Some local officials are criticizing Mayor Keith Wilson’s decision to reinstate a controversial outdoor camping ban as well as his push to add more shelter beds despite high vacancy rates.
Why it matters: The tension exposes an ongoing rift between city and county leaders over homeless shelter strategy, as the number of people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County rose 67% in the last two years, according to a newly released point-in-time count.
Catch up quick: The previous City Council unanimously passed Portland’s camping ban in spring 2024. Wilson put the ban on pause in February, shortly after he took office, and began efforts to increase emergency shelter bed counts.
- The city began enforcing the ban again over the weekend, restricting activities such as building fires and blocking pedestrian rights-of-way, including sidewalks and business entrances.
- Camping is allowed only if a person does not have the “means to acquire reasonable alternate shelter,” per the ordinance.
- If shelter is available and someone refuses, they can face penalties such as fines or jail time.
By the numbers: Portland has added 1,090 overnight shelter beds since the start of 2025, roughly two-thirds of the way to meeting Wilson’s campaign goal of creating 1,500 by Dec. 1.
- That brings the countywide total to more than 3,500, per OPB.
Yes, but: The city-run overnight emergency shelters, which have 40 to 100 beds, often have occupancy rates between 20% and 70% on any given night, according to the Oregonian…