Portland Extends Housing Emergency for One Year

The City of Portland, facing a growing homeless problem, has voted to extend its housing emergency for another year. The move allows them to ease zoning restrictions - a key element being used to help move homeless camps and encourage affordable housing projects.

Mayor Charlie Hales had proposed extending the housing emergency, which was put into effect last year, for three years but backed off after fellow city commissioners questioned that idea.

The city has been using the emergency rules in an effort to relocate shelters - most notably moving the Right 2 Dream Too camp and convert a warehouse at the Terminal One location into a shelter.

They did hit a roadblock last week when the state's Land Use Board of Appeals ruled the city's plan to move to the R2D2 camp wasn't permitted. The city has yet to decide whether to appeal.

While the city council voted to approve Hales's proposal, what happens after that will be in the hands of a new mayor - Ted Wheeler, who takes office in January. He has expressed support for the housing emergency.

Photo Amy Miner