More details are coming to light about the new women and couples shelter planned for 6144 SE Foster Rd, including the fact that it’s planned to be a low barrier shelter. Since the beginning, neighbors involved have criticized the process around opening this shelter— and are still asking for more collaboration and clarity

The Foster Shelter Steering Committee meeting begins at about the @ 8:00 mark. Whether you’ve been following the issue or not, there’s several insightful comments on the Facebook livestream, and you can read the comments in realtime as you watch the video.

If you’re new to the issue, here’s a story from when the shelter was approved by the Multnomah County Commission in January, and a more recent piece from a meeting on the shelter in March.

I want to thank Gray Ayer for filming the meeting and allowing me to use it in this story. If you’re interested in getting involved in the planning process around the shelter, visit SouthEast Allied Communities web page.

To recap the last meeting, reviewed the program and building design.

@ 12:30 – April, from the Joint Office addressed questions from the last meeting:

In the last meeting, she said the committee wasn’t asked to vote on what population would be served, rather it was a “straw poll” or “check in”. The shelter would serve the most vulnerable homeless and those who “haven’t be able to engage in more traditional shelters”.

Said there wasn’t a budget for public safety, and that would be based on the good neighbor agreement.

@ 19:40 – April said it wouldn’t be humane to site shelter facilities far from neighborhoods they’ll have to integrate into eventually. If a person’s criminal history precludes them from being within a certain distance from a school, they wouldn’t be able to stay at the shelter.

@ ~25:40 – Willamette Center (a shelter similar to the one planned for Foster Rd) has a good neighbor agreement, but when pressed said that it wasn’t an actual written agreement. But it was clarified that a written agreement was offered, but not requested because things were going smoothly.

The neighbor who asked for a good neighbor agreement, bringing applause from many in attendance. He was told he’s get a good neighbor agreement.

@ 33:24 – A neighbor said that the current low barrier plan is at the different end of the spectrum from what Mayor Ted Wheeler said. His staffer said Wheeler didn’t understand the terms meant, but does now.

@ 50:32 – Officers from the Portland Police Bureau addresses public safety concerns around the 120-person shelter. The comments on the FB livestream are insightful during their presentation.

It’s good these meetings are happening, but this all exists within the context of a top-down process that didn’t include neighbors until the decision was already finalized. Early in the livestream, one neighbor criticized the steering committee model, preferring to pursue a lawsuit against the City.

This isn’t an endorsement, but Loretta Smith, a candidate for next month’s City Council election, address the issue in the video below:

It was good to see candidates for two Portland City Council seats discuss the issues brought forward by East Portland neighbors. Also encouraging was how many volunteers from different neighborhoods stepped up to help put the event together.

The debate was put on by the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association, and organized by the organization’s president, Chelsea Powers. 

After introductions and thank yous, the debate began.

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@ 3:15 – The candidates for City Council Position 2, (L to R: Julia DeGraw, [a surrogate for] Nick Fish, Philip J. Wolfe, and Nicholas Sutton) made their introductions.

@ 9:50 – The candidates are asked about better representation for outer Portland, and if they would support changing the City Charter to create districts.

@ 14:55 – The candidates answered how they would include neighborhood associations and other community groups in City decisions.

@ 20:40 – The candidates were asked about livability issues, and more specifically, if they supported hiring more police officers.

@ 29:25 – The candidates were asked how they would balance the budget to support City services.

@ 36:15 – The candidates were asked about how they would pave streets in East Portland.

@ 41:50 – The candidates made their concluding statement.

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@ 49:30 – The candidates for Portland City Council Position 3 (L to R: Stuart Emmons, Andrea Valderrama, Loretta Smith, Jo Ann Hardesty, and Felicia Williams) made their introductions.

@ 55:30 – The candidates are asked about better representation for outer Portland, and if they would support changing the City Charter to create districts.

@ 1:03:08 – The candidates answered how they would include neighborhood associations and other community groups in City decisions.

@ 1:11:54 – The candidates were asked about livability issues, and more specifically, if they supported hiring more police officers.

@ 1:22:15 – The candidates were asked how they would balance the budget to support City services.

@ 1:30:33 – The candidates were asked about how they would pave streets in East Portland.

@ 1:37:47 – The candidates made their concluding statement.

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Election Day is May 15th. The last day to register to vote in this election is April 24th.

The March Montavilla Neighborhood Association meeting welcomed candidates for a Portland City Council seat, a representative from Portland Community College adult GED certification program, and heard about a planned development.

@ 4:45 – Candidates for position #2 of the Portland City Council incumbent  Commissioner Nick Fish and organizer Julia DeGraw spoke on these four issues: homelessness & housing; livability & crime; police funding & accountability; and the role of neighborhood associations

The last day to register to vote in the May 15th Portland City Council election is April 21st.

@ 52:30 – Juliet Purcell, with Portland Community College spoke on its Adult Basic Education / GED program.

@ 59:10 – A representative of the 14-unit development planned for 90th Ave & SE Hoyt spoke. 

@ 1:11 – The MNA board members gave their reports.

@ 1:25:00 –  Lene Garrett called for volunteers to be advocates for the elderly through the Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman. For more information go here.

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