I picked up the Oregonian and read the front page February headline: “Wheeler Aide Proposes Mass Shelters Staffed by National Guard.” Then I read the first paragraph: “A top member of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler's team has pitched creating as many as three massive, temporary homeless shelters staffed by Oregon National Guard members and others in an attempt to end unsanctioned camping citywide...”
Your comments are well taken most notably Sam's memo was to "...kick members of the homeless industrial complex in the ass to get off their ass. Same with Portland and county officials tasked with solving the crisis. It's a kind of a shot across the bow. But in this case, to get the ship moving in a different direction, not to stop."
And I disagree to some extent about use of the National Guard. While it is a slippery slope, the NG has worked well to assist in medical settings and wildfire during the last few years. The intent is not to have these shelters involuntarily house the houseless, just provide an option where they would be off the street. Perhaps some version of this model will work if it's brainstormed.
With the amount of funds available to Portland the Tri-County area to work on providing solutions through the bond and the Metro measure, there is no excuse for inaction. And based on your experience and compassion, you should be part of that solution.
Your comments are well taken most notably Sam's memo was to "...kick members of the homeless industrial complex in the ass to get off their ass. Same with Portland and county officials tasked with solving the crisis. It's a kind of a shot across the bow. But in this case, to get the ship moving in a different direction, not to stop."
And I disagree to some extent about use of the National Guard. While it is a slippery slope, the NG has worked well to assist in medical settings and wildfire during the last few years. The intent is not to have these shelters involuntarily house the houseless, just provide an option where they would be off the street. Perhaps some version of this model will work if it's brainstormed.
With the amount of funds available to Portland the Tri-County area to work on providing solutions through the bond and the Metro measure, there is no excuse for inaction. And based on your experience and compassion, you should be part of that solution.