Love Our Arts & Culture Coverage?
You can help fund it!

Give now
Avatar photo

Jeremiah Hayden

Jeremiah Hayden reports on housing, homelessness, and other issues affecting Portlanders. He's lived in Oregon nearly all his life, and in Portland since 2001. 
Posted inNews

Portland Budget Tweak Causes Heated Discussion on Homelessness

A failed amendment to put homeless sweeps funding toward rent aid brought fiery testimony from Portlanders. Mayor Wilson’s office lit the match.
Avatar photo Jeremiah Hayden

Updated November 13 at 12:52 pm City Council found themselves in a tense standoff with Mayor Keith Wilson and angry Portland residents over a councilor’s failed plan to reallocate a portion of city dollars that have been used to sweep homeless encampments. At times, those defending Wilson’s plan sat side-by-side with community members who countered […]

Posted inNews

City Council Mulling $4.3 Million Cut From Homeless Sweeps Budget

Angelita Morillo proposed an amendment reallocating money from a city sweeps program, instead funding housing and food assistance, support for immigrants
Avatar photo Jeremiah Hayden

“We’re in a position right now, where people are going to end up being unhoused for the long-term, and we have to take action,” City Councilor Angelita Morillo said, explaining a proposal to divert funds from homeless encampment removal to bolster housing and food assistance. If passed, a new budget amendment Morillo proposed November 7 […]

Posted inNews

City Council Caught in the Middle of Police Oversight Labor Strike

Councilors are avoiding City Hall while Portland’s Independent Police Review staff are on strike, bringing some Council operations to a halt. 
Avatar photoAvatar photo Jeremiah Hayden and Courtney Vaughn

Staff at Portland’s Independent Police Review (IPR) typically work out of a ground-level office at City Hall, but on Wednesday afternoon, they were setting up tents just feet from where they normally report to work. Wednesday marked the start of a three-day strike by IPR’s 11 union-represented employees. Despite wind and periodic bursts of heavy […]

Posted inNews

Multnomah County Pauses New Housing Vouchers After Losing State Funding

As Mayor Wilson pushes for more shelter beds, county resources for moving people to permanent housing are dwindling
Avatar photo Jeremiah Hayden

Multnomah County is pausing new housing placements for hundreds of homeless residents after adjusting its budget to address the loss of state funding it had expected to receive. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 October 30 to approve funding for 1,051 people to continue their housing process through rental voucher programs. But it […]

Posted inNews

Mayor Wilson Puts Portland Housing Bureau Director On Leave

Social housing expert Helmi Hisserich has been the Bureau’s director since 2024, but Wilson remains ‘laser focused’ on temporary overnight shelters
Avatar photo Jeremiah Hayden

Mayor Keith Wilson has put Portland Housing Bureau Director Helmi Hisserich on leave, effective immediately. City Administrator Michael Jordan sent an email to city councilors and city leadership on October 30 announcing Hisserich’s leave, according to public records obtained by the Mercury. The letter names Michael Buonocore as the interim director while Hisserich is on […]

Posted inNews

City of Portland Begins Enforcement of ‘Public Camping’ Rules This Weekend

The same day federal SNAP benefits expire for over 15,000 homeless Multnomah County residents, Mayor Wilson piles on penalties for being homeless in Portland.
Avatar photo Jeremiah Hayden

Note: This story has been updated to include comments from Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vazquez. This weekend, the city of Portland is resuming enforcement of its local laws governing when, where, and how homeless Portlanders can live in public spaces. Mayor Keith Wilson announced that enforcement would begin November 1, saying he wants people […]

Posted inCulture

Workers at Portland’s Living Room Theaters Vote to Form an Independent Union

Following an unfair labor picket in January, the movie theater staff voted to form United Cinema Workers.
Avatar photo Jeremiah Hayden

Employees at Portland’s Living Room Theaters voted Wednesday to form a new independent union, United Cinema Workers (UCW). Workers won the election 6-4.  “Did you hear? We won,” Audra Sweetland asked the Mercury, as she poured drinks for a handful of moviegoers. Sweetland is a server at the movie house and also president of the […]

Gift this article