Encampment Management Program

The Encampment Management Program (EMP) was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and an unprecedented rise in homelessness, including a dramatic increase in people camping outdoors in public locations. In the spring of 2021, the Board of County Commissioners approved a one-year program to improve encampment management coordination across jurisdictional boundaries and to address many related challenges.

The EMP also provided a short-term emergency response as new resources – funded by the regional Supportive Housing Services (SHS) measure and the Governor’s Executive Order to address the state’s housing and homelessness crisis – come online.

Since then, EMP operations have been extended through August 2023, with plans to sunset the program shortly after, with key ongoing operations are embedded in several County departments.

During the global pandemic, Washington County followed guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, Oregon Health Authority and County Public Health officials to allow people who were camping outdoors to remain where they were to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Local governments are also impacted by federal court cases, such as Martin v. Boise and state law concerning the regulation of camps and camping on public property. House Bill (HB) 3115/Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 195.530 requires any county ordinance that regulates the use of public property for sitting, lying and sleeping to be objectively reasonable as to “time, place and manner” when shelter is not available.

Washington County is currently working on Time, Place, Manner Public Camping Regulation” that will regulate camps and camping on public property in unincorporated Washington County. Click here to learn more.

Under the County's organizational framework, the EMP is leading a coordinated response, focusing on the needs of individuals who are living temporarily in encampments on publicly owned property and neighboring community members, using the following strategies:

• Managing the overall operational response, including strategic communication between participating allied agencies and the general public.
• Intensive outreach to connect campers with supportive services and housing navigation assistance.
• Emergency sanitation support that includes placement of portable toilets, handwashing stations and regular garbage collection.
• A dedicated Sheriff's Office HOPE deputy that not only works directly with camp residents to help problem-solve issues but is also able to address public safety concerns that arise and provide coordination with other law enforcement agency partners and service providers.
• A centralized point of contact for community members and other stakeholders who are concerned about encampments.

The EMP is partnering with the Local Coordinated Command Center (LC3) which includes setting up a day-to-day operation hub, designed to connect unsheltered people to shelter and housing, using person-centered strategies. Utilizing place-based, by name lists to focus on individual goals and service needs for people in identified focus areas. LC3 member will have access to Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and follow best practices regarding privacy of participants.

Already, we have seen multiple individuals staying at encampments throughout Washington County, make the transition to emergency shelter and long-term housing. In 2022 alone, Washington County housed almost 1,300 formerly homeless individuals through our Homeless Services program. To date, we offer 426 shelter units and are actively working to open more shelter capacity.

Washington County is working with city and agency partners across the region and their expertise was instrumental in developing our Local Coordinated Command Center (LC3) priorities. To date, we have partnered with the City of Tigard and the City of Forest Grove to provide EMP services within these jurisdictions and will continue to partner with our city jurisdictions to address unsheltered homelessness and coordinate state and local resources.

We are prepared to offer anyone on-site at the Hwy 47 encampment as of April 2023, a spot in one of our existing shelters prior to the closure which we are targeting for early summer 2023. Available shelter models include non-congregate (converted hotels) shelter, congregate (shared space) shelters, and alternative shelter (pod style). Different options will be prioritized for different individuals, based on the needs of the individual guest and limited availability of some shelter types.

Campers will be prevented from returning after the cleanup, as our ultimate goal is to assist as many people as possible to obtain supportive services and stable housing to break the cycle of homelessness.

Key components of the program will be absorbed into overlapping County departments. For instance:

• Emergency shelter, outreach services, and long-term housing support services will continue to be administered by our Homeless Services division within the Department of Housing Services.
• HOPE deputy will continue to interface with people experiencing homelessness in our community where law enforcement is needed.

The Board of County Commissioners allocated $1.95M in American Recovery Plan Act funds to support the Encampment Management Program for two years. As this funding source is expiring, the County is prepared to absorb the key components of this work into existing Sheriff’s Office, Housing Services, and Health & Human Services budgets as the program sunsets.

For questions or concerns about an encampment in your area, or for additional information about the EMP, please contact [email protected].

Anyone with concerns about potential criminal activity or disturbing behaviors related to an encampment is encouraged to contact your local law enforcement agency through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111. For an immediate threat to life or property, dial 9-1-1 for an emergency response.