Portland Homelessness Is Top Priority For New Year, Mayor Says

PORTLAND, OR – Mayor Ted Wheeler knows that 2018 wasn't a perfect year but he feels the city made several big strides in several key areas. It is progress that he hopes to build on 2019.

Wheeler met with reporters to take a look back at the year but mostly to look ahead to 2019.

The mayor also made the point that no matter how much progress the city makes, unless people can see the difference, it won't matter as much.

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"It really doesn't matter what I say about how many people were served, or how many people got into shelter, or how many people got into housing," he said.

"People need to see that our investments are having a discernible impact that people can see with their own eyes."

Wheeler listed the joint issues of affordable housing and homelessness as a top priority.

"Shelter to get people off the streets right now, services, and adequate transition services to get people off the streets or out of the shelters into housing, and making sure we have permanent supportive housing to make sure people are successful," are crucial for Portland's future he said.

Wheeler expects more than 1,000 affordable housing units will be built in Portland in 2019. Without more affordable housing, the issue of homelessness can't be addressed.

"The future of Portland's housing must be more affordable, stable and accessible for people who call Portland home to make sure that they no longer face injustices like unhealthy living conditions, exponential rate increases in their rent, children changing schools because they're priced out of neighborhoods, tenants experiencing no-cause evictions and neighbors living n fear of deportation and race-based discrimination," he said.

Wheeler is hopeful that Portland can make a deal with Multnomah County and Metro that would allow the city to use hotel and rental car taxes for affordable housing efforts.

The mayor believes the combined efforts, the partnerships that they've made with developers, community organizations and faith-based groups are paving the way to eventually ending homelessness.

"It's a matter of political will, prioritization and resources," he said.

."We'll get there a lot faster if we have partnerships from the state and federal governments. But we will get there."

Another hot topic on the city's agenda for next year is whether or not to continue its partnership with federal law enforcement by staying as members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Wheeler is supportive of the partnership, pointing out that it allows the city to remain in the loop about threats facing the city. At the same, he's said the key is that the partnership be a two-way street.

"I said from day one, I'd stay in the JTTF unless the JTTF gave me a reason not to stay there, and so far, frankly, our working relationship has been very positive and I think, ultimately, a benefit to the city of Portland, the people who live here," Wheeler said.

The issue of whether or not to say will likely be brought up at a city council work session in February.

Incoming council member Jo Anne Hardesty made leaving the JTTF a significant issue of her campaign.

Photo via City of Portland.