Portland City Council Decides On New Homeless Shelter Location

The Portland Press Herald is reporting that a 5-4 vote by the City Council was in favor of 654 Riverside Street in the Riverton neighborhood being the location of Portland's new homeless shelter. Those opposed were Mayor Ethan Strimling and Councilors Justin Costa, Kimberly Cook, and Pious Ali.

What started as picking from 14 possible locations for a new homeless shelter was narrowed down to three by April, including a parking lot on Commercial Street, some unoccupied land on County Way and the Riverton area on Riverside.

The new state of the art shelter will have 150 beds, on site meals, a health clinic, and counseling, according to the article.

Those who oppose the new location say it's too far from any hospitals, not near any bus routes and there aren't enough emergency services nearby.

Portland councilors are looking at ways to replace the Oxford Street Shelter in Bayside. City officials say the facility, which is a converted apartment building and auto garage that is leased, is unsafe and unsustainable for both staff and clients.