Weekly Street Services report: September 23 - 29, 2024

Report
The Street Services Coordination Center is dedicated to assisting people experiencing homelessness and reducing the impacts of homelessness in Portland. We collect trash, evaluate health and safety risks, remove unsafe camps, provide shelter referrals and transportation to shelters.
Published

Community members,

We are pleased to provide a summary of last week’s Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) activity. The SSCC is a collaborative team that streamlines services offered to those living outside and expedites homelessness related cleanup efforts throughout Portland in a compassionate manner. Our team is comprised of the Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program, Fire & Rescue, police, transportation, parks and recreation, and Multnomah County. Together we’ve taken a collective approach to remove campsites that pose the highest risk to health and safety.

Shelter referrals

The SSCC has designated shelter beds available to those impacted by campsite removals. We have offered shelter beds to thousands of people experiencing homelessness since April 2022. The data below only represents the number of people who expressed interest in a shelter referral last week and a call was made to determine availability.  

  • 60 people expressed an interest in a shelter referral
  • 50 people accepted shelter referrals
  • 8 people used a shelter bed for at least one night  
  • Total shelter referrals since April 11, 2022: 5,339
  • Total people who have used a shelter bed: 1,818

Campsite assessment, cleanup and removal highlights

The Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program assesses reported campsites, picks up garbage, provides resource referrals, and removes sites that pose health and safety risks. Using empathy and innovation, we minimize the impacts of homelessness while partner programs expand long-term access to safe, affordable housing. 

From September 23-29, 2024, the Impact Reduction Program:

  • Received 2,773 new campsite reports; including 1,206 of people living in vehicles
  • Observed about 633 active campsites, accounting for duplicate reports about the same locations and including vehicle campsites
  • Assessed approximately 903 campsites, engaging with people living there, collecting garbage and biohazardous materials, and coordinating with service providers
  • Removed 135 campsites that posed a risk to health and safety, safely storing campers' personal property 

SUMMARY

  • Shelter referrals offered: 60
  • Shelter referrals accepted: 50
  • Shelter beds used: 8
  • Campsite reports received: 2,773
  • Total active campsites observed: 633
  • Campsite assessments: 903
  • Campsites removed: 135

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Take a look at the Impact Reduction Program Dashboard 

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Picture showing the Impact Reduction Program interactive dashboard