SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s next legislative session is set to begin on Tuesday, with at least two new bills already in motion to address aspects of the homelessness crisis. Here’s an early look at them before the session starts — which could open them up to changes, if they advance at all.
House Bill 2696
The bipartisan bill has to do with homeless camps on public property and what happens to all the stuff that accumulates once it’s removed.
The bill would require removal crews to give homeless people 72 hours’ notice and post that notice in both English and Spanish. It would allow for crews to ask outreach workers to connect with the homeless people who have just been posted, which is a critical step in getting people off the streets.
Another piece of the bill defines what “personal property” means and requires it to be stored for at least 30 days. In Multnomah County, the bill says that a storage facility must be within six blocks of public transit, and homeless people must be given a phone number to call so they can find out where that storage facility is. This does not apply to weapons or drugs; those would be thrown away…