Here's Where Portland Police Have Swept Homeless Camps Off City Property This Year

Since Jan. 1, there have been 40 cleanups of Portland homeless camps on city property.

By Rachel Monahan

When Mayor Charlie Hales legalized camping on city property, he didn't end the practice of sweeping homeless camps.

Between the beginning of January and April 29, Mayor Charlie Hales' office approved 40 requests for cleanups of homeless camps, as WW reported in Murmurs this morning.

More than half—22 sweeps—were on Portland Bureau of Transportation property, including three at campsites near Southeast 11th Avenue and Pine Street, before that location was the scene of a shooting.

There were 13 on Portland Parks & Recreation land, where camping has not been legalized. There were none on Water Bureau land.

The mayor's office says it does not keep records of sweep requests that are denied. Sweeps of camps may be conducted for a variety of reasons.

"Cleanups are conducted when there's illegal activity, livability impacts (e.g., garbage or human waste accumulating), or environmental impacts (e.g., entrenched or sprawling camps)," said Hales spokeswoman Sara Hottman.

The map below shows approximate locations of camps that were swept:

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