Due to funding constraints, a longstanding intergovernmental agreement between the City of Portland’s Impact Reduction Program (IRP) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) expired on June 30, 2025, and will not be renewed. That agreement, which had been in place since 2019, gave IRP funding and authority to manage campsite assessment, posting and removal work for any camps located on ODOT properties within the city limits.
Moving forward, ODOT will continue camp removals using the same contractor used by the City of Portland, but will operate under ODOT’s statewide policies and at a reduced service level.
The change in funding situation for ODOT came after a key transportation bill was not voted on by the Oregon State Legislature before its last session closed. This situation may be remedied by a special session or other action by the Governor, but there is currently no clarity on when or if the funding situation could change.
What all Portlanders need to know
For now, an increase in camping and associated trash and debris along our city highways and freeways is likely.
Additionally, Portlanders should be aware of the following changes:
- The City of Portland’s online campsite report form will no longer accept reports about camps located on ODOT properties.
- Community members will need to report those camps directly to ODOT by calling 1-888-Ask-ODOT, or by using the online Ask ODOT service.
Anyone reporting camps to ODOT may experience a longer wait time in seeing that campsite addressed.
- The online IPR Data Dashboard will not reflect reports submitted to ODOT or campsites posted and removed on ODOT property after June 30, 2025.
- People experiencing homelessness are at a far greater risk of injury and death from transportation related accidents. Please stay aware and safe as you travel on our local highways and freeways.
What Portlanders experiencing homelessness need to know:
IRP has developed policies and procedures designed to give camp residents clear, consistent guidance on what to expect prior to, during, and after camp removals conducted by City contractors.
Those City policies and procedures will no longer apply for camps located on ODOT properties. Camps on state highway right-of-way will now be subject to clean-up under ODOT’s statewide policy. That policy is similar to the City of Portland’s campsite removal policy, but there are some operational differences:
- ODOT gives camps slated for removal a minimum 10-day advanced warning. ODOT camp removals take place within 10 – 19 days of warning signs being posted at the site.
- If a camp is located on ODOT property marked with No Trespass signs, campers will receive a minimum 24-hours advanced warning. ODOT removals in No Trespass zones take place within 24 hours – 7 days of warning signs being posted.
- Campers on ODOT property should look for new information, talk to ODOT work crews or call 503-730-4732 for personal property retrieval instructions. Property collected by ODOT camp removal crews will not be taken to the City’s property storage warehouse but to a location in Clackamas.
- Anyone camped on ODOT property who previously received posted notice from the City but has NOT had their camped removed by the City before June 30, 2025 should be prepared for the possibility of their camp being removed or re-posted by ODOT contracted crews.