Seems to me that there is a perfectly good solution to this very nasty problem that Portland has with the public toilets that almost all those who have compassion agree is needed. Those that are tasked with cleaning them do not see it as a job to be done with respect. The result is the nastiness of them.
When Portland first put these up the idea was that the homeless who used them would treat them with respect and keep them clean. Didn’t work. Find another solution that will work. If you have been reading the news lately you will know that groups of homeless have started forming their own small communities. They have even put in place rules for living there. Guess what? They are respectful, peaceful, clean.
So, the solution? Put the homeless in charge of the public toilets. The city can easily pay them for cleaning, and maintaining that clean, getting supplies from the city and enforcing the rules for using them properly.
This seems to be the solution to only one problem. It is not. It is actually the solution to several problems. Problems that everyone wants fixed. By paying the homeless to take care of the toilets we help them up onto the first step of becoming a responsible member of society with all that that entails. They have the opportunity to begin developing self-respect, the self-respect that comes with being able to take care of yourself. Doing a job well, doing a job that is necessary. Pretty soon they start to care about their appearance, then a regular job and eventually a home not on the streets.