Homelessness: Camping Areas Updated in Downtown Hillsboro

Overnight camping will no longer be permitted in two identified areas of Downtown Hillsboro, pictured below, starting on July 1. These updates are in alignment with the City of Hillsboro's camping rules.

During a quarterly review, the two areas were identified as being located within restricted zones. Proactive community outreach is underway, and enforcement will begin July 1.

The impacted areas include:

• The 600 Block of SE Baseline Street between 6th and 7th Avenue and SE Washington Street and surrounding public right-of-ways.
  
  
• Public right-of-ways within 500 feet of shelters and homelessness services located on the 100 & 300 Blocks of SE 6th Avenue.

View the full size map of impacted areas.

The City of Hillsboro recognizes that this change may impact camping activity in other locations. The creation and enforcement of camping rules will not provide a solution to homelessness or reduce the amount of people living outside.

Allowed Public Camping Areas

Subject to time, place, and manner restrictions, areas where camping may be allowed are indicated on the interactive public camping map, which will be updated on July 1.

Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions

The City has rules for where, when and how people may camp on public property. These time, place, and manner restrictions continue to preserve Hillsboro's livability while recognizing the needs of community members living unsheltered.

• Camping is allowed overnight from 7 pm to 7 am.

Among other restricted areas, camping is not permitted within:

• Residential zones
  
  
• City parks
  
  
• 10 feet of business doorways or any driveway
  
  
• 500 feet of K-12 schools and homelessness services

Among other restrictions, camping may not:

• Block sidewalks, bike baths, or fire hydrants
  
  
• Leave behind litter or waste
  
  
• Cause fire hazards

Please visit our Camping Rules webpage for the full guidelines.

Managing Impacts

The City is proactively sharing this information with community members experiencing homelessness through Police, Fire & Rescue, Library, and Parks & Recreation staff and is reaching out to community partners and outreach teams to help us raise awareness.

We will continue to work together to connect community members living unsheltered with services and resources, including shelters and day centers.

In the coming weeks, the interactive camping map, informational handouts, and the City's Camping Rules webpage will be updated and new signage will be posted at the 600 Block of SE Baseline Street.

As homelessness continues to increase nationwide and locally, the City of Hillsboro is collaborating on compassionate & proven solutions to reduce impacts, including increasing shelter capacity.

Construction on Hillsboro's future year-round shelter is well underway. In partnership with Washington County, the shelter will provide safe sleeping spaces and wrap-around services for up to 75 adults experiencing homelessness and is expected to open by the end of the year.

Your Questions Answered

What resources are available for people living unsheltered?

• Community members can find day centers & areas where overnight camping may be allowed on our interactive public camping map.
  
  
• Overnight shelter accommodations may be requested by contacting Community Connect at 503-640-3263 or CommunityConnect@CAOWash.org.
  
  
• Help from 211 resource specialists can be accessed 24/7 by dialing 211 or 1-866-698-6155.
  
  
• Information on food pantries, utility & rent assistance, affordable housing resources, and more is available on the City's Community Resources webpage.

What should I do if people are camping in violation of the adopted time, place, and manner restrictions?

To report camping not in compliance with the City's rules, please call Washington County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 503-629-0111.

For the Hillsboro Police Department, Hillsboro City Manager's Office, and community partners, the current focus is to provide education and services to community members living unsheltered rather than issue penalties. Learn more on our Camping Rules webpage.

I'm concerned about mental health issues and drug use in the community. What is the City doing to work on these issues?

If you believe someone is in a crisis related to mental health and/or addiction, call Washington County's Crisis Line at 503-291-9111. If there is immediate, life-threatening danger, dial 911.

The City of Hillsboro recognizes that there are gaps in mental health care and addiction treatment both nationally and locally.

The City of Hillsboro works to connect people to Washington County's county-wide mental health and addiction services system. To add capacity, the County is developing a new Center for Addiction Triage and Treatment (CATT) with additional treatment beds, a peer drop-in center, and many other services. The CATT's Hillsboro Recovery Center located at 5250 NE Elam Young Parkway opened to provide services on June 2.

How were allowed camping areas selected?

The City did not directly choose specific areas where camping is allowed.

Instead, the City created a list of areas where camping will not be allowed, with considerations for:

• Community feedback & community engagement, including Camping Ordinance Workgroup recommendations
  
  
• Safety (not allowed near roads with high-speed limits)
  
  
• Accessible locations (near public transportation)
  
  
• Leaving adequate space for all people who do not have shelter

The Workgroup and City staff also worked to ensure that the overall camping rules are objectively reasonable. By identifying areas where camping is not allowed, the City was able to identify allowed locations. View the Camping Areas Map.

Visit Engage Hillsboro to learn more about how the Camping Rules were created.

Contact Us

For questions related to homelessness, camping rules, behavioral health, and neighborhood livability, please email us.

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Learn More

• Hillsboro's Homelessness Initiatives
  
  
• Shelters in Hillsboro
  
  
• Year-Round Shelter Project
  
  
• Washington County Emergency Shelters
  
  
• Washington County Day Centers & Homeless Resources