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Dear friends,
Our city faces an unprecedented homelessness crisis, and I’ve committed to providing a safe bed for every person, every night by December 1st. Emergency shelters are crucial to my plan to end unsheltered homelessness and once again enforce our existing laws on encampments and related public safety issues. We’re on a ticking clock, and it’s time to get it done.
My plan only works if host neighborhoods are empowered and safe. I’m determined to win the trust of emergency shelter neighbors and surrounding businesses through tangible improvements. That’s why my budget includes increased funds for residential street cleaning, graffiti removal, derelict vehicle towing, and engagement workers. Improving the areas surrounding our new emergency shelters is a top priority.
If you’re a neighbor, worker, student, or business owner within 1,000 feet of a shelter, here’s what you can expect:
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Community Engagement: Shelter operators, Portland Solutions, and PEMO Problem Solver Network will coordinate to notify neighbors prior to opening new shelters as well as stand by to answer questions and concerns from the community.
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Neighborhood Improvement: No new shelter offers services before we inspect the area, clean streets and sidewalks, remove graffiti, and ensure the site is ready to effectively serve guests and the surrounding neighborhood.
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Expedited Response: If you report an encampment, trash, graffiti or an abandoned vehicle in the area, your report will receive priority attention.
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Livability Checks: Shelter operators will walk the area twice a day to engage with individuals, address encampments, clean up garbage, and talk to neighbors.
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Direct Contact: If you see problems around the shelter, you can contact the shelter operator directly or City of Portland Shelter Services at shelterservices@portlandoregon.gov.
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Resource Connection: Upon exit, every guest receives a list of resources to connect them with food, resources, day centers, recovery, loved one reunification, and other critical services.
Thank you. Together, our compassion and drive will help us through this crisis and into a new day for Portland. We see signs of that togetherness everywhere. Just last weekend, an estimated 50,000 Portlanders marched together in solidarity and protest, joining demonstrations from across the nation. We celebrate all those who peacefully and powerfully raised their voices against Federal overreach and affirmed the right to free speech and expression, which are deeply held values in both Portland and our nation.
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