Oregon state lawmakers approved a measure Monday to give the city of Portland more control over conducting sweeps of homeless camps near the Springwater Corridor.
The measure, House Bill 4054, would allow the city to clean up homeless camps on property owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Mark Seaton and David Somers spend almost every night camping out along Portland's Springwater Trail. They say they like to watch over the area — they pick up trash and make sure people don't graffiti. "I think of it as paying rent, in a way," says Seaton.
Amanda Peacher / OPB
“You have this problem of people moving back and forth between ODOT property and city of Portland property,” said Sen. Rod Monroe, D-Portland, the chief proponent of the measure.
While on the Senate floor, Monroe described the area where the Springwater Corridor runs into the I-205 path.
“There are a number of homeless people that set up camp and many of them have not only the problem of being homeless, but also have a drug problem and use needles and so on and also have no bathroom facilities, except Johnson Creek,” Monroe said.
City of Portland officials wrote in favor of the bill, saying the city has proven its ability to manage cleanups in a “coordinated and compassionate” way and that the intergovernmental agreement between the state and city would result in better management of public spaces.
A lobbyist for the Oregon American Civil Liberties Union submitted testimony on the bill, expressing a hope the bill doesn’t lead to more frequent homeless camp sweeps.
“When camps are broken up and perpetually moved from place to place, and when people experiencing homelessness are swept from spaces they have gathered to seek safety, the ability to rest and the formation of community, great harm can occur,” the letter reads.
The intergovernmental agreement would last for five years. The Senate approved the measure unanimously. It now heads to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk for her signature.