PORTLAND (WGME) – Friday night, protesters at the sleep out at Portland City Hall released a list of demands for the city to get the protest to end.
It’s Day 3 of the sleep out protest in Portland, and the number of tents and service volunteers is growing.
Many of the people experiencing homelessness at the sleep out protest say that they want to see the city provide more services for those in need, which includes housing.
Homeless advocates say getting more support for those in need is the goal of this protest, and Friday night, the group sent a list of demands to city hall.
- Allow services like Preble Street to continue their mobile food deliveries.
- Invest in affordable housing that is friendly to people of all backgrounds.
- Create green spaces where camping is permitted, as well as decriminalize camping out.
- Access to free health care services, including overdose prevention sites and basic needs like food, water, and bathrooms.
- Defund the police.
- Extend eviction freezes in the city.
People in need say that these changes would not only help get people off the streets, but change the stigma of homelessness.
City leaders say that they never wanted to stop Preble Street from helping those in need, and are now working with them to continue food deliveries under proper city guidelines.
They also say they want Preble Street Resource Center to reopen.
