Readers respond: Make moving to shelters mandatory

The effectiveness of any government is best judged by its results, not by its promises. We Portlanders have witnessed an explosion in the number of homeless people living on our streets, sidewalks, parks and other outdoor areas over the past six years. Mayor Charlie Hales, followed by Mayor Ted Wheeler, have unveiled numerous plans to alleviate this crisis, yet today the situation is worse than ever, with no end in sight.

We understand that the city’s latest plan is to designate six sites for city-sanctioned homeless encampments in the coming months (“Portland changes homeless encampment removal policy amid worry, backlash,” June 30). Does this plan go far enough to ensure a safe and healthy place for all those who currently live outdoors? If not, it must be expanded. Any plan that we taxpayers are asked to underwrite should mandate that anyone now living outdoors must accept a place in one of these shelters or alternative city-county services to address their special health needs, in full compliance with court decisions. To have teeth in it, the plan must not permit those who don’t accept one of these options to remain camping outside.

Enough is enough. A plan that is truly compassionate must be designed to solve — not provide a tiny Band-Aid — to this never-ending humanitarian and public health crisis. I pray that our city leaders have sufficient vision, courage and tenacity to bring an end to this tragic state of affairs. Time will tell.

David L. Mitchell, Portland