The Portland City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the emergency declaration, which allows leaders to waive city code to allow temporary emergency homeless shelters, to open day-storage areas, and to use city properties to address a growing crisis.
"These people are our neighbors and we must do better," said Mayor Charlie Hales.
One week after Multnomah County and city leaders vowed to spend $30 million on homelessness, and two weeks after Hales announced a surprise plan to tackle the issue by opening a women's shelter, there are many unanswered questions.
