|
[[File:Elia-2019-12-20-Stop-the-Sweeps-PDX-rally.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Stop the Sweeps PDX rally, 12/20/19. photo by Cory Elia]]
[[File:HUCIRP FAIL.jpg|thumb|Encampment by Portland State University in April 2021. Uncontrolled, crime riddled camps have been coming back here for years abatement after abatement due to the inability and lack of OMF-HUCIRP's competency to prevent recurrence at the same spot. ]]
''this article is part of the [httpshttp://villagebuildings.housing.wiki/wiki/Village_Buildings Village Buildings] book / article collection. ''
''[Note, this page has been set to editable only by Administrators, because privacy concerns and material takedown request were received from City of Portland / Office of Management and Finance / HUCIRP. New material/edits are still welcome, you can email to editor@housing.wiki]. ''
"Cities, suburban communities, and rural areas across the United States have seen in recent years the rise of groups of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness together. The term encampment is widely used by journalists and researchers to describe these groups, but other terms include tent cities, homeless settlements, and homeless camps. Although their existence is not unprecedented, media reports suggest that the number of encampments has increased sharply in recent years." - HUD 2019 report [Cohen et al 2019].
Persistent, informal, houseless camps have been widespread in the United States at various previous times, particularly from the post-Civil War (1865) to ca.1900, and during the Great Depression ca.1929 until late 1930s. In many cases, camps from the 1980s have arisen particularly in areas that were major camp areas in those previous eras; for example, the South of Market area of San Francisco. They are commonly in relatively concealed or non-residential urban areas, that are near railroad corridors and railyards, bodies of water, and/or services such as boarding houses and relief agencies. After the Civil War, many of the people that would now be called 'homeless' were migratory or seasonal workers who rode railroad freight trains to travel or worked; so camp sites (often called 'jungles' in 19th & early 20th Centuries) tended to develop in sheltered areas near trainyards or stations, or where trains could more safely be boarded.
In Portland, two of the areas where homeless camps have been most publicized and controversial in recent years are iin the Overlook area, on the bluffs above the major central East Side train yards / docks (where Hazelnut Grove camp/village is), and in North Portland's Peninsula Corridor along the train corridor going from downtown to the Columbia River rail bridge.
n the Overlook area, on the bluffs above the major central East Side train yards / docks (where Hazelnut Grove camp/village is), and in North Portland's Peninsula Corridor along the train corridor going from downtown to the Columbia River rail bridge.
=== "Tent Cities in America: Pacific Coast" (NCH, 2010) ===
from intro:
"Tent Cities in America, A Pacific Coast Report lays the groundwork for:<br /> • Understanding the diversity and conditions under which tent cities are created<br /> • Comparing various levels of community acceptance, regulation, and governance<br /> • Advocating safe, legal, and effective methods and practices of encampment."</blockquote>[[File:DVV.jpg|thumb| UncontrolledSome vagrancyin thatthe hascommunity settledobject in onto the concentration of RV dwelling on streets around the Dignity Village]]While the report overall describes a number of clearly unsatisfactory situations, it notably singles out and features at the start of report, Portland, Oregon's '''Dignity Village''' as being set apart by its permanent site, high degree of self-governance, and status as a national/international model: <blockquote>" • Est. 2000 (Legally Recognized in 2001)<br /> • Population: 60<br /> • Location: Public Land / Urban Periphery / Permanent Site<br /> • Regulatory Status: Leased Public Land with City Contract to Operate.<br /> • Funding Source: The Community’s Own 501 c (3) Nonprofit<br /> • Structures: Wooden structures measuring up to 10x15 ft.
"Unlike other homeless encampments that are sponsored by local governments or outside nonprofits, Dignity Village’s model of complete self-governance and funding gives the homeless a unique sense of autonomy and ownership of their community. Having a permanent site (unlike other Pacific Northwest homeless encampments, which move to different churches every ninety days) furthers this sense of ownership and allows the homeless to make both tangible physical and social improvements to their community in a way that is not possible in a mobile community. Many of the homeless describe the village as a “stepping stone” to a better situation and the stability offered by the permanent nature of the village, which allows people to keep and store their items in one place, improve their residence and public assets, and be a part of a community that defines itself not simply as one of homeless people, but an eco-village and intentional community founded on socialistic and communal beliefs. All of this contribute to Dignity’s mission and sets it apart from the other encampments."
=== HUCIRP - Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program ===
[[File:OMF-HUCIRP red toilet.jpeg|thumb|right|Inside one of the portable toilets installed by HUCIRP in 2020 in neighborhoods throughout the city that has become a haven for homeless drug addict activity. ]] ▼[[File:Lucas comment.jpg|thumb|left|Comment made by then mayor's aide, and now HUCIRP program manager getting paid almost $100,000/yr calling a Lents resident "douchebag". ]]
[[File:Red toilet ceiling.jpg|thumb|right|alleged blood splatter inside HUCIRP red toilet]]HUCIRP is a working unit of Office of Management and Finance within the municipal government of Portland, Oregon.<ref>https://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/743341</ref> It is a 3.0 FTE program that is staffed by Lucas Hillier, Katie Lindsay and Jonathan Lewis<ref>https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/24/portland-program-aims-to-help-homeless-campers-and-reduce-impact-of-camps-on-neighborhoods/</ref>. The program was budgeted for $5.8 million in FY2019-2020, and $6.5 million is requested for FY2021-22<ref>portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/780711</ref>(p.208). The program manager Lucas Hillier was an aide to former mayor Charles Hales.<blockquote>''HUCIRP "is responsible for coordinating cleanup/abatement of unsanctioned campsites on City and ODOT [Oregon Department of Transportation] owned properties/rights-of-way within the City while managing the City’s One Point of Contact campsite reporting system." [City of Portland [https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/562211 HUCIRP site]]. ''</blockquote>
▲[[File:OMF-HUCIRP red toilet.jpeg|thumb|right|Inside one of the portable toilets installed by HUCIRP in 2020 in neighborhoods throughout the city that has become a haven for homeless drug addict activity. ]]
The program staff pronounce it like "HUCK-urp."<br />We suggest "hue-SURP" - like "usurp." ▼[[File:Red toilet ceiling.jpg|thumb|right|Infectious blood splatter inside HUCIRP red toilet caused by homeless drug law offenders shooting up drugs. These toilets become neighborhood drug booths.]][[File:OMF FUCKUP.jpg|thumb|When the City of Portland OMF-HUCIRP install these, it becomes a shooting gallery and criminal offenses such as distribution of controlled substances see an uptick in the area. ]]
==== Controversies ====
HUCIRPWhile isserving a working unit of Office of Management and Finance within the municipal government of Portland, Oregon.<ref>https://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/743341</ref> It is a 3.0 FTE program that is staffed by Lucas Hillier, Katie Lindsay and Jonathan Lewis<ref>https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/24/portland-program-aims-to-help-homeless-campers-and-reduce-impact-of-camps-on-neighborhoods/</ref> which hadas an expense to tax payers of $5.8 million in FY2019-2020 and is demanding $6.5 million for FY2021-22<ref>portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/780711</ref>(p.208). Former aide to mayor CharlesMayor Hales, Lucas Hillier whomade mockeddisparaging remarks about a Lents neighborhood community member publicly on Facebook calling them a "douchebag" after they voiced concerns about encampments<ref>https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/lents-resident-mocked-by-mayors-aide-his-verbal-attack-is-shameful/283-319437905</ref> was the manager appointed to be in charge of HUCIRP program<ref>https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/07/07/portland-to-resume-homeless-camp-sweeps/</ref>. The HUCIRP program in itself was questioned for lack of oversight.<ref>https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2019/06/06/26591451/oversight-questions-arise-as-portland-pays-to-clean-up-homeless-campsites</ref>
The city auditor investigated OMF's HUCIRP and found that the program frequently ignored hundreds of complaints about transient camps from citizens and werehad allchallenges inwith all, a disorganized grouporganization and didn't have a coherent means of prioritization. [https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2019/03/portland-homeless-camps-clean-up-program-needs-improving-auditors-say.html Portland homeless camps clean-up program needs improving, auditors say(The Oregonian piece from 2019)] As of June 2020, some of the recommendations made by the auditor's office hashave yet to be implemented such as keeping constituents informed about the status of their complaints.<ref>https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/06/portlands-camp-cleanup-program-has-improved-according-to-city-auditor.html</ref> Goose Hollow Foothills League meeting noted HUCIRP and city needs to be held accountable in the way they conduct sweeps, with regard to how a sweep near a capital improvement project resulted in campers simply moving into their neighborhood.(page 2) [http://www.goosehollow.org/images/GHFLMinutes20210218.pdf GHFL February 2021 meeting notes]
<blockquote>''HUCIRP "is responsible for coordinating cleanup/abatement of unsanctioned campsites on City and ODOT [Oregon Department of Transportation] owned properties/rights-of-way within the City while managing the City’s One Point of Contact campsite reporting system." [City of Portland [https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/562211 HUCIRP site]]. ''</blockquote>
▲The program staff pronounce it like "HUCK-urp."<br />We suggest "hue-SURP" - like "usurp."
==== HUCIRP Strategic Plan 2019-2021 ====
[[File:City_of_Portland_OMF_HUCIRP_red_toilet.jpeg|thumb|right|the red toilet advocated by OMF-HUCIRP's Katherine Lindsay. They attract graffitiGraffiti which is required to be removed within 10 days of appearance <ref>https://www.portland.gov/code/14/b80/040</ref>. The city regularly fails to hold itself to its own code, because graffiti generally remains even past 10 days after service activity occurs as service visit means a prima facie evidence of city vendor's awareness of graffiti presence.]]
[[File:HUCIRP-Logo-City-of-Portland.png|thumb|right|HUCIRP logo]]
<blockquote>''Strategic Goal #3 IDENTIFY/CREATE LAWFUL PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO SLEEP<br /> • Continue to work with the Joint Office of Homeless Services, Multnomah County, and other jurisdictions on public space management strategies that reduce the need for campsite cleanup interventions which require the removal and storage of personal property.<br /> • Implement a model of collaboration and cooperation with Portland Housing Bureau, Prosper Portland, OMF-HUCIRP, and property owning bureaus to identify underutilized City properties, or properties in pre-development stages, that could be used for alternative shelter purposes to provide lawful and organized places for people experiencing homelessness to sleep.''</blockquote>
They have been known to secretively place red portable toilets in community while refusing to disclose their placement location to community members.[https://overlookneighborhood.org/overlook-neighborhood-update-sept-12/ September 2020 Overlook Neighborhood Association meeting] In an email correspondence obtained from the city by the Oregonian newspaper through public records request, OMF HUCIRP's program coordinator Katie Lindsay alleges that a police officer referred to her as a "yahoo". Furthermore, Lindsay claimed that a police officer told community members that PPB would not follow up on the incidents of theft as "it relates to the city property or in regards to the threats towards city vendors, city staff, or damage to vendor’s property.", according to the Oregonian. https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/12/portable-toilets-in-southeast-portland-stolen-vandalized-in-escalating-fight-between-city-and-neighbors.html ▼==== Toilets (Port-a-Potties) Controversy ====
[https://overlookneighborhood.org/overlook-neighborhood-update-sept-12/ September 2020 Overlook Neighborhood Association meeting] notes allege that HUCIRP has been known to place red portable toilets in community with little to no advance notice to community members.
▲They have been known to secretively place red portable toilets in community while refusing to disclose their placement location to community members.[https://overlookneighborhood.org/overlook-neighborhood-update-sept-12/ September 2020 Overlook Neighborhood Association meeting] In an email correspondence obtained from the city by the Oregonian newspaper through public records request, OMF HUCIRP's program coordinator Katie Lindsay alleges that a police officer referred to her as a "yahoo". Furthermore, Lindsay claimed that a police officer told community members that PPB would not follow up on the incidents of theft as "it relates to the city property or in regards to the threats towards city vendors, city staff, or damage to vendor’s property.", according to the Oregonian. https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/12/portable-toilets-in-southeast-portland-stolen-vandalized-in-escalating-fight-between-city-and-neighbors.html
==== YesKatie In Your BackyardLindsay, but Not In My Backyard hypocrisy by HUCIRP program coordinator ====
In a correspondence with a citizen in December 2020, City of Portland's HUCIRP program coordinator Katie Lindsay (who is also a qualified mental health professional and drug and alcohol counselor)<ref>https://www.streetroots.org/news/2019/03/15/portland-spends-millions-responding-homelessness-researchers-find</ref><ref>https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/registry/provider-view/1568852655</ref> summarized that about 90% of complaints made to HUCIRP are speculative.
"Almost 90% of the complaints our program has received regarding these units are related to stigma connected to the homeless population and complaints about things that ‘could happen,’ but have not happened," Lindsay wrote to the citizen. In a response to a citizen's complaint about the toilet placed near the complainant's house, Lindsay replied "Access to water and appropriate toilet options are recognized by the UN General Assembly as a human right" <ref name="toilet"> https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/12/portable-toilets-in-southeast-portland-stolen-vandalized-in-escalating-fight-between-city-and-neighbors.html</ref> They're<ref name="pitstop"/> Lindsay described her experience with the interaction with the homeless in her professional denigratedcapacity toas "dealing with transients" whenduring theira campspublic establishtestimony tooat closea toSherwood Katiecity Lindsay's(formerly,council Katherinesession Kalpakis<refon name="pitstop"/>)the matter of the presence of a 24 hour parking lot at the Walmart near her own house.<ref name="katie testimony"/>
In a media interview in her professional capacity, she described she's been besieged with angry phone calls about the red toilet.<ref>https://www.streetroots.org/news/2020/11/04/kaia-sand-access-hygiene-sanitation-human-right</ref> Speaking about her experiences in her own community of residence, Katie said: <blockquote>'''''"I've spent a lot of my profession when i worked, umm dealing with transients and I mean we're talking things like petty crime, public intoxication, but those aren't things I want in my community."'''''<ref>https://youtu.be/yeucKkIX5sM?t=4123 (City of Sherwood City Council Testimony June 12, 2013</ref> - Katie Lindsay at the June 12, 2013 Sherwood city council session. </blockquote>With regard to homelessness in Portland, Lindsay commented aboutdescribed the role of HUCIRP as "Our role is not to solve homelessness, but to incrementally improve the experience of those living outdoors and the community at large by providing trash mitigation and sharps disposal services."<ref>https://www.facebook.com/PDXMayorTedWheeler/photos/portlandyou-know-that-our-public-servants-work-around-the-clock-on-your-behalf-b/10158089391008620/</ref> She has also proposed hygiene access for the homeless in Portland in 2017 which came with a price tag of around $159,000.<ref name="pitstop">PDX PitStop proposal https://web.archive.org/web/20171025111008/https://www.portlandmercury.com/images/blogimages/2017/10/19/1508444131-pdxpitstop_proposal.pdf</ref>
She acknowledged that when she was working at an organization that is the "largest homeless shelter in Portland". (Likelypossibly Portland Rescue Mission?<ref>https://www.portlandrescuemission.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Prayer-Calendar-August-2012.pdf</ref>), they would suggest their clients who can not enter the program to go camp at Walmart or the airport.
Interestingly, Katie Lindsay (Kalpakis) was a vocal opponent whenabout the presence of such a destination, ain her own community. She voraciously objected to the Super Walmart's was24 proposedhour inparking Sherwoodlot near where she owned a house where she raised her children,. becauseShe sheemailed doesn'tthe wantcity those people near her own house. She emailedcouncil and testified at a Sherwood City Council meeting urging that the city to pass an ordinance prohibitingto a 24 hour Walmart. Specifically, her reservations was aboutban the 24 hour parking. Thelot storeat andWalmart parkingnear wouldher have provided a 24 hour access to restroom which she later says as a human right, and a place where homeless people can rest and sleep in their RVshouse. Essentially,She Katherine Lindsay did not want whatexpressed she's advocating in other people's back backyard coming to her own backyard expressing that she's "spent a lot of time ''<u>dealing with transients</u>'', heavy crime and public intoxication" andin her profession and "she does not want this in her community". TheseThe arestore speculativeand concernsparking aboutwould foresightgive ofthe homeless activity.a This24 suggestshour she'saccess ato NIMBYrestroom herselfand whoa doesplace notwhere wanthomeless thepeople verycan typerest ofand peoplesleep shein istheir advocatingRVs. forEssentially, inKatherine herLindsay professionaldid capacitynot anywherewant nearwhat hershe ownadvocates house.professionally Shebeing apparentlyhosted foundin ither soown objectionablebackyard thaton shewhat personallyappears emailedto andbe testifiedspeculative atconcerns aabout cityforesight councilof tryinghomeless torelated getissues. theShe Cityfelt ofthat Sherwoodthe toWalmart passparking anlot ordinanceis againsta 24"responsible hourthing parkingfor WalmartCouncil nearto herprevent." house.
Katherine Kalpakis"[Testifer, 16380a SWSherwood Red Twig Drive,resident] came forward and said she has emailed the Council and said she bought a home in Sherwood in 2011 and is raising 3 small children here and has not attended meetings but she has voted, does research on the elections and she watches the meetings on TV. She said she has a very reasonable concerns and questions for the Council and the Planning Commission regarding the 24 hour parking. She said she received one response from Mayor Middleton. She stated for 3 1/2 years she worked for the largest homeless shelter in Portland and she did safety planning which is when a client can't come into the program they let them know what is practical for them to do and some of the advice is to go to the airport or find a Walmart parking lot. She said she also worked in Arizona with domestic violence shelters and that was also the advice they gave. She said she is concerned and stated it is easy to remedy the situation by eliminating the 24 hour parking and she has read reports that some of the crimes at Shari's and Wendy's are not significant, but that is not true about Walmart and she has spent a lot of time dealing with transients, heavy crime and public intoxication and she does not want this in her community and recommends they pass an ordinance. She said she does not want to have to pay for that or the burden of enforcing the 24 hour parking on our Police Department and said they should have to pay for it. She referred to an article in January from Pamplin Media that reported about the homelessness in this area and it suggested that people find safe places like Walmart because it is better to be in large groups rather than being on their own. She stated that this is a responsible thing for Council to prevent."<ref name="katie testimony">Sherwood City Council meeting minutes, June 12, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20170131134712/https://www.sherwoodoregon.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/1330/06.12.13_city_council_minutes.pdf</ref><br />
ThatThe Pamplin Media article referenced byin Lindsaytestimony (Katherine Kalpakis)may isbe likely ''"Men on the street''," by Saundra Sorenson, in the January 03 2013 printedition of TheTimes''The Times'' (Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood): https://pamplinmedia.com/ttt/89-news/125909-men-on-the-street
====HUCIRP staff payroll expense====
The public expenses of the staff payroll for 2018 for the three staff at HUCIRP was as following<ref>https://openpayrolls.com/city/portland-or</ref>:
*Lucas Hillier $94,286.40
|