Portland's camping ban gains momentum with Multnomah County Sheriff's support

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The City of Portland’s camping ban may have had a rocky start, but things could start to smooth out now that the Multnomah County Sheriff is on board.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell met Monday afternoon to develop a plan that encourages Portlanders living on the street to accept local housing services and cites those who refuse. 

According to a joint statement released Tuesday morning, “both leaders believe that connecting people with services and housing is the best strategy to address homelessness in Portland. They also acknowledge for individuals who repeatedly refuse outreach services, the corrections system may offer additional intervention opportunities.”

The city’s camping ordinance places a ban on tents and other objects that impact public property — like sidewalks and parks — if a person has access to “reasonable alternative shelter.” In preparation for this ban, the City of Portland has developed Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites and Safe Rest Villages throughout the city.

If someone living on the street violates this ban, police will issue them a citation. If someone repeatedly refuses services, they could be booked into jail by the Portland Police Bureau, where they could be released with a court date or held in custody until their arraignment.

From here, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office will offer shelter and services. If the person accepts them, they will receive help with that transition at the time of their release.

“This solution aligns with our shared goal of ending unsheltered homeless in Portland in a compassionate and effective way,” Wheeler said. “Arrest and booking brings accountability for the small number of people who decline to follow the law despite repeated outreach and resource referrals.”

According to Mayor Wheeler and Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell, the new plan will be tested over the next 120 days to “determine if this approach is effective and sustainable.”

This agreement follows months of enforcement setbacks for the camping ban since its rollout on July 1. Until now, Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell had refused to jail offenders in favor of citations and the court system.

But Wheeler recently told KOIN 6 News that law enforcement engagement is rare because most people accept shelter. As of Friday, Aug. 9, his office has reported seven citations and 11 referred sites of the roughly 4,000 camps addressed by the city last month.

“As sheriff, public safety is my primary responsibility. I respect the city council’s decision to increase enforcement for livability issues and am committed to working together to identify solutions that address the broader context of homelessness and public safety," Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell said. "This momentary intervention, reserved for repeat offenders, seeks to balance accountability with addressing the challenges our community faces, while also creating pathways out of homelessness."

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.