The city council of Portland, Oregon, joined other cities around the United States in passing legislation to address the nation's persistent homelessness problem by making it illegal to camp in most public areas during daylight hours.
The new law was passed with a 3-1 margin on Wednesday, June 7. This allows overnight camping in unrestricted areas between the hours of 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM local time but requires campers to dismantle their sites between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
Camping is also prohibited in the immediate vicinity of educational institutions, recreational areas, and busy streets.
Some property and business owners spoke in favor of the ban, claiming that campers were a safety hazard and a source of lost revenue. However, homeless people's advocates say this will add insult to injury by increasing their already considerable emotional and physical anguish.
Legal Measures to Deal With America's Long-Term Homeless Crisis
Portland has already passed an ordinance making it illegal to camp anywhere in the city. But, the measure has been poorly implemented and may be in violation of new state legislation that goes into effect on July 1.
In a report by AP News, the new rule formalizes a federal court judgment from 2018 that says local governments cannot imprison individuals for camping outdoors when not enough shelter is available. Still, they may establish "objectively reasonable" limitations on where, when, and how campsites can be set up.
Portland's mayor, Ted Wheeler, who proposed the legislation, issued a message of gratitude to council members on Wednesday evening. He noted that the measures taken to tighten up the city's shelter policies and provide more services are all part of his plan to reinvigorate the city.
Wheeler has said that over the next three months, education and outreach would be prioritized. They will then have a particular focus on making sure that homelessness navigation outreach teams have access to clear and comprehensive information on the new law.
Despite a severe lack of available beds in shelters, Portland is planning to launch its first city-approved camping spaces this summer, as reported by AP News.
As stated by Wheeler, the legislation will be enforced starting in late July after a gradual rollout.
After two warnings, offenders would face fines of up to $100 or up to 30 days in prison for each subsequent offense. Wheeler has said that the prosecution would place more emphasis on alternative punishments that provide access to services.
One City Council Member Is Against the New Law
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Commissioner Mingus Mapps was absent from the vote but voiced his support for the motion in a statement. Mayor Wheeler and Commissioners Dan Ryan and Rene Gonzalez all voted in favor of the bill. Commissioner Carmen Rubio opposed it.
Rubio said that the city should not have passed the law until more shelters were built, the capacity of existing facilities providing food, services, and shelter was increased, and police were given training on how to implement the new regulations with respect to the persons they were enforcing them on.
Rubio emphasized his duty to ensure that the ordinance would not damage anybody.
