Multnomah County scrutinized over giving thousands of tents, tarps to homeless people

Ten of thousands of tents and tarps have been given to people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. Some argue it's humane; others say it's a waste of money.
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[@surelyyoujokemeinfailure7531]

Who could have thought that giving tents and tarps to people would result in those same tents and tarps being used for their intended purpose? I'm shocked, I tell you, absolutely shocked.

[@Luvlymarshmellow666]

People are dumb….

[@larryj1048]

Aren't we trying to add LESS plastic waste to landfills? Tarps are plastic. Nylon tents are plastic. Yet we pile them into dumpsters while fretting about plastic restaurant straws and cutlery and grocery bags. I've owned the same tent for ten years, yet these people go through them like crazy, and then they get scraped up and thrown away over and over anyway.

[@JesseePDX]

truth

[@Luvlymarshmellow666]

If you had ever been homeless….you would not be saying this or care.

[@TheWriterNW]

Homeless Industrial Complex

[@Az06999]

Yeah if just a few billionaires pitched in they could build a big apartment building or complex and just say bills are paid for and leave it for the homeless. Yes it would become a hellhole but it's either out in the city in everyone's face or give them a damn building to be in with running water and electricity. And maybe a laundry mat.

[@aboutface102]

So this is humane? This is compassion? To me it is quite the opposite.

[@cvrart]

I don't want my tax money used in this way to deal with this issue. This is disgusting, and other Portlanders should be equally as upset about such efforts at sabotaging our city.

[@DoIt-cf4xl]

how would you address the homeless and housing crisis? I'd say build more affordable housing and lock up the landlord investors who made paying tenants homeless. I saw how they would target more vulnerable individuals and households, often targeting people on social security like disabled or elderly folks.

[@cvrart]

@@DoIt-cf4xl I would start by building more shelter, to immediately get people off the streets and into something better. We have tons of empty / vacant commercial and industrial buildings, and we have a crisis of unhoused individuals. Government can exercise eminent domain to obtain some of those buildings to immediately use as shelter for people to camp inside, away from the elements, and off the streets. Invest money in management services and oversight for such shelters. Housing affordability is an issue that is taking too long to tackle, so near term approaches are needed to get people off the streets and to bring some order to chaos.

[@DoIt-cf4xl]

@@cvrart Ya those are some nice ideas. I also think we should do away with or greatly reduce the air bnbs, those are homes off the market. Another major unreported and often overlooked issue is the landlord investors who buy up entire properties and use underhanded and illegal means to evict people. Even if you pay rent, they can harm you and steal from you and make you homeless. Ive seen people die, be hurt, hospitalized and property stolen by such bad landlords, and the cops dont even care. They MUST be held accountable and pay for damages.

[@oceania2385]

Spoiler alert - activist don't want to solve this issue. #1 they loose their jobs #2 the can't forward the dialectic of "exaggerated differences"

[@frankmacleod2565]

none of the homeless activists I've ever known got paid for that work, it was all voluntary

[@oceania2385]

@@frankmacleod2565 Great name the agencies

[@willywonka69xx]

@@frankmacleod2565 Lots of people give their time, true. However, if you google the "spokesperson" you will see they are on paid boards OR get a salary. They get others to donate their time meanwhile getting nice salaries...or they make sure their buddies are the ones supplying supplies, food, medicine, etc. Scam it is.

[@marmac7619]

So by all means, let's just keep punishing the Homeless over that! [TIC]

[@frankmacleod2565]

@@oceania2385 what agencies? They were volunteers.

[@jashar1]

The all-powerful homeless community, trampling us under their mighty feet!

[@TVHouseHistorian]

Smelly, toe jam-ridden feet.

[@Nina-fp3jv]

A giving us gifts of used needles it's wonderful world lol

[@DoIt-cf4xl]

how dare they try to live and survive! The cops let landlord investors get away with crimes against even disabled or elderly paying tenants, harming them, stealing from them, and forcing them into homelessness. They really need to sober up and fight back.

[@seanlinne8383]

Waste of money!

[@jenniferdewitt7511]

well that explains why so many tents are for sale on facebook marketplace lately

[@jbr84tx]

Any type of housing for the homeless should be only on condition of their putting in at least 20 hours of work, or community service -- unless they're disabled, of course. Instead of giving the addicted ones drugs and needles, give them an action plan to get completely off the drugs, and if they don't succeed--no benefits. Anyone can get free if they have enough incentive to do so. There are chronic pain sufferers who may need maintenance pain meds for their entire life. This must be strictly controlled and if they're caught taking any medication other than or more than prescribed, all benefits should be cut off.

[@marmac7619]

Well, then expect the tents & tarps to continue! I doubt anyone would give them the jobs anyways.

[@Azazel2024]

@marmac because you're a dumb troll

[@davidhollenshead4892]

"There are chronic pain sufferers who may need maintenance pain meds for their entire life. This must be strictly controlled and if they're caught taking any medication other than or more than prescribed, all benefits should be cut off." You don't appear to know anything about living with severe chronic pain. As most employers will find a way to avoid hiring us even if we disclose our prescriptions before taking their drug tests. Many patients have lost their access to pain medication due the failed response to the so-called "Opioid Epidemic" despite being a responsible pain patient, and despite the chances of us patients abusing Opioids being about 1% in part. If we overuse Opioids then they become ineffective leaving only one option, going home because it's better than a drawn out death of constant suffering...

[@jbr84tx]

@@marmac7619 ALL gov't benefits should be withheld as long as they're on drugs. The government can 'give them' work to do in exchange for benefits. Eventually they will all either die of exposure or apply for benefits which will require work. Otherwise, with no income, they won't even be able to afford tents. Sounds cold and merciless, but it's THEIR choice.

[@jbr84tx]

@@davidhollenshead4892 I'm not against people with chronic pain taking opiate pain meds. They need to be closely monitored so there is no abuse. If they are prescribed 2 percocet 3 times a day, that's all they get. If they run out before they should, they will have to go without until the next refill is due. I agree doctors are now too reluctant to prescribe pain meds for fear of abuse. Back in the days before the "opioid crisis" your prescription was tailored to your pain level, and your pain level was whatever YOU SAY it was. Now they seem to automatically assume you're a 'drug seeker' if you ask for more pain meds or say your pain is not controlled by your current Rx.

[@TheMunstertim]

Total waste of money. Someone is getting paid. I hope they track the money

[@DoIt-cf4xl]

Why dont they punish and crackdown on the bad lying landlord investors, and the cops who allow them to get away with crimes against tenants? Make them pay for damages to their now homeless victims. Provide legal help to the homeless victims.

[@davericard2020]

And they wonder why the homeless problem doesn’t get any better. Being compassionate is inhumane letting them feel a false sense of being comfortable being homeless. That’s enabling. They have to hit rock bottom to want something better for themselves. Give a man a fish he eats well for a day. Teach am man to fish he eats for a lifetime.

[@larryj1048]

These people don't want to learn how to fish, they are too strung out to do much of anything. Except wait for someone to bring them more fish.

[@marmac7619]

This was supposed 2b sarcasm, right?!

[@wonder7798]

Sounds like you have never been homeless. As a survivor of domestic violence, a mother and someone who has experienced homelessness revictimizing is wrong.

[@williamwelborn4555]

Tragedy of the Commons.

[@frankmacleod2565]

Exactly! Stuck in a catch 22

[@lkostova]

Pederson, who kicked people out of shelters during a weather emergency and instead handed them tents and tarps, leaving them vulnerable to frostbite? That’s “humane”???

[@marmac7619]

Yeah, & she and we ALL remember that! but apparently, learning from that tragedy that the County was soundly rebuked for, has now become a liability. Face it - gonzalez just loves to get his fat yapper in the news, because he wants 2b our next Mayor!

[@bohall270]

I'm sick and tired of these out of touch (idiots ↔️ politicians) they're thinking they're struggling because they cannot afford this year's car

[@beckerc49]

So tents and tarps are thrown out...who pays the hauling and disposal fees on that trash? Does Metro give the county a discount or comp the fees? If that's the case, how does that affect the disposal fees for the public and garbage haulers during rate reviews. Garbage fees just increased again for curbside services in the region. Take a look into the downstream costs to everyone of handing out more tarps and tents.

[@cvrart]

On the one hand, you have policymakers claiming concern for the environmental and banning plastic bags at stores, and then even requiring stores to charge for paper bags to encourage less paper bag waste, and then you have policymakers actually *contributing* to plastic landfill waste by providing tents and tarps that inevitably will get collected, at taxpayer expense, and then thrown into landfill (assuming they don't end up in the Willamette River before being picked up, or get set on fire by someone trying to warm themselves or cook food or "something else"). Every single idiot who engages in this kind of bad policymaking needs to be ejected from office.

[@nathanialhasher8935]

Greed

[@Az06999]

If just a few billionaires pitched in they could build a big apartment building in every city and say bills are paid for and just leave it for the homeless. Yes it would become a hellhole but it's either out in the city in everyones face or give them a damn building with running water and electricity. Maybe a laundry mat attached.

[@phil4346]

Follow the money trail and you will usually find a greedy organization

[@Chris-em4fl]

NO MORE FREE TENTS!

[@SteveJ-o3o]

Removed 4000. The zombies just move a few blocks away.

[@jackiechristian-di6sy]

What a great help to people who live on the edge of society. Do people think they are living out their dreams being homeless? I don't know the answer but if Jesus commands to help the poor and homeless then that is what we must do as a Christian Country.I know the Supreme Court and all fellow Republicans will agree on this matter.

[@carmellosown]

The criddlement of Portland.

[@yoggysothoth]

Portland cost of living is insane. Can barely afford groceries, rent and utilities go up every year. I make too much to be on OHP but barely survive paychecl to paycheck with zero savings. Cant afford health insurance through work because of rent, utilities and groceries. No car so its bus rides with crazy people daily - at least we have a pretty good public transit option here. I hate Portland but cant afford to move and cant afford to stay. I wish I'd never moved here to begin woth but it used to be a great place.

[@nathanialhasher8935]

Pig money 💰💰💰

[@RyanRuark]

Portland's problem is that there is too much government and none of it is accountable to the taxpayer. End the Joint Office.

[@David-p3u6p]

India's said they do it to you next. Give a blanket just to take it back.

[@ryanchinh1040]

Stop giving $10 billion a year to non-profit to make shelter. Just go buy or build apartments that solve homeless problem.

[@OyDoggy]

Whatever happened to things like compassion or basic human kindness? That doesn't matter I suppose. What is this world coming to? People are so selfish. To be fair, I'm a little triggered. My wife, dog, and I are in our car as I write this because we were evicted and no one will take us in for a few days (we have a huge dog, it's a bit of an inconvenience but he's my best friend and I'm not getting rid of him) and everyone is too broke to loan us money for a cheap motel. Admittedly we don't have alot of friends (very little family, my mom passed in 2020, I actually am looking at her ashes now and she was raised in a right wing religious cult. The type that thinks they can pray gay people straight. They are estranged to say the least) we have helped our friends so much and I don't help people to save up favors but I would think someone would want to help us. No such luck though. Anyway sorry, I needed to rant.

[@wonder7798]

Well what do you expect, no one can get out of homelessness so alternative is tent and tarp. People dont want to live without basic needs but there isnt support

[@RyanRuark]

End the Join Office. End the grift. Spend tax dollars on tax payers.

[@RyanRuark]

Rubio is a clown