Public safety

Fall 2025 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

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Fall 2025 Newsletter Inside This Issue: Election of Board Officers Jason Naumann Rockwood Common Tool Library Cathy Keathly Gresham City Councilor Neighborhood News and more!

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Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

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By Janet Unruh, WENA Board Member

Until recently, several dozen homeless campers were living in a forested area northeast of Troutdale on the Sandy River Delta, a.k.a. Thousand Acres Park. The park is about three miles from Gresham and five miles from the Wilkes East neighborhood. It consists of 50 acres of land owned by the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), next to 1,500 acres owned by the U.S. Forest Service. The campers have been living on the DSL land[1]. There have been an estimated 35 camps, some of which were in existence for nearly 25 years[2]. DSL states that the land is not suitable for habitation because of wildfire risk, flooding, and environmental degradation[3].

For these reasons, the state attempted a brute-force eviction of the campers in June, but it failed because the campers and their supporters fought back. Another eviction by means of persuasion and facilitation has been underway since then, with a deadline of October 1st to leave voluntarily, after which the remaining campers were to be forced out. There are unanswered questions about where the campers have gone.

THE CAMPS
Campers said they worked to keep their sites clean and used restrooms at nearby parks[4]. They had electricity—the camps had multiple generators and electrical lines that ran from camp to camp[5]. We have meetings—we try to have standards," said Gene, one of the longtime campers. Gene's camp was visibly tidy, complete with decorations and a makeshift fence[1]. However, when the local TV station, KGW, visited the site, most of the camps they saw were not like his[4].

Many living in Thousand Acres describe their community as a family. “This community is a very rare one indeed. It’s a community that’s full of people that come from different walks of life, that in a normal setting would not get along. But one thing that we appreciate the most [about] Thousand Acres is it’s always been a place where we could go and feel like no one is here to judge[4]. Another said, "This is more of a communal existence out here[1].”

The area has multiple memorials for community members who have passed, and gravesites for deceased pets. But in spite of their efforts, trash accumulated and the area became polluted, especially around abandoned camps.

THE INITIAL EVICTION ATTEMPT
Notices were posted in May, stating that campers had to leave by June 2[6]. Campers were to be forced out after the deadline[2]. They hadn’t been offered any help, they said[7].

On June 3, teams from two contract companies hired by DSL, NorthWest HazMat, Inc., and Northwest Enforcement Inc., arrived at Thousand Acres with work crews, trucks, and an excavator. They were blocked at the site by ditches dug across the road to the camps and barriers erected to prevent eviction[1]. A crowd of campers and their supporters had gathered to resist the eviction and cleanup effort. They held up signs that said, “We do not consent” and “Stop the sweep.” As the contractors began attempting to collect the belongings of the campers, a struggle ensued, and witnesses said that four people were maced by the hazmat workers[4]. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek ordered a pause on the eviction due to the repeated clashes[7]. The contractors had been on site for less than a week.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW
The Department of State Lands (DSL) reassessed its approach and worked with homeless advocates to determine the best way forward. DSL hired remediation contractor Rapid Response Bio-Clean, which is experienced in trauma-informed engagement and field operations[8].

Multnomah County Homeless Services Department (HSD) contracted with The Salvation Army to conduct outreach to the campers throughout the summer and fall. The outreach team made regular visits to the camps to build trust, share information, and offer connections to shelter and services[3].

"We do anticipate that this current effort will be ongoing for the next several weeks," said DSL spokesperson Alyssa Rash. "Our priority at this time remains voluntary compliance with the people experiencing homelessness or camping overnight at the Delta to relocate. However, we are partnered with law enforcement agencies, and when we have exhausted every avenue toward voluntary compliance, we do have enforcement as a legal backstop option[9]."

The campers responded by submitting a proposal, the “Cooperative Stewardship Proposal for the Sandy River Delta,” which would allow them to continue to live on site and help maintain the space[4].

“This proposal presents a community-driven approach to managing the Sandy River Delta. It emphasizes environmental restoration, responsible habitation, and proactive land management—all aimed at preserving human dignity while safeguarding ecological balance. By integrating sustainable housing solutions with organized land cleanup and long-term cooperative governance, this model stands as a robust alternative to short-term, temporary fixes that have failed many in our community[10].”

The proposal offered solutions for abandoned camps, waste management, hazardous waste, fire safety, enforcement of community rules, unauthorized vehicles, and land restoration. The proposal included a description of the supporting legal and financial framework. The proposal requested modular tiny homes and sustainable infrastructure, with estimated costs of approximately $11,357 – $14,957 per unit. No estimate was given for the number of units. The proposed timeline for phase one called for cleanup and restoration to be completed by August 25. Remaining activities were listed, but without dates.

In conclusion, the proposal offered “a permanent, sustainable solution for the Sandy River Delta. By addressing immediate cleanup needs and combining cost-effective, modular housing with robust community governance, we move beyond the short-term fixes that have repeatedly failed our community. This unified model not only ensures dignified, long-term shelter but also fosters a resilient system of environmental and community stewardship[10].”

The proposal was apparently ignored by DSL. Perhaps the biggest reason would be the risk of flooding. If we ever have another flood like the one in 1996, it would wipe out their village.

THE OCTOBER EVICTION
Some campers had moved out of Thousand Acres by September. On September 15, DSL announced a new, accelerated phase in the eviction and cleanup process. Legal notices were posted at the remaining occupied camps on September 26 informing residents that the area would be closed on October 1st—five days later—and they had to vacate immediately[3].

HSD’s contract with The Salvation Army expires at the end of October, and the outreach team will continue to work with the remaining campers until then. DSL’s contractor, Rapid Response Bio-Clean, will remove personal property and debris from the site, and a (unnamed) security contractor will monitor the area to prevent campers from returning. The area will remain closed for restoration until January 2026[3].

THE OUTCOME FOR CAMPERS
Did East Multnomah County (or the metro area generally) have the capacity to house several dozen homeless people by the October 1st deadline? How many were placed in housing, and how many were forced out to the streets or parts unknown?

I interviewed The Salvation Army Program Manager Phillip Emery about their effort to help the campers transition to shelter. He assured me that they all had access to resources, including the Salvation Army’s own shelters, but he explained that it was out of scope to ensure that everyone was placed. At the end of October, HSD would take that over[11].

The HSD’s data dashboard is a monthly view of data about homelessness in Multnomah County. The most recent demographics as of July, 2025, show 8,278 chronically homeless people in Multnomah County, with 4,467 unsheltered[12].

“I’m on a six-month waiting list for housing, and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” a 20-year Thousand Acres resident known as Grizzly said in the group’s press release. “There’s gotta be some kind of a solution that’s not forcing us out and putting us in jail. That would help nothing[4].”

"There's 40 of us that aren't willing to separate. So as a family, we are going to find a neighborhood somewhere where we can exist at. That may be in somebody's backyard. It may be on their front (expletive) porch," Thousand Acres resident, Countryman said. "I'm not real happy about any of this, but we have to be somewhere[2].

ADDENDUM
I contacted Zach Kearl, Management Analyst at Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department, to ask him to comment on a draft of the article I wrote on the Thousand Acres homeless camp eviction. He and I have discussed the homeless situation many times over the past months. He kindly wrote back to me in email on October 20, 2025 and told me several interesting things. He gave me his permission to post his response on the WENA newsletter website:

Click "Read more" (below) to view Endnotes

Are You Prepared?

In Gresham, creating defensible space around your property is crucial for wildfire preparedness. Defensible space is a buffer zone around your home, typically extending 5-30 feet or more, where you manage vegetation to slow or halt the progress of fire that would otherwise engulf your property. This involves clearing flammable materials, pruning trees and shrubs, and maintaining a safe distance between plants.

Key Actions for Defensible Space:

Around the Home (0-5 feet):
Focus on creating a non-combustible zone by removing dead leaves, needles, and other debris from roofs, gutters, and eaves. Replace mulch with gravel or bare soil near the foundation.

Within 30 feet:
Prune trees, removing lower branches to prevent fire from climbing into the canopy. Ensure trees are spaced appropriately to prevent fire from spreading between them.

General Maintenance:
Regularly clear gutters, prune trees, and remove dead vegetation. Store firewood and other flammable materials at least 30 feet away from structures.
Trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck. Prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 feet from the ground.

Choose fire-resistant plants:
When landscaping, opt for native, fire-resistant species that are less likely to ignite.

Irrigation:
Keep areas near structures irrigated and moist, especially during dry periods.

Maintain Lawns:
Keep lawns mowed to a height of six inches or less.

Non-Combustible Materials:
In the immediate zone, using non-combustible materials like gravel, pavers, or concrete for landscaping can significantly reduce fire risk.

By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of your home igniting during a wildfire and improve the chances of firefighters safely defending your property.

Fall 2023 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Fall 2023 Newsletter Inside This Issue: WENA Board Election November 13th Aging Levees, Will They Protect Us Wilkes East Land Use Update Climate Action Meeting, All Things Trees How We Saved the CCACs

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

¡Descargue nuestro boletín en español aquí!. (incluye enlaces web activos)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

View archive   |   Policy & Ad Rates