The City of Portland to suspend camp removals during Point in Time Count

Press Release

The Impact Reduction Program will institute a planned suspension of camp removals between Monday, Jan. 20 and Monday, Jan. 27 in support of PIT Count efforts.

A contracted employee engaging with a person in a tent

(Portland, OR) - The City's Impact Reduction Program is supporting the upcoming tri-county Point in Time (PIT) Count conducted by Portland State University's Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.

Every other year, the federal government requires communities to conduct a census-style count of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. In Multnomah County, this vital work produces important data that supplements a comprehensive and more regularly updated by-name list of people experiencing homelessness, and it aids in understanding who is experiencing homelessness in our community.

The Impact Reduction Program will institute a planned suspension of camp removals between Monday, Jan. 20 and Monday, Jan. 27 in support of PIT Count efforts. Suspending removals helps ensure a more accurate count. Data collected and made publicly available by the Impact Reduction Program will also be among the many sources of data used by PIT Count administrators to aid in locating camps during the Count.

Camp removals will resume Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The Impact Reduction Program will still be receiving incoming community campsite reports during this time and will continue to respond by dispatching assessment teams to visit reported sites, remove camper-identified trash, and fill out risk assessment reports. Contracted work crews who typically conduct camp removals will also be working, picking up camper-identified trash only.

The City of Portland thanks everyone in our community for their patience and understanding during this time of suspended camp removals.

"The Point in Time Count is a federally required study critical to understanding our community and securing much-needed federal funding," said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. "While routine camp removals are briefly paused, all other City services will continue, including the critical work of our first responders who are ready to address any urgent issues or emergencies."

PIT Count coordinators are eager to have volunteers who would like to support the count between Jan. 23 and Jan. 29. A 90-minute training, held via Zoom, is required prior to volunteering. Learn more about serving as a community volunteer HERE.