As Portland Mayor Keith Wilson moves closer to his goal of opening 1,500 new overnight shelter beds by December 1, and with the city’s camping ban set to be enforced again this Saturday, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson has voiced her first public concerns about the mayor’s fast-paced strategy.
Vega Pederson Urges a More Measured Approach
In an interview with Willamette Week, Vega Pederson said she admires Wilson’s ambition but warned that the expansion may be moving too quickly. “We may not need to bring on all of what he envisioned by December if it’s not safely and effectively serving people,” she said.
The county chair emphasized that she wants to collaborate with Wilson to “troubleshoot how to fill these vacant beds before opening more overnight shelters.” Vega Pederson’s comments come amid reports that about half of the new beds have been sitting empty in recent weeks, despite Portland’s worsening homelessness crisis.
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Historically, Multnomah County has overseen shelter operations, but under Wilson’s administration, the city has taken the lead. Since taking office, the mayor has added more than 800 new beds to the shelter system as part of his promise to expand short-term housing. However, some city and county officials have questioned whether the 1,500-bed target is based on data or merely an arbitrary benchmark.
Wilson Defends His Plan and Fires Back
Wilson defended his expansion efforts, saying that as the weather turns colder, shelter occupancy rates have climbed to 73% this week. In a pointed response to Vega Pederson’s remarks, the mayor said:
“Our homelessness response system must not maintain full shelters for some while allowing others to die unsheltered. I urge the county to not let individuals suffer and die unsheltered in Portland.”
Wilson also reaffirmed his long-term strategy: the enforcement of the city’s camping ban would only proceed once enough shelter beds were available to comply with Oregon law, which prohibits penalizing people for sleeping outside if reasonable shelter options are unavailable.
Enforcement and Outreach Ahead of Ban Resumption
The city plans to resume enforcement of the camping ban on Saturday, but Wilson assured residents that there will not be an immediate surge in citations. Instead, he said, the focus will remain on outreach and service connections.
“With the city continuing to add shelter capacity and resources, outreach teams and enforcement staff can now offer shelter and supportive services before issuing citations,” Wilson said in a press release.
Barriers to Shelter Acceptance Remain
Despite the availability of more beds, a persistent challenge remains: many unhoused individuals decline shelter offers. Advocates and service providers have long reported that people often avoid shelters because they feel unsafe, worry about losing their belongings, or dislike the lack of privacy—especially in congregate shelters, which make up most of Wilson’s new facilities.
Critics argue that without addressing these concerns, simply adding beds will not solve the core issues driving homelessness. Vega Pederson’s remarks underscore a growing divide between expansion-focused city policies and the county’s call for more sustainable, human-centered solutions.
A Defining Moment for Portland’s Homelessness Strategy
As the city prepares to enforce its ban and continues expanding shelter capacity, Portland’s leaders face increasing pressure to align their approaches. Vega Pederson’s comments mark a shift in tone, suggesting that even among political allies, there is uncertainty about whether the rapid expansion model is truly serving the city’s most vulnerable residents.
With winter approaching, the debate over how best to balance enforcement, compassion, and effectiveness will likely define the next phase of Portland’s response to homelessness.
