PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — For months, Pearl District residents begged Portland city leaders to listen to their concerns about a proposed 200-bed homeless shelter at a currently vacant office building.
Monday, they got their wish as Mayor Keith Wilson and District 4 councilors Eric Zimmerman, Mitch Green and Olivia Clark showed up for a public meeting at The Armory on NW 11th. But it doesn’t appear the city leaders were swayed.
Kotek signs ‘middle housing’ bills in Hillsboro ceremony
Wilson, who was met with boos as he spoke, doubled down on his plan for the shelter at NW 15th and Northrup. The low barrier shelter, which would open with just 40 beds before expansion, would let people stay without sobriety checks, but drugs are not allowed.
“In the shelters we’ve opened, we’ve seen a reduction in crime. We’ve seen an increase in business,” Wilson said.
Linda Witt, one of the scores of residents who went to the meeting, fears the shelter will disrupt local businesses, strain neighborhood resources and hurt property values…