PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Portland Mayor Keith Wilson held a public meeting on Tuesday night to address the city’s growing homelessness crisis.

With the goal of creating 1500 shelter beds by Dec. 1, Wilson says housing and shelter are his top priorities.

However, dozens of nonprofits and service providers voiced concern about the barriers that slow down progress, saying that the system needs serious work.

"We have some opportunities there for some low-hanging fruit to streamline paperwork, streamline the approval process, more, better communication with partners and government partners as well to get folks housing and hopefully keep them housed, which is why we’re all here for," said Margaret Salazar, the community development leader for REACH CDC, which houses over 3500 people.

Salazar

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