PORTLAND, Ore. — For some North Portland residents, the reopening of the Moore Street Shelter was meant to be part of the city’s ambitious plan to tackle homelessness. Instead, they say it has brought crime, vandalism, and daily disruption to their neighborhood — to the point where they are considering leaving their homes.
Shelter Reopens Amid City’s Expansion Plan
In January 2024, Portland officials directed The Salvation Army to reopen the Moore Street Shelter at North Killingsworth Street and North Williams Avenue. The move added 100 beds to Mayor Keith Wilson’s goal of creating 1,500 shelter beds by Dec. 1.
While city leaders hailed the expansion as progress toward addressing homelessness, nearby residents say their neighborhood has been turned upside down.
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“It’s been absolutely miserable living here,” said Carrie Henderson, who lives directly across from the shelter. “Once the shelter opened, everything completely changed.”
Daily Struggles for Residents
Henderson said she now sees people loitering outside, sleeping on sidewalks, and openly using drugs in ways she had never witnessed in her 13 years in the neighborhood.
One block away, another homeowner, Shilpa, described similar experiences. Just before 11 p.m. on a recent Sunday, Portland police responded to reports of vandalism when a suspect smashed four car windows on her street.
Security footage showed the woman damaging vehicles. Police later arrested a 47-year-old woman, who officials said had just left the Moore Street Shelter. The mayor’s office confirmed she had prior arrests for similar incidents.
“And then my other neighbor woke up to a brick on his windshield,” Shilpa said. “It’s horrifying. I’m not surprised that it happened.”
City Defends Shelter’s Record
Despite the incident, the mayor’s office defended the Moore Street Shelter’s operations.
“After nine months of successful operations, this vandalism is by far the worst event connected to the shelter,” Wilson’s office said in a statement. “Moore Street Shelter has provided over 23,500 nights of safe, dignified sleep to our city’s most vulnerable, contributing to a decrease in crime in the area compared to the six months prior to opening.”
Neighbors remain unconvinced.
“It’s really reduced our livability, the safety of the neighborhood,” Henderson said.
Shilpa added that her family has faced more extreme problems, including bags of feces thrown at their home. “This is just not normal,” she said. “People should not be living like this.”
The Salvation Army’s Position
In a statement, The Salvation Army emphasized its commitment to safety but acknowledged challenges.
“Safety in the neighborhood is a primary concern,” a spokesperson said. “We do not condone violence or disruptive behavior in any way in the neighborhood surrounding our facility.”
Currently, there are no plans to add additional security patrols around the Moore Street Shelter.
Voices From Inside the Shelter
For those staying at Moore Street, the shelter is both a lifeline and a point of contention.
Patrick, who has been there for several days, said he believes The Salvation Army is running it well. But he also admitted that shelters often affect nearby neighborhoods.
“I’ve seen broken windows; I’ve seen everything,” he said. “Around any shelter, yeah, you’re going to see stuff.”
Residents Feel Forced to Leave
For homeowners like Shilpa, the problems have become overwhelming. She said she rarely leaves her house, worried about what she might encounter.
“I know the moment I walk out, I’ll see something,” she said. “It’s awful. You want to open them where there are no homes — don’t open them in a residential area.”
Frustrated by rising taxes and what she sees as a lack of effective solutions, Shilpa has decided to move out of Portland altogether, even if it means taking a financial loss.
Henderson echoed that sentiment. “I’ve been looking at houses outside Multnomah County,” she said. “It kills me because this is my house, my home, and I feel like I’m being forced from it.”
Shelter Model Faces Wider Pushback
The controversy in North Portland reflects broader skepticism about the city’s shelter-first model.
Just two weeks ago, Portland opened a 200-bed overnight shelter on Northwest Northrup Street in the Pearl District. That site also drew strong opposition from nearby residents.
Linda Witt, head of the Pearl District Shelter Oversight Leadership Committee, said the effects were felt almost immediately.
“In the 16 days since the shelter opened, I’ve received 206 email reports regarding new campsites,” Witt said. She listed piles of needles in parks, people passed out at streetcar stops, and fecal matter in tree wells.
“The city over-promised on their ability to mitigate the effects,” Witt added. “We continue to lobby for more effective strategies to truly help the homeless with their mental illness and drug addiction issues.”
Shelter Near Schools Raises Additional Concerns
Adding to the tension, the Moore Street Shelter sits across from a daycare and just blocks from a high school. Some parents have raised alarms about children walking past loitering individuals or witnessing drug use.
Neighbors say they are now organizing with other community groups, including those in the Pearl District, to pressure city leaders for stronger accountability measures.
A Balancing Act for the City
City officials argue that shelters like Moore Street are vital to reducing unsheltered homelessness, even if they come with challenges. Advocates emphasize that shelters provide safe sleep, access to services, and a path toward stability.
Critics, however, maintain that the placement of shelters in residential areas undermines neighborhood safety and livability, leaving taxpayers to absorb the fallout.
For residents like Shilpa, the frustration has reached a breaking point. “I feel like the city cares more about people who do drugs and abuse themselves than about taxpayers who work hard and live here,” she said. “At what point do we say, ‘This is not OK’?”
Looking Forward
For now, the Moore Street Shelter will remain open, with no additional security planned. City leaders insist that the site is meeting its goals by housing vulnerable residents.
But for some neighbors, the situation has become untenable. “Realistically, I’m leaving,” Shilpa said. “It’s for my mental health.”
Henderson, too, is considering relocation. “This is my home,” she said. “But I feel like the city has left us behind.”
As Portland continues to expand its shelter system, the clash between compassion for the homeless and the concerns of residents is only intensifying — and the Moore Street Shelter has become a flashpoint in that struggle.
