Neighbors say Portland’s new “Safe Rest Village” for the homeless has become a hotbed of drug trafficking

Scared neighbors have said one of Portland’s new city-sponsored homeless villages has become a hotbed for crime and drug trafficking.

Homeless people, who previously camped on Portland’s Peninsula Crossing Trail, were taken off the streets and introduced to the city’s solution, the recently completed Safe Rest Village.

But the new village, which is home to 70 people, has caused chaos among nearby homeowners, who say it is teeming with drug dealers, loud noises and anti-social behaviour.

George Siebert, who can see the village from his backyard, told KATU: ‘Life is pretty miserable because we live in a kind of fear. Every time someone walks by, we’re on the brink.”

The view of the new village from George Siebert’s bedroom window

Homeless people, who previously camped on Portland’s Peninsula Crossing Trail, were taken off the streets and introduced to the city’s solution, the recently completed Safe Rest Village

His house, where he has lived for 42 years, now overlooks the bathrooms of Portland’s newest Safe Rest Village. He said he can hear people using the facilities at any time of the day.

But Siebert said he and his wife have seen much worse in front of their home — including people passing by and berating them with profanity, people using drugs on his property and stealing his water.

He said there are often people screaming and fighting on their way to and from the Safe Rest Village.

And it has made the homeowner afraid for his life, because he is constantly afraid that his car will be stolen or something will get out of hand.

A cyclist raises his middle finger to one of the homeowners

George Siebert, who can see the village from his backyard, said, ‘Life is pretty miserable because we live in a kind of fear. We’re on the edge every time someone walks by’

Another resident, Chrisanne Boles, said people have started stealing cigarettes from her porch

Nighttime CCTV footage shows the groups of people causing noise and havoc for the local population

Local residents say there are often people screaming and fighting as they go to and from the Safe Rest Village

Camera images from several surrounding houses show the anti-social behavior, at any time of the day and night, that the local population has to deal with thanks to the new housing initiative.

Another resident, Chrisanne Boles, said people have started stealing cigarettes from her porch.

She told KATU, “They stole, I don’t know how much stuff from my garden. They’re bold enough now that they come on my porch and steal cigarettes.

“Those who are really homeless and don’t do drugs, I feel sorry for them. This one here, I have no pity.

“They’re not trying to help themselves. I called the police. The police aren’t doing anything, are they? What can they do?’

Lena Miller, CEO of Urban Alchemy

Urban Alchemy, the non-profit organization that manages Safe Rest Village, said they are taking “immediate steps to add two additional practitioners per shift to provide security and service monitoring and arm the safe sleep areas to capture unauthorized activity.” set’.

Their CEO, Lena Miller, has also been embroiled in black-fishing controversies in the past. with critics claiming she’s trying to blacken herself, when in fact she is a white woman.

Tom Karwaki, president of the University Park Neighborhood Association, said, “The discussion with the neighborhood was always, ‘Do you want a managed camp or an unmanaged camp?’ And it was the wild west with the unattended camp.

“It’s like literally dropping a battleship into the water and then suddenly it’s expected to be in battle the next day. Not going to happen. Well, it’s about the same here; it was a rough, rocky start.

‘Urban Alchemy initially only focused on what is inside the fence. Now they send their staff here.’

It’s no surprise that Portland has been dealing with a serious homeless crisis.

In May, local authorities in Oregon considered calling in the National Guard to help with Portland’s homeless crisis, with residents revealing that they have now stopped walking in certain areas because of the drug and encampment problem.

The Health and Human Services and Public Safety Committee met last month for an emergency meeting to address the crisis — with more than 5,000 estimated to be homeless in the city. According to WGME, city leaders say there are more than 100 tents in the city.

This follows news that Democratic lawmakers in Oregon are looking to decriminalize homeless camps with a law that would allow the people living in them to sue for $1,000 if they are harassed or told to leave.

The hugely controversial bill claims that “decriminalization of rest” would allow city leaders to “redirect” money from law enforcement to measures that “address the root causes of homelessness and poverty.”

Speaking to DailyMail.com about the bill, one resident said, “I think there must be better ways to do that. I’ve already signed something saying I’m against it. I don’t think it’s a good idea.’