CLACKAMAS Ore. (KPTV) – Clackamas County on Monday oversaw the dismantling of a homeless encampment on SE Clackamas Road after two years of relief efforts.

Some people who lived there said they thought the removal was fair because they realize camping is illegal. However, many people did not know where they would sleep on Monday evening.

Jaimie Smith has been camping in SE Clackamas for over a year and has found that she is not getting the help she needs.

“Just crazy. I’m still trying to figure out what I should take with me because I’m at risk of losing everything,” Smith said.

She was thrilled to get a job at a nearby Dollar Tree. However, several months ago, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office warned her that she would soon be asked to leave her home. She spent this time trying to get a car or find help to tow the trailer with her belongings.

The notices came, and when the day came, she had no car or help.

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“I’m not actually housed, I’m going into my tent and going somewhere to sneak under the blackberries for the winter. And try to get a job,’” Smith said.

She worries about the cold winter and the safety of the single woman. Besides, she knows her shouldn’t camp anywhere.

“It’s basically illegal, it’s illegal to be homeless,” Smith said.

She said attitudes changed in June when the Supreme Court ruled that ordinances banning camping on public lands did not violate the Constitution. Smith worked with local aid organizations but says she was never offered a solution.

Brandi Smith, director of the nonprofit LoveOne Community, said it has been helping SE Clackamas residents since 2022 with resources and cleanups. However, she said Clackamas services are stretched thin and there are no safe overnight parking lots or 24-hour shelters.

Smith said she and her neighbors feel trapped and, like the community, wish they would just disappear.

“We all take care of each other, we know when someone is hungry and we bring them a sandwich. We have a birthday in the park for ourselves,” Smith said. “We are people too.”

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At a July meeting of the County Board of Commissioners, representatives from neighboring businesses told commissioners they had safety concerns about the camp. The county expressed its intention to return the street to property owners through a furlough.

Clackamas County Public Information Officer Scott Anderson sent FOX 12 the following statement:

“Our Clackamas County Housing and Homeless Services team, along with our dedicated network of nonprofit contracted homeless service providers, has dedicated many hours of effort and resources to reach our friends and community members experiencing homelessness in this location. We have been working with residents on Clackamas Rd for two years and our support partners have recently been visiting the site on a weekly basis. Together we carried out six neighborhood clean-ups starting from 2022. Most residents have been accommodated since 2022 and all are connected to housing resources. All those who expressed interest have completed a coordinated housing access assessment and are on the housing list by name if they have not already been accommodated. Emergency equipment and basic needs were provided on an ongoing basis. Of the remaining residents, we will continue to work with them to find housing.

Although this county and region has more housing resources than ever before, and we have significantly reduced homelessness in recent years, the truth is that our affordable housing, rental assistance and shelter system still cannot meet the needs that exist. We will continue to use every resource available to meet the needs of as many community members experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity as our resources allow.

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