New findings from the Portland Police Bureau indicate a notable decline in crime rates in the vicinity of the City’s new overnight shelters. In a comparison between the six-month periods before and after the shelters' openings, a positive correlation between the presence of these facilities and community safety has seemingly emerged. The City of Portland's social media post announced that the SAFES shelter in Old Town experienced a 2.5% decline in overall crime since its opening on January 6.
Delving further into the specifics, the Old Town area around SAFES shelter witnessed a substantial 18% drop in person crimes, along with a 4% decrease in property crimes. While society crimes have ticked up, this rise is largely attributed to the police’s renewed ability to issue drug charges beginning in September 2024. On the North Portland front, the Moore Street Shelter has managed to show even to more encouraging figures, with a 13% overall crime reduction in its surrounding area. Here, person crimes saw a 10% decrease, property crimes went down by 12%, and society crimes were cut by half.
Portland's Mayor Keith Wilson weighed in on the report, noting, "These findings support what we’ve long believed. Sheltering people indoors not only provides stability for our most vulnerable neighbors, but also helps create safer neighborhoods." The mayor's words point to a deeper connection between providing shelter and fostering community security, a link that is bearing fruit in Portland’s efforts, as the city staff, local law enforcement, business owners, and residents have combined forces to resolve issues at the neighborhood level.
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