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Tents set up by people experiencing homelessness along Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood on the morning of June 16, 2021. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
About 100 people experiencing homeless continue to live on a quarter-mile stretch of Kensington Avenue near McPherson Square and the Allegheny Avenue transit station even as the Kenney administration says they have left the area.
Some people were living in tents and makeshift structures, but most were sleeping on the sidewalk Wednesday morning along Kensington Avenue. At the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny, police officers mixed with a smaller number of unhoused people and protesters there to publicly oppose a planned city sweep of the encampments.
Multnomah County, Portland pledge cooperation on ending homelessness May 28 2021
Chair Kafoury and Commissioner Ryan release unusual joint statement on future plans and funding late Thursday.
Multnomah County and Portland leaders released an unusual joint statement saying the two governments are committed to ending homelessness.
The statement by County Chair Deborah Kafoury and City Commissioner Dan Ryan said the county will commit $1 billion over the next 10 years from the Metro homeless services ballot measure passed last May for housing services. It also said Ryan is leading a joint effort to address the immediate and acute needs of people experiencing houselessness. The last year has been one of the hardest chapters in our community s history, but I believe the tide is about to turn, Kafoury said. We are entering a new, unprecedented phase in our efforts to end houselessness and I am optimistic about the progress we re going to make.
Commissioner Ryan proposes six managed homeless villages June 02 2021
The Portland City Council will be asked to spend $20 million in federal funds on the alternative shelters.
The City Council is considering how to spend the remaining $67 million of Portland s first-year federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Commissioner Dan Ryan is proposing that $20 million be spent to establish six managed safe rest villages for homeless people in different parts of town. They would include case management services, showers, bathrooms and laundry facilities.
Ryan is preparing on ordinance for the City Council to consider as early as next week with more details, possibly including the recommended locations. He hopes construction will begin by August and be completed by September.