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In the background is an image of an orange fence and text in the foreground reads, "The Orange Fence Project" and below that, "Homelessness policy, enforcement, and impact in Portland.

Homelessness policy, enforcement and impact in Portland

Street Roots

About the project:

The Orange Fence Project seeks to improve public understanding of the daily lives of homeless Portlanders and the systemic and personal circumstances through which people became homeless. By reporting on personal experiences, testimony, data and improving accountability for public officials, Street Roots will identify and report more feasible steps to address homelessness.

Homelessness and the enforcement of local laws on homeless people are almost entirely untracked by independent groups. As a result, the effects of these laws and enforcement — positive or negative — are largely unstudied and unknown. By engaging community members and implementing a solutions journalism framework, this project will address gaps in public knowledge while revealing potential solutions to systemic issues. 

Through rigorous reporting, public record gathering, crowdsourced information and continued observation, Street Roots will provide a comprehensive overview of homelessness policy, enforcement and impact in Portland.

  • Street Roots
    A collage of photos shows a Portland Fire and Rescue Truck, Commissioner Rene Gonzalez and a person wearing a shirt that says "Portland Street Response."

    Commissioner Rene Gonzalez said his decision to halt tent distribution was for fire safety. Emails tell a different story.

    A Jan. 11 memo suggests Gonzalez halted tent distribution to align with mayor’s camping ban
    By
    Piper McDaniel
    August 2, 2023
  • Street Roots
    A rounded rectangular border frames an image of a tent beneath a red prohibited sign.

    Portland’s daytime camping ban lacks concrete plans, procedures

    Vague communication from city causes concern among homeless Portlanders and service providers
    By
    Jeremiah Hayden
    July 12, 2023
  • Street Roots
    Ted Wheeler sits at a table

    Despite historical failures, Portland wants to fine, jail homeless Portlanders

    In a city where homeless people are already much more likely to face arrest than housed people, officials have a ‘new’ proposal: warn, fine and arrest homeless Portlanders
    By
    K. Rambo
    June 6, 2023
  • Street Roots
    Photo shows Hope Dryden standing in front of her RV in McMinnville

    Right to rest? Not in Oregon.

    A bill to give homeless people the right to be left alone fails to move through OR House
    By
    Tom Henderson
    May 3, 2023
  • Street Roots
    The outside of the New Avenues for Youth Portland building. It has a brick facade.

    New Avenues for Youth workers want a union

    Nonprofit workers assisting homeless youth await recognition from management
    By
    Aurora Biggers
    December 28, 2022
  • Street Roots
    Lil B Raps is rapping into a mic on stage while Talilo Marfil raps into a microphone, standing to the left of him.

    New, innovative project offers lifeline to youths after foster care

    Ascending Flow uses music and mentorship to support youth aging out of Oregon’s foster care system
    By
    Libby Dowsett
    December 7, 2022
  • Street Roots
    Photo showing Commissioner Dan Ryan and Mayor Ted Wheeler flanked by staff and volunteers during Nov. 1 town hall at Blanchet House

    Senior policy advisor for Commissioner Dan Ryan resigns in response to plan for mass camps

    A resignation letter said the recently passed plan to ban unsanctioned encampments and construct mass camps will lead to 'irreparable trauma and unnecessary deaths'
    By
    Piper McDaniel K. Rambo
    December 2, 2022
  • Street Roots
    A fire truck parked in front of the fire department building along the waterfront in Portland.

    Despite classifying an increasing number of fires as ‘homeless related,’ Portland Fire and Rescue can’t determine what’s causing majority of fires

    It’s unclear how many fires classified as ‘homeless related’ actually involve homeless Portlanders
    By
    Aurora Biggers Henry Brannan
    November 9, 2022
  • Street Roots
    A bright orange collage. In the background is the pattern of an orange plastic fence, commonly associated with sweeps of homeless encampments. Above that and slightly opaque are piles of trash bags and a tent. In the foreground is a thermometer indicating

    City contractors swept homeless Portlanders during state of emergency

    Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a state of emergency July 22 due to the impending danger of extreme heat, but city contractors continued sweeping homeless encampments until at least July 25 at noon
    By
    K. Rambo
    August 3, 2022
  • Street Roots
    The ornate arches of Old Town/Chinatown in Portland.

    Portland’s new shelter referral system becoming less effective with time

    Street Services Coordination Center offering fewer shelter referrals as sweeps increase
    By
    Tyler Walicek K. Rambo
    July 20, 2022

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