PORTLAND, Ore. — Since the start of his mayoral campaign, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has pledged to open 1,500 new overnight shelter beds by Dec. 1, in an effort to — as he puts it — make it so no one has to sleep on the streets, effectively ending unsheltered homelessness in the Rose City.
It’s a lofty goal that has faced its fair share of pushback, including from some who argue that it’s simply unattainable. Those critics include members of the public and some members of the city council. But the mayor has also earned praise for his aggressive approach to addressing homelessness, including from local groups like the Portland Metro Chamber.
The mayor’s self-imposed deadline arrives Monday, and Wilson said he’s hit the mark. KGW’s Blair Best spoke to Wilson on Wednesday to get his take on the latest shelter and camping enforcement data and how he assesses his own progress.
Shelter and enforcement data
Since the start of the year, Wilson has opened hundreds of overnight shelter beds across five shelters. The final goal is within sight, he said Wednesday, with 1,100 beds currently operational or set to open soon and other 400 beds “in reserve,” with operators ready to set them up quickly as needed…