Portland Sets First 3 Locations For Sanctioned Homeless Camps

PORTLAND, OR—Portland took a big step in its effort to bring the homeless situation in the city under control. City Commissioner Dan Ryan announced the location of three "Safe Rest Villages" to be built. The "Villages" are essentially organized, official camps for the city's homeless.

Two of the camps will be in Southeast – one at the Menlo Park Park and Ride at SE 122nd and Burnside and one at SE 45th and Harney by the Springwater Corridor – and the other in Southwest, on the 2300 block of Naito Parkway.

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The city's Bureau of Environmental Services, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, and TriMet contributed land for the construction of the villages. They will be built using American Rescue Plan funds that were provided as part of the federal COVID-19 relief plan.

The funds "will be well spent building safe, sustainable, managed villages that will meet our houseless neighbors where they are and build resiliency for our entire city" Ryan said Thursday.

"I can’t wait to share more progress as we move forward on this vital work, and I know that Portlanders will welcome these villagers in their neighborhoods as we work to support unhoused residents as a community."

Ryan, who is also Portland's housing commissioner, said that the city will soon announce the location of three more and that they plan to have all six up and running next year. They believe the "villages" will be operational for 3 years.