Late last month the city of Portland used a new policy to justify evicting homeless people living in Deering Oaks. People with tents were given 24 hours by the police to move out. When those with nowhere else to go ignored the directive, the police moved in and swept through the park, taking down tents and moving homeless folks and their meager belongings out.

This continued criminalization of the homeless has to cease. With landlords gouging tenants with rent increases that are outpacing even the 40-year high inflation rate, the situation can only get worse before it gets better.

Where is the compassion? The people in Deering Oaks who have found themselves on the streets due to the pandemic, a shortage of rental units and predatory landlords are our neighbors. As a former sheltered homeless veteran, I know all too well the situation the homeless find themselves in. It can happen to anyone.

City officials should think about that the next time they ignore the plight of people who are just trying to survive. The city of Portland needs to provide bathrooms, showers and more social services until more affordable housing is built. Finally, they should stop trying to move from sight people who have nowhere else to go.

Don Kimball Jr.
South Portland