Portland days away from restarting camping citations, despite shelter bed shortage

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — With just over two months left until Mayor Keith Wilson’s self-imposed deadline to “end unsheltered homelessness,” the City of Portland is still hundreds of shelter beds short — as thousands of people remain unhoused citywide.

The City of Portland will resume issuing camping citations starting Nov. 1, months after enforcement of the ordinance was paused.

According to the city, Mayor Keith Wilson halted citations in February to give his team more time to expand shelter capacity. 

As the city prepares to restart enforcement, Wilson said his administration is on track to provide 1,500 shelter beds by Dec. 1. 

“Portland now has consistent available capacity in our lifesaving shelters,” the Mayor said in a statement. “And by December 1st we will ensure that every Portlander who wants a bed will have one.”

However, Wilson’s office said currently the city only has 630 emergency overnight shelter beds and 705 alternative shelter sleeping units, with usage ranging anywhere from 24% to 77% depending on the facility.

The Portland Police Association (PPA) told KOIN 6 News enforcement will not mean actively sweeping camps. 

“This is not something we’re going to go out and seek out,” said PPA President Aaron Schmautz. “We’re not going to create our own work here. But if people call and there’s concerns for safety, there’s criminal behavior associated with camping activity, this is a tool to help us kind of address that.”

The city council approved the camping ordinance in May 2024, and it took effect in July. 

It allows police to cite people who block public rights-of-way or refuse shelter, with possible fines and/or jail time. Since the ban first went into effect, city officials say only nine arrests have been made.

“We’re not going to arrest our way out of a societal problem, but what we are going to do is, if there’s community concerns, we’re going to respond,” Schmautz said. “We’ll make sure that people have the resources they need, and if we need to abate a camp or navigate as a result of some criminal conduct, we’ll do that.”

But those living outside question whether shelter is truly available. Randy, who has been homeless for nine years, told KOIN 6 News capacity continues to pose a challenge. 

“No, I don’t believe the shelter beds are available,” he said. “I tried for, I don’t know how long, to get into a shelter.”

Randy added that shelters are not a solution for everyone. 

“It’s a terrible place to be. I’ve gotten sick nearly every time I did get in,” he said “You can’t just force somebody to go into a living situation that you want them to go into. There needs to be alternatives.”

When asked if Wilson still believes he can end unsheltered homelessness by Dec. 1, his office did not directly answer. Instead, officials reiterated that the mayor’s goal is to add 1,500 overnight shelter beds by that date.

City officials estimate as many as 7,000 people are unhoused across Portland — a number far greater than the capacity Wilson has promised to create.