Wilson: 'Mission the same' despite higher homeless count

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- When Keith Wilson took over as Portland's mayor at the first of the year, his goal was to have available beds for all who are homeless late in 2025. On Tuesday, Wilson said they are still on track to provide beds and services that are badly needed despite fresh information showing there are more homeless on the streets than previously thought.

"When we went into this, the expectation was that we have 5000 people or thereabouts living on the streets of Portland," the mayor said. "Now, the new information we have is it's nearly 7000."

The City of Portland is adjusting their game plan to address homelessness in the region after Multnomah County launched a new system to count the homeless population by tracking each person by name and providing real-time shelter availability.

City Councilor Dan Ryan said officials are adjusting their plan because "we finally have real information."

"The mission stays the same," Wilson said. "Our focus is to have a bed available for every Portlander by December 1. However, we have to adjust to the numbers, which we will. And our team has already started talking about that."

The mayor's plan breaks down goals of beds to have available by December 1, including city, county and private, on a budget of $28 million. Despite the new numbers, there are no plans to increase funding through the budget, he said.

"We've had to adjust some of our day centers from four-walled to, perhaps, outside day centers. But they offer the same services through the same hours. Create resources for those in need," said Wilson.

The mayor said they'll announce 2 to 3 new shelters in July, when the money becomes available. And they were notified this week of a private shelter opening that will provide 90 beds.

Ryan said providing services with shelters is key to bring down the number of unhoused in the region.

"If we're not moving people into behavioral health, mental health services, if we're not getting people quickly right into the workforce, we're going to see this continue to escalate," Ryan said.