Regardless of whether a human being is homeless or a drug addict they are still human beings and deserve to be treated like human beings. Taking away their stuff doesn't accomplish anything, they still exist and they still aren't getting the help they need. Portland has really let down all of its residents by the horrible way it treats it homeless population.

Part of the homeless industrial complex. Don't address the situation's root cause, but instead just throw money at it and keep it going. A yearly $4,528,000 stipend? How many addiction counselors could be paid for with that amount of $? I'm guessing a fairly substantial team.

I think it's bizarre that people that want authoritarian solution, for the police to simply beat people they deem problems into submission as the above commentator appears to, also seem to be the ones that grouse the most about city expenditures.

Obviously, utilizing more rabid cops with three figure incomes to attack homeless people who already make up more than 50% of their interactions is counterproductive. We could spend far less for far better outcomes for the homeless and other citizens of our community if we cut police interactions completely. In reality, police int his town aren't solving any crime, they're pushing around the people the city deems problematic from place to place and bleating for more funding for dong exactly nothing.

Spend money on root causes, or continue having the same problems.
Take money form the do nothing, no account police bureau and direct it to housing now.
It's worked everywhere it's been tried, it's cheaper, and we'd have fewer maniac cops on the streets.

When I saw that the contract was on hold I was afraid that we would degenerate from a tolerable "Pencil Neck" Wheeler situation of here and there waste to a full blown return to a "Choo Choo" Charlie streets lined with waste situation. Did we dodge this bullet (!)? Only time will tell.