While many homeless individuals are forced to move constantly in search of a safe place to rest, some encampments in various cities have become long-term shelters. One such site is a homeless camp at the Sandy River Delta in Oregon, which has housed dozens of people for nearly two decades. Now, those residents are being told they must leave, as authorities move forward with plans to shut the camp down. Many residents are upset by the news, especially since some have built well-established setups complete with electrical extensions and generators. Unfortunately, their concerns appear to carry little weight as the eviction plans continue. However, the state says it intends to work with Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department to connect residents with resources and help them find more stable housing.
According to the homeless residents of this Oregon camp, this isn’t the first time authorities have tried to make them leave. Officials have attempted multiple removals over the years, but residents often returned within days. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case this time. Authorities are putting their foot down and plan to close the park until fall. During the closure, they intend to clear out any remaining belongings left in the forest.
The people being forced to leave are uncertain about what will happen to them next. While they understand why some might want the homeless camps gone, they feel they should have received more warning and better access to resources that could help them escape homelessness for good. On the other hand, officials argue that they have been warning the camp’s occupants since 2024, giving them ample time to prepare.
While the homeless individuals in the Oregon park are mourning the loss of what they considered home, many others don’t share the same sentiment. Most internet users felt that authorities should have acted much sooner to clear the camps. “Can’t believe it took this long. They cut down half the damn forest,” one user wrote.
Another shared their personal experience visiting the area, recalling how a dog owned by someone at the homeless camp chased them while they were biking. They questioned why officials waited so long to take action and criticized reports of some homeless individuals allegedly stealing bikes.
Some users also refused to show any sympathy for the homeless individuals, arguing that the damage done to the forest by their camps was unforgivable. “These people are not sympathetic. They’ve trashed acres of public land and blatantly lie about resisting offered services,” one user commented.
