In Portland’s Lents neighborhood, families continue to face dangerous and frustrating conditions due to the growing homeless crisis. Despite ongoing promises and notices to vacate, city and county leadership have failed to deliver lasting solutions, leaving residents to cope with the same problems day after day. October 7th serves as a prime example of how the situation has spiraled out of control due to ineffective response and enforcement.

Timeline of Events

• September 27th: The camp was given notice to vacate no later than October 7th.

Fast forward to October 7th.

• 8:00 AM: Kids are dropped off at school. The camp is still intact, and families living within a block must drive their children to school or walk around it.
• 9:00 AM: RID and the City of Portland arrive on scene, so the camp begins to pack up. However, they were inexplicably allowed to remain along with their RV.
• 11:53 AM: Clean-up concludes, and the sidewalk is fully cleared.

• 12:05 PM: Individuals from the camp begin reassembling their setup on the sidewalk.
• 1:42 PM: The sidewalk is once again completely blocked.
• 2:15 PM: The area becomes overrun with sketchy individuals and the dogs are back, tethered to the RV.
• 2:30 PM: As school lets out, parents are concerned for their children’s safety while passing the camp, with no effective enforcement in place, unaware the camp had been “removed” that day.

The Larger Issue

This pattern of temporary displacement followed by rapid reoccupation highlights a failure of leadership to address the root causes of the homelessness crisis. The lack of coordination between city and county officials has created a cycle of chaos. The impact on our community is stark: blocked sidewalks, dangerous situations for children, and families left feeling vulnerable and abandoned.

This is more than just a localized problem. The situation in Lents mirrors challenges seen in several pockets of Portland, where temporary solutions and lackluster enforcement have allowed the crisis to grow unchecked. Without meaningful action and consistent enforcement, this issue will continue to threaten the safety of children, families, and the broader community.

It is time for city and county leaders to acknowledge the urgency of this crisis and take decisive action. Lents, like several other neighborhoods, deserves better. Families and residents should not be left to bear the brunt of ineffective leadership. 

Help us shine a light on this crisis and demand the change our community needs.