PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — This coming week the Portland City Council is expected to vote on a new 3-year agreement with Multnomah County whether to continue funding the Joint Office of Homeless Services. But it’s not a done deal.
One of the hot button issues is that the county keeps giving out tens of thousands of tents and tarps to the homeless at the same time the City of Portland is paying millions for removing them in clean-up efforts.
Attorney John DiLorenzo sued the city on behalf of several disabled Portlanders and won the case where they claimed the city violated disability laws by allowing tents and tarps on sidewalks, blocking access.
Last week DiLorenzo was back before the Portland City Council on the tents-and-tarps issue, noting the city is spending millions to get rid of the tents and tarps even as the county continues to hand them out.
He said Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services continuing to distribute over 6,500 tents and 24,000 tarps is in direct conflict with the city’s $26 million contract with biohazard removal company Rapid Response to clean up between 8,000 and 12,000 tents.