Send a letter

Send the letter below to urge lawmakers to restore local control and public safety

Dear [Lawmaker],

I urge you to vote YES on SB 1514 to repeal HB 3115, an outdated 2019 law that prevents communities in Oregon from managing unsanctioned camping effectively. Among the 50 states, only Oregon has such a law on the books. As a result, public camping continues to erode public safety and threaten the health and dignity of homeless people in cities across the state.

HB 3115 codified a federal court decision requiring cities to provide adequate shelter space before restricting public camping. The U.S. Supreme Court has since overturned that decision, but it remains the law of the land in Oregon – and only Oregon.

Oregon’s status as an outlier means the state’s communities lack the tools they need – tools available to cities in every other state – to manage public camping and its consequences. Unsanctioned public camping is inhumane and unsafe. The proliferation of tents threatens the health and dignity of homeless people while creating environmental and safety problems in affected communities. Oregonians expect local leaders to respond to homelessness challenges, but their hands are now tied.

Please vote YES on SB 1514 to repeal this outdated and harmful law.

Sincerely,
______

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