Housed Portlanders support city proposal to ban homeless camping, poll finds; unhoused people, experts oppose it

As Portland City Council prepares to vote Thursday on a landmark policy that would ban street camping and allow the city to force people into city-run campsites for people experiencing homelessness, various interest groups have scrambled to elevate voices that either support or decry the proposal.

In total, 64% of Portland voters said they think “local governments should prioritize funding more shelters and designated camping areas as a first step toward permanent housing. It’s inhumane and dangerous to allow people to camp on streets and sidewalks,” according a poll commissioned by the Portland Business Alliance released Wednesday.