Tensions came to a boil on the Springwater trail near Southeast 82nd Avenue and Lambert Sunday evening.
People on both sides have just about had it
with the whole situation.
Homeowners and the homeless exchanged heated words in a confrontation right on the trail at about 6 p.m..
“Just because we don’t got a roof over our heads it makes us worse than you, huh,” yelled one woman who camps on the Springwater Corridor.
“We just want our community to be peaceful lawful abiding citizens. We want to sleep at night. We want to walk our children down the street,” yelled one homeowner who lives across the way from the camp.
Both sides are frustrated that city officials haven’t come up with a long term solution.
“This is creating a chaos in this neighborhood,” said Bob Archer, who lives nearby. “And Mr. Hales needs to take care of it and take care of these people I guess.”
The heated confrontation on the Springwater Corridor came as the homeless and advocates had a meeting planned to talk about standing their ground when they’re told to leave on August 1st.
“I’m trying to live, too,” said one camper.
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales announced sweeps will start on the Springwater Corridor August 1. The move is expected to clear out hundreds of homeless people.
“What other choice do we have where’s the shelter they promised?” One homeless man asked.
The prospect of the homeless standing their ground doesn’t make neighbors happy.
“There’s like hundreds of people running around causing trouble,” said Archer.
But Florida, a man who’s camped on this section of the Springwater Trail for the last six months, said a lot of the problems are being caused by folks who don’t live at the camp. He said living out on the trail to begin with is hard enough.
“When you wake up and you know you’re in a bad situation to begin with it’s hard to hold your head up and be proud of anything that you’re going to do,” he said. “It puts you in a bad light as soon as you wake up in the morning.”
He said hurtful words are being exchanged, but he understands why homeowners are upset.
Little bit of video from confrontation. pic.twitter.com/vufiEnv8W1
— Christine Pitawanich (@CPitawanichKGW) July 25, 2016
“What’s the city doing? What’s the mayor doing? What are they doing to try to help? These residents don’t deserve to be treated the way they’re being treated at all,” said Florida.
Florida said what’s happening isn’t fair to either side and what’s needed is a long term solution. And a referee.
One positive outcome from the conflict was that there were some folks from both sides who came away with a little more understanding of the other side.