Multnomah County Deputies Clear Thousand Acres Park of Homeless Camps

TROUTDALE, OR – Multnomah County deputies conducted a coordinated public safety cleanup at the Sandy River Delta National Scenic area Friday.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Mar. 17, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Homeless Outreach and Programs Engagement (HOPE) team worked with MCSO Corrections Work Crews and members of the United States Forest Service to clear unlawful camp sites and debris from the park northeast of Troutdale, which is known locally as Thousand Acres park.

The 1,400-acre natural area is a popular off-leash location for dog owners as well as a prime spotting area for bird watchers. Lately, however, the MCSO has received numerous complaints related to campsites popping up around the park.

According to MCSO spokesman Sgt. Brandon White, accumulated trash and human feces have made for "a very poor living environment out there."

Deputies made visits to the camps and provided blankets, food, and other living essentials throughout the winter, White said, but posted notices Mar. 10 letting campers know the HOPE team would return to not only aid but also enforce the county’s unlawful camping ordinance, if necessary.

"The area where these folks are in Thousand acres is not setup for camping," White told Patch Friday. "It's really harsh conditions out here. This is right off the Gorge –– we have bad weather and extreme conditions."

Previously, White said, HOPE team members identified roughly 25 individual campsites in the area and contacted about 40 people presumably staying in Thousand Acres park.

During these encounters, deputies reportedly provided local shelter information and supply bags from local churches.

"What we’re hoping to do here is get these folks out of this harsh environment and on an avenue to where they can have a better quality of life," White said.

The HOPE team’s outreach efforts could increase, White said, if WCSO Sheriff Michael Reese’s recently submitted proposal for a fulltime HOPE “Safety Net” team is adopted as part of the county’s 2017-2018 budget.

Should the proposal go through, two designated HOPE team deputies could partner with local outreach organizations and service providers to assist homeless citizens in finding ways out of homelessness, White said.

For more information about Reese’s proposal, contact the MCSO.

Photo Courtesy: Sgt. Brandon White, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.