The city of Portland began what has been termed "The Homeless Sweep" earlier this month, displacing hundreds of homeless people along the local Springwater Corridor. For those of you who don’t know, the Springwater Corridor is a Portland favorite for walking and biking, stretching all the way from Milwaukie to Gresham. And while the corridor is fairly populated on any given day, there is also a considerable number of homeless people that have taken up residency there. In the past, there was a peaceful coexistence and acceptance of these circumstances, but with Mayor Hales' “Safe-To-Sleep” program last February came a sudden increase in individuals sleeping along the corridor, and residents of Portland were not happy. This program was intended to protect those living on the streets, allowing them to camp in public areas without threat from the authorities, but local residents have complained of drug use, rising crime rates and concern for personal safety, all of which are more than reasonable. But my question is, is the “Homeless Sweep” the answer to these issues? I have watched the conversation and progression of this issue come to head over recent months, and I say no.
I was born and raised in Portland, and I have more love for this city than I could begin to explain. That being said, I have watched it change significantly over the past 10 years. Not only has traffic increased to the point of insanity, but the beautiful, colorful houses that make Portland neighborhoods so unique are being torn down each and every day for rows of new, modern (more like boring) apartments. Gentrification has had its tight grasp on my weird little city for some time now, and to be quite honest, I see the "Homeless Sweep" as a direct result of this.
I am not here to argue whether the homeless people who live within Portland city limits should be allowed to reside along the Springwater Corridor; we could go back and forth about that for hours and still not reach a conclusive answer. Instead, I believe it's incredibly important to call attention to the well-being of the individuals who were forcibly removed from the place they called home. With a lack of adequate social supports, and full to capacity shelters, this is a band-aid for a gaping wound. Sure, now your average homeowner doesn't have to look at the reality of the homeless issue in Portland during their morning walk, but that does not mean it's any less present.
As I’m sure you are well aware, homelessness is an issue faced by cities across the United States, Seattle and Bellingham being two cities with rising homeless rates. The many barriers and stigmas these individuals face create a toxic cycle that is difficult to escape, but I truly believe that with some compassion and recognition of the humanity present within each and every one of us, it is a cycle we can end.
