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Houselessness and the Pandemic:
While being houseless is always extremely difficult, adding a raging pandemic to it makes life even
more dangerous and stressful. Sheltering in place is not easy when your shelter is a tent on a
sidewalk. Social Distancing is almost impossible, frequent hand washing is not easy when you are
not near water. Supplies such as hand sanitizer and wipes are not accessible. It is estimated that
there are 3800 houseless people in the Portland area. Encampments are set up in Laurelhurst Park,
on Powell Boulevard on sidewalks and parking lots, in Old Town and around the Gateway Transit
Center. While the CDC has indicated that existing camps should be left alone as sweeping them
Recent actions by the Portland Police and the goon squads* sent to Portland by President Trump have also added to the misery of those who are houseless. Night after night, huge clouds of tear gas have been used by the police and federal law enforcement; their gas wafts into the tents on the sidewalks and is causing great harm to those living in them. A feeding facility was set up by volunteers in the Lownsdale and Chapman Parks and there was food and water available for people, including houseless folks. In late July, the federal cops marched into this area, slashed water bottles, pepper sprayed food supplies and destroyed barbecue grills and First Aid supplies (NBC News, July 23). A member of Stop The Sweeps says some Neighborhood Associations in North Portland have started conversations on homelessness, and these dialogues have spread to other neighborhoods. One idea is gathering the Associations' opinions as to where within their boundaries would be feasible for sanctioned camps. Apparently, the City has put up various roadblocks regarding this concept.
*-Note: For example, Oregonian columnist Steve Duin referred
to federal cops as "goons" in
his July 24 column. |
September, 2020
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Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#81 Table of Contents
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would cause
spread of the virus, it seems as if the city of Portland is gearing up for more sweeps or,
in their terms, "clean ups". These cause huge disruptions and usually loss of people's belongings.
An employee of the Portland Office of Management and Finance was quoted as saying while the
City doesn't want to collect personal property, "we have to" (Oregonlive, July 22). The question, as
always, is where do those who are "swept" go?