Murmurs: Mayor’s Shelter Beds Often Lie Empty

Tyler Francke

Canby News

Murmurs: Mayor’s Shelter Beds Often Lie Empty

Mayor’s Shelter Beds Sit Half-Empty Despite Expansion
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson told the Metro Council this week that his ambitious plan to open 1,500 emergency shelter beds by Dec. 1 is progressing as planned. “I’m a dog with a bone,” Wilson said confidently. “I’m not a quitter.”

However, data shared during the council meeting revealed a concerning detail — only 50% to 60% of the city’s 810 available emergency shelter beds are occupied on a typical night. That’s far below the 92% utilization rate seen in Multnomah County-run shelters, according to Portland Solutions Director Skye Brocker-Knapp.

Brocker-Knapp explained that occupancy rates are expected to rise as the weather turns colder and noted that the city monitors shelter use closely to “toggle the system” as needed. “My team looks at those percentages every single night,” she said, emphasizing flexibility in adapting to seasonal needs.

Wilson announced that another 280 beds will open later this week, bringing the total under his initiative to 1,090. Despite the expansion, the city’s challenge remains ensuring that people in need actually use these spaces — an issue some advocates say is linked to accessibility and safety concerns at shelters.


Parent Sues Portland Public Schools Over Race-Based Policies
A Glencoe Elementary School parent has filed a lawsuit against Portland Public Schools (PPS), alleging racial discrimination in the district’s staffing and fundraising policies.

The suit, filed Oct. 20 by parent Richard Raseley, challenges two PPS policies. The first is the district’s “equity funding formula,” which directs 2% of all K–8 staffing to schools where more than 40% of students are classified as “historically underserved” — including Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander students, as well as English language learners and students in special education.

The second policy, adopted in May 2024, bans local school foundations from using raised funds to pay for individual staff positions. The lawsuit argues this decision was racially motivated because the board cited that wealthier, whiter schools benefited disproportionately from the old policy.

Raseley, represented by attorney Julie Parrish, a former state legislator, and the Center for Individual Rights in Washington, D.C., says both rules violate the U.S. Constitution. “Portland has put up two barriers: one based expressly on race, and another that blocks parents from supporting their own kids’ schools,” Raseley said in a statement. PPS officials declined to comment.


Boys Volleyball Faces Setbacks Before First Season
Despite a historic move by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) to sanction boys volleyball as an official sport starting spring 2026, two of Oregon’s largest school districts — Portland Public Schools and Beaverton School District — have opted not to field teams in the inaugural season.

The decision has sparked frustration among students and parents, particularly since seven PPS schools and three Beaverton schools already had active boys volleyball teams. The Oregon Boys Volleyball Action Committee (OBVAC), which helped push for the sport’s recognition, called the districts’ choice “a failure of leadership and a failure to plan.”

Beaverton officials cited a lack of funding and potential Title IX compliance issues, noting that adding a boys sport without a comparable girls’ opportunity could cause an imbalance. Parents have offered to self-fund teams, but districts have not yet approved such efforts.


Multnomah County HR Chief Steps Down
Travis Brown, Multnomah County’s chief human resources officer, announced his resignation on Oct. 19, citing family health concerns and plans to pursue other professional opportunities. Brown, who joined the county in 2022, will remain on medical leave until his official departure on Jan. 16, 2026.

In an email to staff, Brown thanked County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, the Board of Commissioners, and other county leaders for their support. His resignation adds to a wave of recent leadership departures, including Chief Diversity Officer Joy Fowler, Homeless Services Director Dan Field, and Preschool and Early Learning Director Leslee Barnes.

Before joining the county, Brown served as chief HR officer at Mt. Hood Community College and associate vice president of employee and labor relations at OHSU.

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