(PORTLAND, Ore.) On Thursday, crews began clearing a homeless camp near Laurelhurst Park in southeast Portland, KATU reports.
The unsanctioned encampment is home to an estimated 70 people.
The Portland City Council released a statement Monday in regards to the camp, saying, “The situation has devolved into something unsafe and unhealthy for everyone involved. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to serve the unhoused community near the park.”
TJ Browning, the safety chair of the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association told KATU, “Guns have been drawn in the camp this week. People have seen people get out of their cars with rifles and guns.”
Browning and others have urged officials to provide sanctioned, structured housing options for the campers and worry where they’ll go when the camp is cleared.
In the statement released by city officials, they said more homeless shelters will be opening soon and “will help some, but not all, Portlanders experiencing homelessness. The responsibility also lies with the state and federal governments – and together, we need to work collaboratively across all jurisdictions to build a system that delivers much better results for all Oregonians.”
Charles Boyle, Gov. Kate Brown’s Deputy Communications Director, said the governor is ready and willing to work alongside “local government leaders to address long-term issues of housing. Homelessness and behavioral health in our communities.”