Street Services Coordination Center, partners work together to clean up Northeast 33rd Drive and connect houseless residents to services and shelter

This week, the City of Portland's Street Services Coordination Center (SSCC) carried out the final stage in a weeks-long homeless outreach and camp removal effort on Northeast 33^rd Drive, in the area stretching from Northeast Marine Drive to Northeast Elrod Drive.

This project involved collaboration from multiple partners, including the Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program (IRP), Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), the SSCC Outreach Team, a Navigation Team of outreach workers contracted by the Joint Office of Homeless Services, as well as officers from Portland Police Bureau (PPB).

The project was planned in response to a growing number of people camping in tents and vehicles along Northeast 33^rd Drive, leading to mounting concerns about safety and sanitation. In the past year, the IRP received over 60 community reports about unsanctioned campsites along Northeast 33^rd Drive, and dozens more about camps along adjacent streets in the vicinity. While the final stage of this effort involved the removal of camps, vehicles and all debris, the ultimate goal of this project was not just a cleanup of the site, but also intensive engagement in order to connect people to services and safe shelter options.

On a weekly basis since September 2023, outreach staff visited the area, engaging with people living unsheltered there. In the 2 to 3 weeks prior to the removal, staff visited the site daily, offering shelter and services to everyone they came across.

As of Thursday, January 11^th, outreach efforts had resulted in 57 individuals from Northeast 33^rd Drive referred to Safe Rest Village and Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites.

“What made this successful was the access to our City-run shelters and the weeks of coordination which allowed us to make sure shelter pods were available for every person who accepted the offer,” said Nate Takara, Incident Commander for the Street Services Coordination Center.

PBOT staff towed 64 automobiles and RVs from the site this week and played a pivotal role in engagement at the site before and during removal efforts.

"PBOT is pleased to be a partner in ensuring that we have a livable community for all," said Transportation Director Millicent Williams. "Our Vehicle Inspection Team works with the houseless community every day. The success of this mission underscores the importance of their work and the meaningful contribution they make to the quality of life of the Portlanders they serve."

Contracted crews from Rapid Response Bio-Clean were also on site this week, assisting with outreach and removing trash and debris. Rapid Response staff, who are trained in non-violent conflict resolution, trauma informed communication, safe handling of hazardous materials and procedures related to preserving personal property at campsite cleanups, removed sixteen 30-yard dumpsters full of waste material from the area.

Once this stretch of Northeast 33^rd Drive is fully cleared of all vehicles and debris, PBOT will posting no parking signs, which will help teams more readily respond to future vehicle camping and avoid the sizable buildup of campers, RVs and debris.

“I am incredibly proud of the entire Street Services Coordination Center team,” said Skyler Brocker-Knapp, Senior Policy Advisor to Mayor Ted Wheeler. “We built a City system that meets people’s needs and gets them off the streets, out of RVs and tents, into shelter, and connected to services and housing.”

The City funds and manages the operation of 7 Safe Rest Villages and 1 Temporary Alternative Shelter Site, where approximately 500 people are currently sheltered in tiny homes. On site, guests have access to meals, showers and restrooms, laundry, dental care, etc. -- all while receiving case management and wrap-around health services to support their journey to permanent housing.  

52 out of the 57 individuals referred from Northeast 33^rd moved to Clinton Triangle, the City’s first Temporary Alternative Shelter, located in Southeast Portland.

Since opening in July 2023, 70 people at Clinton Triangle have moved into permanent housing.

“I am pleased 57 people chose to go to our shelters thanks to the hard work of our outreach workers,” said Mayor Ted Wheeler. “I am confident we have a proven model to get more people off the streets, connected to services, and into permanent housing.”