PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The City of Portland is rolling out a new program that allows unsheltered residents to contact the non-emergency line to be connected with homeless resources.
The Street Outreach Request Program was officially launched on Thursday, Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office said. Houseless Portlanders can now call 311 to speak to a “city street outreach worker” and be referred to housing, homeless shelters, and other local services.
Interested residents can also fill out an online form to request assistance.
"Our outreach teams want to be able to help those in need as quickly as possible,” Mayor Wheeler said. “This new program will help us streamline operations and is responsive to feedback from our community.”
According to officials, community members shouldn’t use the program to connect any unsheltered resident they see to services. A name and location are required to fill out the form, as well as knowledge that the person wants help.
In all cases, city leaders said using the program doesn’t guarantee that someone will have access to a shelter.
“Outreach workers may prepare an individual for shelter by, for instance, arranging for vaccinations for a person’s pets,” Mayor Wheeler’s office explained. “The next best step varies by individual, and the outreach workers are trained to help navigate this.”
The office also noted that residents should not contact 311 in emergency situations. They should still call 911 when there is an immediate threat, and ask for Portland Street Response if they see a homeless person experiencing a mental health crisis.
