Residents and council raise alarms about visible homelessness after Thousand Acres cleanup
Loading...
Summary
Troutdale residents said visible homelessness has increased recently; councilors and staff said the Thousand Acres (Sandy River Delta) cleanup has displaced people into town and described outreach efforts with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and HOPE team to connect people with services.
Troutdale — Multiple speakers at the Nov. 18 Troutdale City Council meeting raised concerns about a recent uptick in visible homelessness and related public-safety and quality-of-life impacts following cleanup operations at Thousand Acres (Sandy River Delta).
Resident Tracy Cleese, who said she has lived in Troutdale for 35 years, told the council she has seen more people panhandling, people sleeping in doorways, and disruptive behavior near downtown locations including a Plaid Pantry. "I just want something to happen," she said.
Councilors and staff acknowledged the problem and described recent outreach and cleanup activity. City staff reported that cleanup operations at the Sandy River Delta have displaced people into town, prompting coordination this week with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and the HOPE team, which conducts outreach and service referrals to people living in encampments.
"We are trying to get these folks into proper services so they can seek medical attention and have a roof over their head," Mike (city staff) said, while noting the effort resembles a "whack-a-mole" challenge because people are moving locations. Staff said some sites have been cleared and that security and outreach patrols are active; they estimated cleanup and related operations may continue through the next biennium.
Councilors urged ongoing coordination with the sheriff's office and community partners and directed staff to continue outreach and enforcement following applicable legal and policy limits. One councilor noted the city's existing ordinance and public-safety fee structure and said private security and sheriff patrols have been active in target locations.
Staff said more specific operational details and an executive-session briefing will follow regarding a separate vacation-claim matter; the transcript did not provide further action on homelessness beyond staff updates and requests for continued outreach.
Outcome: Informational staff update and public comment; council directed continued coordination with county outreach teams and law enforcement.
