PORTLAND, Ore. – Time is running out for dozens of residents at a Northeast Portland RV park who must vacate the site by the end of the month. For many, the Sunderland RV Safe Park offered a rare sense of security and stability. Now, its closure has left them scrambling for answers—and fearing a return to the streets.
A Safe Haven Under Threat
Currently, about 55 vehicles are parked at the site. For residents like Cory Marsy, who moved in six months ago, the closure feels like a devastating setback.
“Everyone’s kind of stressed out, I can tell, everyone is kind of on edge,” Marsy said.
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He described the park as a turning point in his life.
“It was a saving grace for us. It was kind of nice to go to a place where our stuff could be locked up and safe at night, rather than on the street where there’s all kinds of crazy stuff going on.”
But with the deadline fast approaching, Marsy fears he and others will lose that sense of safety.
How the Safe Park Began
The Sunderland RV Safe Park opened in 2023 as part of Portland’s strategy to provide secure outdoor shelter for people living in recreational vehicles. Residents were promised stability, access to services, and a chance to transition into long-term housing.
For many, those promises felt like a lifeline. But after just two years, the city announced that funding would not continue, citing budgetary constraints.
“There should have been more funding for it, at least to get everybody here into a safe place,” Marsy said. “It’s better than having people on the street. More people on the street, I think, equals more crime.”
Disappointment Among Residents
For John Stuart, who has lived at Sunderland since the day it opened, the closure feels like a broken promise.
“They didn’t even try hard enough to do anything for us—two years, come on?” Stuart said. “They said go, go, go, you guys will like it, it’ll get you off the streets, and now we’re all back on the streets again.”
Stuart said he had hoped the program would lead to permanent housing, but now he is preparing to return to his RV parked on city streets.
“I really did, but it backfired. Nothing you can do about it. Day by day, you make a mistake, you accept it, I guess.”
City and County Response
According to city officials, staff from Multnomah County and the Salvation Army are working directly with residents to find next steps in their housing journeys. Those efforts include connecting individuals with shelter beds, rental assistance, and case management services.
Still, advocates say that transitioning dozens of residents in just a few weeks is a daunting task—especially as Portland continues to grapple with an affordable housing shortage and one of the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness in the country.
What’s Next for Residents
With the deadline looming, residents face an uncertain future. While some may find temporary shelter or assistance through county programs, others fear they’ll be forced back to the very conditions the safe park was designed to prevent.
For Marsy and Stuart, the closure represents not only the loss of a home but also the loss of trust in promises made by city leaders.
“This was supposed to help us move forward,” Marsy said. “Instead, it feels like we’re just starting over again.”
A Larger Debate
The closure of the Sunderland RV Safe Park raises broader questions about Portland’s homelessness strategy: Is short-term shelter enough without sustainable, long-term housing solutions? And how can the city balance budget constraints with the urgent needs of its most vulnerable residents?
For now, those questions remain unanswered. And for the 55 households living at Sunderland, the countdown to closure continues.
