County leaders analyze tents and tarps policy ahead of January leadership transition

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday to review the county’s tents and tarps policy, after Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez called for accountability on distribution.

Gonzalez serves on a new steering committee that oversees the Joint Office of Homeless Services. He first presented his proposal at their meeting on September 20th. Multnomah County Commissioners pushed back right away.

But on Tuesday, Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards asked Dan Fields, director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services, how service providers will adhere to city laws forbidding camping in public rights-of-way.

“The language you read asked providers to counsel people on the city’s intent not to have those tents and terms in publicly accessible places,” said Fields.

Brim-Edwards also asked Fields if providers know where to distribute tents and tarps, and where not to.

“I don’t think we propose to specify that in the policy. We’re not saying we will provide a list of public camp sites,” said Fields.

“Then how will the providers or recipients of the tents and tarps know how to comply with this?” she asked.

“I don’t know that that’s in the scope of that policy. That wasn’t our intent when we drafted that,” said Fields.

“Then it’s just words,” said Brim-Edwards.

An October report shows the county spends an average of a $1,000 a month providing tents, tarps, blankets and hygiene products to unhoused people, and up to $500 or $600 more during severe weather.

Brim-Edwards thinks there needs to be parameters around the policy.

“From my perspective the permanent policy should focus on severe weather episodes because long-term distributions of tents and tarps to me would indicate a failure of the city and county at providing adequate shelter.”

Outgoing commissioner Lori Stegmann said until there’s more shelter, the policy needs to remain as is.

“Until we get to the point where we can provide enough shelter beds, my values are that we have to provide people with privacy, with medical care,” said Stegmann.

An April audit on the joint office shows the city and county together have enough shelter for half the homeless population.

The county plans to review the policy again in April 2025 with new county board members.

https://katu.com/news/local/county-leaders-analyze-tents-and-tarps-policy-ahead-of-january-leadership-transition

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News post in at: November 14, 2024, 3:02 am.

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