PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW) — There’s a relentless rhythm on the streets of any sufficiently large city in Oregon that’s become increasingly routine for everyone, regardless of where they sleep. Homeless people set up camp, then the city posts it for removal. Most of the time, the homeless people move to another location and the cycle repeats.
A proposed Oregon bill aimed to reverse that routine and even allow homeless people to sue for $1,000 if they are harassed or told to move. The legislation, House Bill 3501, is called the “Right to Rest Act” and it’s been introduced in Oregon before.
National media outlets like CNN and Fox News have been giving the bill a lot of attention in recent weeks. However, what’s not being widely reported is that the bill has been dead for weeks, having missed the deadline to advance in this legislative session. Regardless, there will still be public testimony on the bill later this week as unsanctioned homeless camps remain a point of statewide contention.
“I felt like I’m just a worthless person sleeping out on the street,” said Charles Lindsey. Homeless, he’s currently sleeping in a shelter.
Lindsey’s story is not unique. He’s 18 years old and his campsite was just cleared by Portland’s Rapid Response team.
“I lost just about everything I owned,” he said.
Sitting next to Lindsey in a wheelchair Monday morning on the streets of Old Town was a woman named Josephine Allen. She called the city’s camp removals “cold-blooded.” She is still fighting to get her things back after her camp was cleared a year ago.
“I feel emotional about it because this is really a sad thing out here. They don’t really realize the lives that are at stake,” Allen said.
The Right to Rest Act was proposed by two Democrats from Beaverton and Portland. It would make removing homeless camps from public property illegal and allow homeless people to sue for $1,000 if they are harassed or told to move if there was nowhere else for them to go.
“If a bill like that was passed that would definitely be a headwind for us,” said Kurt McCanles, co-owner of an Old Town bike shop called Cycle Portland. “Everyone’s entitled to human rights but when it comes to trying to be a normal business, trying to cater to especially tourists and people coming from out of town, it can be frustrating to think that it would be more difficult to move people from our storefront when we are trying to do business here.”
Oregon House Majority Leader Julie Fahey issued the following statement about HB3501:
HB 3501 is not moving forward this session — it’s been “dead” since the 1st legislative deadline in March. Nevertheless, it’s generated a lot of attention recently. I personally do not support the policy in the bill & I agree with the decision to cancel the hearing#ORleg #ORpol pic.twitter.com/4HxXoEa8OT
— Rep. Julie Fahey (@juliefahey) May 3, 2023
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