Mayor Ted Wheeler released a video statement to discuss Portland’s homeless crisis as it intersects with substance use and behavioral health issues. This ‘problem statement’ video comes off the heels of extensive research, outreach and numerous discussions with Mayors from across the United States—Republican and Democrat, small towns and big cities, rural and urban communities—who all agree homelessness, mental health, and substance use is a nationwide crisis impacting American cities. Mayor Wheeler has brought this discussion to leadership from across the State of Oregon, including elected officials at the City, County, Metro, and State level.
Unique to Mayor Wheeler’s plan is the development of Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites to work in-tandem with existing homelessness shelter services to get homeless Portlanders off the streets and better connected to services. This conversation sets the stage for the bold initiatives lead by Mayor Wheeler to ultimately eliminate unsanctioned, unsheltered camping in Portland through the development of affordable housing and Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites.
Source: Portland Mayor's Office