately $5.0 million annually. Business owners in Old Town Chinatown say they want clear boundaries on where the city will allow camping, and where it will not. Public health considerations for City policies related to assessing and clearing encampments. People The resolution discusses serving a maximum of 500 people with this new model; using these cost estimates, serving 500 people would cost between $10.0 million and $22.5 million annually. Read the full data report on the poll of Portland area residents completed in early May. She said the city and county should be more creative and proactive in finding temporary alternatives to house the homeless, even as they continue to work on long-term solutions. Its killing people, an activist said, calling on others to say f*** Ted Wheeler, according to a video of the meeting. Indeed, 45% of poll respondents said they had not been downtown since the pandemics onset, and another 28% said they had been downtown just a few times. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The job required Morgan-Platt, 42, to walk through downtown daily to visit her companys parking lots. Wheeler's office previously reported a 50% increase in homelessness from 2019 to 2022 as well as homeless encampments topping 700 within the city. See: https://www.psychiatrictimes.co, [xv]2019-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Model-Based Prevalence Estimates (50 States and the District of Columbia) | CBHSQ Data (samhsa.gov), [xvi]https://www.thelundreport.org/content/meth-has-changed-and-it%E2%80%99s-sabotaging-oregon%E2%80%99s-mental-health-system. This months poll suggests residents remain deeply unhappy. We have been distributing incredible numbers of tents and tarps in the region and thats still not preventing hypothermia deaths, he told the paper. Building, transportation, maintenance, and sewer projects. He loved to go down just to the waterfront and walk around. The program is funded by a 1% marginal tax on taxable income of more than $125,000 for individuals Now is the time to drive all those points to location decision makers. $6.8 million for a 150 person site or $22.5 million to serve 500 people. Community Ment Health J. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0477, [xi]Office-Based Addiction Treatment Retention and Mortality Among People Experiencing Homelessness | Addiction Medicine | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network, Behavioral Health Services for People Who are Homeless (samhsa.gov), [xiv] Castellow J KB, Townley G. Previous homelessness as a risk factor for recovery from serious mental illness. The Oregonian/OregonLive commissioned the poll to assess perceptions of downtown from those who live and work in the metro area. The last point-in-time count for which we have data was January 23, 2019. He said it wont be easy to get people to return downtown if they dont feel safe. Nevertheless, supplemental data indicates that levels of homelessness have increased in these communities, including, Native Americans, Latinos, and Asians. May 19, 2021 Portland illegally discarding personal property during homeless sweeps, class-action suit alleges Federal analysis shows Oregons homeless population in decline prior to pandemic. Opportunities posted to governmentjobs.com, City of Portland general information hotline, https://www.google.com/maps/place/Portland,+OR/@45.542714,-122.6544011,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x54950b0b7da97427:0x1c36b9e6f6d18591!8m2!3d45.515232!4d-122.6783853, https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/01/false-promises-95-of-unsheltered-portlanders-said-city-workers-didnt-offer-shelter-before-camp-sweeps.html#:~:text=%5C-,False%20promises%3A%2095%25%20of%20unsheltered%20Portlanders%20said%20city%20workers%20didn,offer%20shelter%20before%20camp%20sweeps, https://www.streetroots.org/news/2022/07/13/violence-conflated, She has explained these root causes at various conferences, https://endhomelessness.org/ending-homelessness/solutions/, https://www.portland.gov/wheeler/news/2022/10/19/mayor-wheeler-releases-data-average-wait-time-many-subsidized-affordable, https://www.opb.org/article/2022/08/04/oregon-mental-health-system-meth-use-portland-methamphetamine/, Office-Based Addiction Treatment Retention and Mortality Among People Experiencing Homelessness | Addiction Medicine | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network, 2019-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Model-Based Prevalence Estimates (50 States and the District of Columbia) | CBHSQ Data (samhsa.gov), https://www.thelundreport.org/content/meth-has-changed-and-it%E2%80%99s-sabotaging-oregon%E2%80%99s-mental-health-system, Tomohiro Abekawa, in Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, 2016, Nicholas T. Bello, Matthew R. Zahner, in Side Effects of Drugs Annual, 2017, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lpro/Publications/Background-Brief-Measure-110-(2020).pdf, https://www.opb.org/article/2022/09/20/oregon-measure-110-drug-decriminalization-substance-abuse-treatment/, Oregon gubernatorial candidates weigh in on Measure 110, their plans if elected | KPIC, Oregon Substance Use Disorder Services Inventory and Gap Analysis, 2021.Oregon.NSDUH.Highlights.Final.pdf - Google Drive, https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2022/01/90-homicides-in-portland-2021-closed-with-one-of-the-most-deadly-months-in-a-record-year.html, https://www.portland.gov/homelessnessimpactreduction/news/reports, https://www.portland.gov/charter-code-policies/changes/2022/3/ordinance-number-190756, https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/sep/03/vancouver-safe-stay-community-nourished-with-meals-prepared-by-volunteers/, https://www.rogueretreat.org/housing-shelter/, https://www.portland.gov/wheeler/news/2022/10/4/mayor-wheeler-releases-rfi-project-report-polysubstance-stabilization-center, Resolution, supplemental documents, and testimony, 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, Free transportation to that shelter, and storage of personal belongings exceeding what is allowed in a shelter space for up to 30 days. I dont think its going to improve on its own, said Brown, 59. Now, I dont go downtown unless I have to.. Street Roots is an award-winning weekly publication focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. This word cloud illustrates the results, with the size of words scaled to depict the frequency with which poll respondents used them. The numbers themselves are not new theyre based on annual point-in-time estimates from January of 2020. "We are asking Oregon lawmakers to consider a $5 million investment to implement (a marketing) strategy. The cost of this proposal would depend on the classification and compensation for these positions. A late February storm dumped eleven inches of snow on Portland, and temperatures dipped into the 20s. The most notable costs would likely be in the siting and operating of a new model of alternative shelter sites with services, and with hiring an additional 50 navigation team members. Although the overall number of homeless people in Multnomah County between 2013 and 2015 did not change despite the worsening affordable housing crisis there are still serious concerns. Office-Based Addiction Treatment Retention and Mortality Among People Experiencing Homelessness. He also said the mayors office has worked with the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office to ensure that vandals who were previously being cited and released are now being booked into jail and facing pretrial sanctions. Sam Adams, the former mayor and now a senior adviser to Wheeler, said that work is already underway to revitalize downtown and he believes the city has made some progress in the last two months in ensuring people feel safe coming to the citys core. Wheeler eventually halted the meeting, which was resumed in a virtual session. That reflects the economic disparities the pandemic exacerbated, with affluent neighborhoods thriving even as downtown struggles. Though the bill is scheduled for a committee hearing May 4, Chaichi said there will be a rally in favor of the bill on June 1 andin the coming monthswill seek to rally more people to support it. It's not the only piece of legislation targeting homelessness this session. If you encourage people to come downtown and they are seeing fencing and plywood, you are less likely to get them back.. Persistent vandalism, accumulating trash and homelessness have soured attitudes about Portland's economic, cultural and transportation hub.Dave Killen/The Oregonian. The survey defined downtown as the area west of the Willamette River from Portland State University to Old Town Chinatown and the Pearl District, including Providence Park. In addition to the threat of fires, Gonzalez told the Oregonian in February that the lawsuit, along with heavy drug use and crime, were reasons for the ban on distributing more tents. Give website feedback. I think the whole metro area would suffer otherwise.. The resolution expresses a desire to have the directed implementation plan include the hiring an additional 50 Navigation Team members. Lago said she would like to see officials make use of empty buildings or parking lots downtown to set up temporary homeless shelters where they could provide portable toilets and other amenities, rather than allowing unregulated camping within the city center. An image campaign that precedes actual improvement would be counterproductive, Tapogna said. The city became a national symbol of unrest last summer during large, raucous protests over civil rights after a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd. WHEREAS, the unsheltered homeless population grew by 50% from 2,037 people in 2019 to 3,057 people in 2022[i]; and, 700 OFTEN-MOVING CAMPS SCATTERED ACROSS PORTLANDS 146 SQ MILES, WHEREAS, the Impact Reduction Program of the City of Portland has observed over 700 self-sited unsanctioned encampments across the Citys 146 square miles[ii]; and, WHEREAS, sprawl of self-sited unsanctioned encampments makes outreach and charitable/service distribution difficult, uneven, and inequitable; and, WHEREAS, in early 2022, 95% of homeless individuals surveyed said they were not offered temporary shelter, transitional or permanent housing or other services to meet their immediate needs prior to the removal of their self-sited encampment (Feb. 2, 2022)[iii]; and, WHEREAS, those camping in self-sited unsanctioned encampments often lack access to reliable sources of food, water, and hygiene services; and, WHEREAS, Street Roots found that homeless individuals were more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators[iv]; and, WHEREAS, homeless people with mental illness are highly vulnerable to violence, with a reported lifetime incidence of 74% to 87% of violence being perpetrated against them[v]; and, WHEREAS, Dr. Solotaroff, the former President and CEO of Central City Concern, explained the essential root causes of homelessness as stemming from both individual factors (early childhood adverse experiences, serious mental illness, substance use disorder, personal history of violence, etc.) She said she felt safe during her first eight months on the job, but that changed when she returned to work last September after being temporarily laid off due to the pandemic. Take action today! WebA site tour of the new Queer Affinity Village location. The city has become too expensive to live in, she said, and doesnt have enough basic amenities like toilets, handwashing stations and trashcans so homeless Portlanders can care for themselves. Furnel, Inc. is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services in a timely manner at a competitive price. Still, Portland State University criminologist Kris Henning said perception matters tremendously, regardless of whether crime rates have changed. [xxxvii]https://www.portland.gov/charter-code-policies/changes/2022/3/ordinance-number-190756, [xxxviii]https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/sep/03/vancouver-safe-stay-community-nourished-with-meals-prepared-by-volunteers/, [xxxix]https://www.rogueretreat.org/housing-shelter/, [xl]https://www.portland.gov/wheeler/news/2022/10/4/mayor-wheeler-releases-rfi-project-report-polysubstance-stabilization-center, [xli]https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2022/09/07/46063805/class-action-lawsuit-accuses-portland-of-violating-americans-with-disabilities-act-by-allowing-tents-on-sidewalks. Others criticized the bill as "out of touch with reality," citing the failure of previous legislation like a 2021 bill sponsored by current Gov. In all, 534 people who wrote about the bill as of Mondayincluding more than 300 from Portlandwere opposed to its passage. [xxxv]https://www.portland.gov/homelessnessimpactreduction/news/reports. BEND, OR - AUGUST 9: A "safe parking" zone for the growing homeless population in this community is viewed on a side street off of Highway 97 north of town In a legislative session where lawmakers are throwing their weight behind $535 million to address a housing crisis plaguing the state, only about $9 million is proposed to specifically address the growing problem of youth homelessness. 'Member Account' : 'Sign In'}}, reported by The Oregonian/OregonLives Jamie Goldberg, REI announced it is fleeing Portland once its Pearl District. Last week, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler shut down the city council meeting after at least four activists railed against the tent and tarp ban during a discussion on an unrelated topic. The 2022 point-in-time count, held on January 25, 2022 is now being compiled and reviewed. She said she grew concerned for her safety after a person asked her for money and then chased her down the street when she refused. Additional details will be added when available. The following is a list of general statistics taken from the 2015 point-in-time count, conducted by Multnomah County. The Oregon legislature has also already approved $100 million in its upcoming budget for homeless services and housing while, earlier this year, lawmakers made headlines for proposed legislation to begin a year-long trial program to give low-income earners and the homeless $1,000 in guaranteed income per month for rent, emergency expenses, food and childcare. Psychiatr Serv. Here are the full results. The report painted a dark picture for the homelessness crisis nationwide with the number of people living on the streets or in shelters increasing for the fourth year in a row. Support the news and programs youll rely on in 2023 and beyond! For example, studies show that homelessness relates to increased psychiatric distress and lower perceived levels of recovery from serious mental illness[xiv]; and, WHEREAS, in 2020, Oregon jumped from having the ninth highest rate of meth use in the country to the highest, according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health data[xv]; and, WHEREAS, the price of meth has decreased, while the potency has increased, allowing users to purchase three days' worth of meth for $5[xvi]; and, WHEREAS, [m]eth dependence gradually develops into not only meth psychosis but also persistent neurocognitive deficits which impair daily living and working[xvii]; and [m]ethamphetamine-induced psychosis is often times clinically indistinguishable from paranoid schizophrenia[xviii]; and meth use can cause obsessive, hoarding behavior[xix]; and, WHEREAS, Oregonians voted overwhelmingly for Measure 110 in 2020, with the understanding that decriminalizing the personal possession of illegal drugs would be coupled with revenue (from marijuana sales and funds reallocated away from drug enforcement) to fund a new drug addiction treatment and recovery grant program[xx]; and, WHEREAS, Measure 110 is a public health approach and when implemented alongside treatment and recovery investment, is a laudable and more humane policy, but in the two years since the decriminalization of the personal use of drugs in Oregon, funds for drug abuse treatment and recovery have yet to be fully implemented[xxi]; and, WHEREAS, only 4.6% of people ticketed for a Measure 110 violation have called Lines for Life to be connected to services[xxii]; and, WHEREAS, there is a 49% gap in substance use disorder services needed by Oregonians[xxiii]; and, WHEREAS, among Oregon Health Plan members, rates of substance use disorder diagnoses suggest that less than half of those with a use disorder have been diagnosed or treated[xxiv]; and, WHEREAS, Oregon ranks second in the nation for percent of population with past year substance use disorder[xxv]; and, WHEREAS, Oregon ranks 50th in nation for percent of population needing but not receiving treatment for substance use disorders[xxvi]; and, DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, WHEREAS, drug overdoses in Multnomah County increased 94% between 2019 and 2021 (from 215 in 2019 to 417 in 2021)[xxvii], and fentanyl overdoses increased by 588% between 2019 and 2021 (from 25 in 2019 to 172 in 2021)[xxviii]; and, WHEREAS, drug overdoses (417) killed more people in Multnomah County in 2021 than gun violence (71) and automobile crashes (84) combined[xxix]; and, CAMP REMOVALS WITHOUT CAMPING BAN NOT EFFECTIVE, WHEREAS, in Spring of 2021, with the lifting of COVID pandemic restrictions, Mayor Ted Wheeler, issued an Emergency Declaration that created the Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) that coordinates homelessness outreach efforts by the City of Portland and Multnomah County with the purpose of providing streamlined services to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness[xxx]; and.
