Responding to anticipated service cuts by Multnomah County, Nicki Dardinger of Sisters of the Road decries the recent expansion of overnight shelter beds, claiming the only way forward is the housing-first model, (“ Readers respond: Crossroads in homelessness response, ” Nov. 23).

While this approach provides long-term support for our houseless neighbors, we also need urgent answers to this problem. Portlanders see every day how the lack of immediate shelter space has left a record number of people on the streets. This impacts not only the houseless but all of our communities with tents, trash, blocked sidewalks, dangerous animals, open drug use and even sex trafficking.

The mayor of Portland is meeting his goal of providing 1,500 new shelter beds . This accomplishment should be appl

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