Dear Friends,
It’s been scarcely a month since I stepped into City Hall for my first day as Mayor. Every morning, I cross the threshold of City Hall thinking about the people I met on the campaign trail. Portland has reached a moment of profound opportunity, and so much rides on us getting this right.
We recently learned 456 people died unsheltered in our metro area in 2023, an increase of 477% since 2017. A number like this shocks the conscience, and we have a clear moral imperative to effectively and immediately address the suffering of our unsheltered neighbors.
All of us have a stake in Portland—city employees, our new council, county partners, businesses, nonprofits, the faith community, and people just like you—and that’s what we need to make incredible things possible. Look at what we’ve already accomplished together:
- On January 2nd, we announced the opening of 200 overnight shelter beds. Emergency shelters provide a first step for those ready to move off the streets and a safety net for those who have experienced setbacks on their journey home. I’m grateful to The Salvation Army, the City of Portland, and Multnomah County for their quick action in setting up these lifesaving emergency shelters.
- On January 27th, my team unveiled our blueprint to end unsheltered homelessness in Portland. Our city has the highest unsheltered rate in our history, with more than 5,000 living unsheltered at last count. That’s why I put forward a change from a service model to an incident command/emergency response model, just like how we’d deploy resources following a natural disaster.
- We all know there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for this crisis. On February 3rd, we announced 50 new beds in the Bybee Lakes Hope Center facility. These 24-hour beds serve homeless individuals recovering from substance use disorder and are funded by settlement money from pharmaceutical companies found to have contributed to the opioid crisis. Our community has a deep need for 24-hour shelters specializing in addiction recovery, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring hope and recovery to the individuals we can now serve.
We live in eventful times. Portland’s sanctuary city status, return to office, budget crisis, and other issues continue to demand time and focus. No matter what unfolds, we’ll continue to focus on what matters most to you and your family: our safety, our livability, our economy, and our shared values.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: I believe our best days are ahead of us, and I’ll work tirelessly every day to return Portland to the promise of The City that Works, and a city that works for everyone.
We’ve only just begun. Thank you for being part of the hard and important work ahead.
Gratefully,
Mayor Keith Wilson