The following figures help to measure and track the Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program's performance. Prior to the Impact Reduction Program, the Citywide Coordinated Campsite Cleanup Program was developed in FY 2014-15 as a need was identified by property-owning bureaus and City Council to centralize a coordinating entity to carry out campsite cleanup and removal in compliance with the Anderson et. al. v. City of Portland settlement agreement.[1] The Impact Reduction Program replaced the Coordinated Campsite Cleanup Program as the group responsible for reducing the impact of unsheltered homelessness, associated trash, and bio-waste within the City of Portland while also integrating operations with the Joint Office of Homeless Services/A Home for Everyone. In FY 2017-18, the Impact Reduction Program increased its total staff from one full-time employee (FTE) to three FTEs, and the program’s budget substantially increased. At the same time, these metrics were developed as data points to help measure program success.
Last update: 08/27/2021
Action |
FY 14-15 |
FY 15-16 |
FY 16-17 |
FY 17-18 |
FY 18-19 |
FY 19-20 |
FY 20-21 |
| Reports Received/Processed | 139 | 3,643 | 17,293 | 25,460 | 35,005 | 41,717 | 60,320 |
| Campsite Removals Performed | 139 | 139 | 571 | 3,122 | 2,828 | 2,169*** | 248 |
| Total Campsite Removal Cost | $171,113 | $171,082 | $578,992 | $1,576,575 | $2,155,030* | $3,424,524* | $4,173,582* |
| Total Campsite Assessment Cost | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $390,495 | $517,853* | $666,154* |
| Avg. Direct Cost Per Removal | $1,231 | $1,231 | $1,014 | $505 | $762* | $1713*** | $2505*** |
| Risk Assessments Performed | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2,971 | 4,640 | 11,440 | 13,374 |
| Garbage Collected (tons) | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1,301 | 1,954 | 3,275 | 3,965 |
| Needles Removed | n/a | n/a | 8,215 | 346,793 | 457,461 | 91,915** | 97,516** |
| Shopping Carts Removed | n/a | n/a | 908 | 5,192 | 2,997 | 2,483 | 1,134** |
| Drug Paraphernalia Items Removed | n/a | n/a | 1,110 | 5,742 | 16,212 | 60,692 | 37,409** |
| Bio-hazards Cleaned/Removed | n/a | n/a | 241 | 2,099 | 4,538 | 9,614 | 5,519** |
The following graphs show the number of campsite removals performed for each fiscal year and the average total direct cost per removal. The Impact Reduction Program's budget to conduct cleanups has more than quadrupled since FY 2014-15 as the need to more holistically address unsanctioned urban camping has grown.
The following graph indicates the average cost of removal per site. Note: FY 18-19, FY 19-20, and FY 20-21 reflect costs paid by ODOT to conduct cleanups/removals on ODOT property.
[1] Anderson v. City of Portland, Civ. No. 08-1447-AA. (D. Or. Jul. 30, 2009)