Pilot Projects: Bringing Solutions to the Table

Our goal was to work with the City to create a Pilot Project Program to test new approaches to eradicating local homelessness or improving the living conditions of those experiencing it.

Criteria:

1. Two of the pilot projects use no new or additional funding.
2. Two of the pilot projects use new funding.  (Maybe a new line item in the Mayor’s budget?)
3. Pilot projects last for twelve months.
4. Any individual or group living or working in Portland is eligible to submit a proposal.
5. Each proposal must state clearly what the pilot project is, who will be involved and what their responsibilities are, how success will be determined for the pilot project, how the pilot project will be evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine its viability, and each proposal must include a budget whether the pilot project uses in-kind or real dollar resources.

1.  Example of a pilot project that does not use new or additional funding:  What is the pilot project?

This pilot project will partially resolve the need for safe outdoor places to sleep as an immediate need of homeless people who have no other option due to a lack of shelter space or affordable housing while providing bathrooms for them.

Specifically it will address the perception that people dealing with homelessness are not responsible, the concern from the business community that homeless people are using the sidewalks to sleep on and thus affecting whether their customers will feel safe to conduct business with them, and the need to free law enforcement up to deal with criminal behavior. 

2.  Who are the people who will be involved and what are their responsibilities for helping ensure the success of the pilot project?

1. Mayor Tom Potter:  Per city code:  14A.50.020 the Mayor concludes there is an “emergency circumstance” and suspends the anti-camping ordinance for twelve months to create a non-punitive environment for the pilot project to work.
2. Commissioner Dan Saltzman and Mark Warrington with Portland Parks and Recreation identify any barriers to the success of this pilot project.
3. The barriers (change hours of operation for selected parks, etc.) are removed for the duration of the pilot project.
4. The Public Safety Action Committee determines how many and which public parks with bathrooms will be utilized for the pilot project.
5. The Oregon Law Center, street roots, Dignity Village, and Sisters Of The Road’s work on a “sleep only ordinance” (2003) will be referenced and utilized if useful to determine parameters for the pilot project.
6. The Homelessness Working Group’s outreach to neighborhoods will be referenced and utilized if useful to launch a discussion about the pilot project with businesses and housed residents.
7. A to be determined number of businesses (all will be near one of the designated parks) will document the incidences of people sleeping in a to be determined square foot radius of their office or shop.
8. The men and women utilizing the parks for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep will leave each park cleaner than they found it.

3.  How will success for the pilot project be determined?

1. A to be determined number of homeless people will experience twelve months of uninterrupted sleep.
2. A to be determined number of businesses will experience a to be determined per cent drop in the number of people sleeping in a to be determined square foot radius of their office or shop.
3. The Park Bureau will not spend any additional money to maintain cleanliness in the designated parks.
4. The Portland Police Bureau will experience a reduction in the number of complaint calls about homelessness.
5. The Community Court system will experience a reduction in the number of citations that cycle through their system.

4.  How will the pilot project be evaluated to determine its viability?

1. Homeless people will document a good night’s sleep at Sisters Of The Road and other designated sites.
2. Businesses will document the numbers of people sleeping in a square foot radius of their office or shop.
3. The Park Bureau will document the amount of money needed to maintain cleanliness in the designated parks.
4. The Portland Police Bureau will document the number of complaint calls about homelessness.
5. The Community Court system will document the number of citations that cycle through their system.
6. Representatives from all five impacted groups will meet monthly to review numbers and issues.
7. Quarterly and year end reports will be produced by the representatives of all five impacted groups.