Portland, Oregon is set to welcome a new low-barrier shelter, located in the heart of the Pearl District. The NW Northrup Shelter, situated off Northwest 14th Avenue and Northrup Street, is expected to open its doors in just a month’s time. However, not everyone is pleased with the decision, with one apartment complex already anticipating a significant reduction in rent due to the shelter’s proximity.
A visit to the site of the shelter reveals the potential impact on nearby residents. The door to the shelter is less than 15 yards away from the entrance of the Oro Apartments, operated by MRCD. Paul Rudinsky, a manager at MRCD, expressed his concerns about the shelter’s location.
- “We’ve had two people that were concerned about renewing the lease because of the shelter and the location. Unfortunately, the door to the shelter is less than 15 yards away from one of our doors,”
- “Our management team that has talked to us has said that there will be a reduction in our rents, and they were anticipating a significant reduction. And every developer that’s built apartments in the Pearl District is either underwater right now or barely at a breakeven.”
Rudinsky emphasized the need for shelters to be located in industrial or mixed-use areas, rather than residential communities. “Shelters should be put in industrial or mixed-use areas so that people can get the help that they need, all while preserving the residential communities,” he said.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, on the other hand, takes a different stance on the issue. He believes that the presence of the shelter will bring benefits to the community, including a reduction in crime and an increase in business.
“In the shelters that we’ve opened, we’ve seen a reduction in crime, we’ve seen an increase in business. [I spoke to a business owner] he has the market next to the Morse Street Shelter. He says his business is up. He says there’s not people sleeping in corridors anymore,”
Wilson also announced that the city will be working closely with the police department to address any issues that may arise in relation to the shelter. “When you have a community issue, they will be addressing it. We will start small, make it right. We will meet your needs, and we will exceed your expectations,” he said.
The mayor emphasized his support for overnight shelters, citing Philadelphia as an example of a city with a lower number of people living on the streets. However, he noted that Portland has a much larger homeless population, with over 7,000 people on the streets.
As the shelter prepares to open, the city is facing criticism from some residents who claim that the shelter will have a negative impact on the community. A local business owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared their concerns with our team.
“I’m worried about the safety and security of my business. I’ve seen what happens when people are sleeping on the streets, and it’s not good. I want to make sure that my business is protected,”
The debate over the shelter’s location and impact on the community is ongoing.
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