Overview
- The policy takes effect Saturday, Nov. 1, following a February pause intended to expand emergency shelter capacity.
- Portland Police Bureau officers will first offer congregate, hotel or other overnight options, then may issue citations if offers are refused or if camps violate City Code such as blocking sidewalks, using open heaters or altering infrastructure.
- Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez described a limited case flow with $100 citations that require a court appearance, a focus on dismissing cases when people engage with services and jail used only as a last resort; the ordinance carries a maximum of seven days in jail.
- People who miss their court date risk failure-to-appear charges, which can allow custody until a judge reviews the case under current court rules.
- The city reports more than 1,000 additional overnight beds in 2025 and 76 alternative shelters, with many new sites operating at roughly half capacity; Sheriff Nicole Morrissey O’Donnell supports the approach and urges that jails not be the default, and residents are directed to report camps via 311 or the city portal and call Portland Street Response for crises.