![]() ![]() Wheeler’s proposal includes a vague plan to “eliminate” street camping by encouraging campers to move into one of the city’s encampments or another homeless shelter or face some type of penalty. It’s not clear if Portland’s encampment model will match that description. “Safe sleeps allow an option that can be selected by residents to engage on their terms, not to be lorded over or parented by an organization or a city.” “So often we try to tell unhoused residents what’s best for them,” said Tyler. Tyler said the nonprofit uses what it calls a model of “safe sleep” encampments, an approach uniquely beneficial to people experiencing homelessness. “We call it negotiating we just start having conversations and build relationships,” Clark-Johnson said. Ian Clark-Johnson, another Urban Alchemy staffer, said Wednesday that any violence or crime on the property will be addressed by Urban Alchemy staff building relationships with residents and using de-escalation techniques - not by calling the police. Staff will search all residents’ bags before they’re allowed to enter the encampment, and will turn those away who don’t consent to the search. Urban Alchemy government affairs representative Kirkpatrick Tyler explained Wednesday that Urban Alchemy will enforce a number of rules at the encampments, including a ban on weapons, fires, and alcohol and drug use in public spaces. Urban Alchemy leaders have denied all accusations. However, the nonprofit is facing several lawsuits, both for alleged labor violations and accusations of sexual abuse from an unhoused resident. The nonprofit touts its employees’ lived experience with homelessness and incarceration as key to running these communities in a humane and trauma-informed way. Urban Alchemy has been running outdoor homeless encampments for the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco since 2020. On Wednesday, Wheeler announced that California-based nonprofit Urban Alchemy was selected to oversee the Southeast Gideon Street encampment, and will likely run several other planned camps. Since the November vote, Wheeler’s office has led the charge to identify landowners interested in leasing their property to the city to house these temporary camps - and to hire outside organizations to operate the encampments. The proposal received instant pushback from local civil rights organizations and homeless advocacy groups. The plan, introduced jointly by Wheeler and City Commissioner Dan Ryan, was a clear response to Portlanders’ growing displeasure with the region’s persisting homeless crisis. The City Council first approved a plan in November to ban street camping by 2024 and create six city-run camps that can accommodate up to 250 people each. Wheeler said Portland police will not be involved in those patrols. The property will be fenced and have security monitoring a 1,000-foot perimeter area surrounding the location. The site is expected to house up to 150 unsheltered Portlanders in 100 tents, as well as offer two meals daily, restrooms, showers, locked storage, and a space for pets to go to the bathroom. The planned site is at 1490 SE Gideon Street, a lot just north of Southeast Powell Boulevard bounded by Southeast 13th Avenue and railroad tracks. But Wheeler said he is “very confident” that it will be completed soon. Wheeler said the city has not yet finalized the lease with the current property owners, California-based rail construction company Stacy and Witbeck. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |