Council delays vote on homeless shelter expansion plan March 11 2021
A second hearing on the proposal is added after concerns grow that too many new shelters will be sited in East Portland.
The City Council has scheduled an additional hearing on a controversial proposal to allow more homeless shelters, including sanctioned campsites, in most of Portland.
The first hearing on the Shelter to Housing Continuum Project is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17, as originally planned. But, largely because of concerns that a disproportionate number of new shelters could be sited in East Portland, the council has now scheduled another hearing on March 24, when the final vote was set to take place. That is now tentatively scheduled for March 31.
Alternative homeless shelter providers sought
Portland and Multnomah County leaders are offering $3 million for new shelter options.
Portland and Multnomah County leaders want to expand sanctioned shelter options for the homeless to include a wider range of solutions, such as outdoor villages, safe vehicle parking programs, modular shelters and more.
The city-county Joint Office of Homeless Service began soliciting qualified operators for such alternatives on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Responses to the Request for Programmatic Qualifications or RFPQ for short must be submitted by March 9.
Anyone can apply, not just nonprofit organizations.
City Commissioner Dan Ryan is the City Council s liaison to the city-county Joint Office of Homeless Services, which is funding the new $3 million program. Although prepared by staff, Ryan said he advocated for program during a series of meetings in recent months with Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, County Commissioner Sharon Me