City of Portland Newsletter | December 12, 2025
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The City made headlines last week by hitting its target capacity of 1,500 new overnight shelter beds. But overnight shelters are just one way we’re responding to homelessness. The City also maintains 24/7 alternative shelters, day centers, and day storage. We’ve opened 2,787 units of affordable housing since 2018, with another 1,226 units on the way. Our eviction legal defense program has served 3,801 families. Last year our crews performed 8,303 campsite removals. And last month we resumed enforcement of the camping ordinance. Learn more and find the data at Tackling Portland’s Homeless Crisis.
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Applause greeted City Council’s unanimous vote to confirm Raymond C. Lee III as Portland’s first long-term city administrator, a key position that oversees day-to-day operations across more than two dozen bureaus and departments in the city’s new form of government. Lee brings a wealth of experience to the job, having served as city manager of Greeley, Colo., where he managed 1,600 employees and an annual budget of $515 million. “You have a partner in me that is willing to collaborate with you, that is willing to help shape how we move things forward collectively,” Lee told Councilors at the vote.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has fully reopened SW Fourth Avenue through downtown, with all travel lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossings, and the protected bike lane now substantially complete. The reopening is a significant milestone in the SW Fourth Avenue Improvement Project to upgrade underground utilities, update outdated streetlights and traffic signals, and replace failing pavement. Seven bus lines use SW Fourth Avenue. During the busiest times of day, the corridor serves 21 buses an hour.
We are changing the way we do business with our suppliers! Suppliers and City buying staff will experience a new process for registering a business, setting up accounts for supplier payments, and contracting.
People in the headlines
Ting Lu Named Director of Public Utilities
Data Spotlight
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The City of Portland’s overnight shelters supported 8,032 nights of sleep in October, serving a population that would otherwise be sleeping rough. Demand is increasing with the onset of winter weather, but the overnight shelters still have room for more people. Overnight shelters are just one component of the City’s response to the crisis of homeless crisis. Get more homelessness data, maps, and reports. |
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Our Friends at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center will once again offer holiday themed train rides along the Springwater Corridor. They need lots of volunteer help, car hosts, parking lot attendants, cookie sellers, and Santa’s helpers. Now until Dec. 28.
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The Rental Services Office partners with community organizations and housing educators to offer free educational classes covering a variety of landlord-tenant law topics.
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How to recycle common holiday waste, what to do with your tree after the holidays, and pickup delays due to holidays and winter weather.
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Are you facing financial hardship? Find resources if you lost a job, lost benefits, or are just struggling to afford the cost of living. The City of Portland can help you save money on bills, transportation, and housing. This page also has links for food, shelter, eviction help, and more.
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New job openings at the City of Portland
Because of a budget shortfall, the City imposed a hiring freeze on most jobs starting October 1. There are some exceptions. So check out our listings and apply today.
Featured jobs
Immigrant Affairs Lead: The Immigrant Affairs Lead provides centralized leadership, coordination, and policy guidance on the City’s sanctuary-related policies, procedures, and employee support efforts. This position implements Council direction on sanctuary policies, supports bureau support workgroups, and advises senior leadership on high-visibility, time-sensitive, and complex issues affecting immigrant, refugee and asylee communities, mixed-status households, and City employees.
Bureau of Emergency Communications Director: Portland seeks an experienced and innovative director to lead the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC). BOEC serves as the central link between the community and emergency service providers by answering 911 and non-emergency public safety calls, triaging for proper response, and dispatching appropriate police, fire, medical, and alternate response. The bureau consists of more than 160 union and non-union employees across multiple divisions.
More jobs
- Cross Connection Control Manager (Environmental Manager)
- Immigrant Affairs Lead (Senior Mayor’s Aide)
- Vendor Accounts Coordinator (Coordinator I (Non-exempt) – CPPW)
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Grants and funding
Commercial construction projects that are planning demolition of an existing building may qualify for incentives to promote material reuse versus recycling and landfill waste. The grants incentivizes reuse of materials through building clean out, fixtures skim, deconstruction, or structure moves.
The Portland Housing Bureau is offering funding to support capacity building for organizations that promote home sharing. This grant is intended to help organizations grow, strengthen their operations, and provide services to homeowners either engaging in or preparing to engage in home sharing activities. The goal is to ensure that more homeowners and tenants can successfully engage in home sharing, including expanding the number of home sharing units in Portland.
Who’s Eligible: Nonprofit organizations, community groups, coalitions, or fiscally sponsored projects
Application Deadline: Applicants must register in advance in WebGrants by December 12. Applications are due Wednesday, December 17 at 12:00 p.m.
Prosper Portland offers matching, reimbursable grants that help businesses and property owners make tenant improvements and small and large-scale improvements to new and existing buildings.
Who’s Eligible: Businesses and property owners in the following TIF Districts: Central Eastside, Gateway Regional Center, Interstate Corridor, Lents Town Center, Old Town, and North Macadam.
Application Deadline: Ongoing
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Give us your feedback
Through Portland’s Transportation System Development Charge (TSDC) program, developers pay a one-time fee that the City invests in transportation projects. These projects open up opportunities for new housing and jobs, give people more affordable travel options, and support our climate and safety goals. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) updates the TSDC program every 10 years to reflect Portland’s current needs and future growth patterns. PBOT will engage with community members, technical experts, and the development community to shape the 2027 update. For more information and to sign up for the mailing list, visit: Portland.gov/TSDC-Update
The Office of Arts & Culture will launch a new grant program next summer to provide operating support for local arts organizations. Share your thoughts on the proposed guidelines. Ends April 1, 2026
The proposed amendments will further limit capacity expansion at the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub with revisions to City policies and code. New regulations will require a 20% reduction of fuel storage capacity by 2036. Submit testimony for a Planning Commission hearing on Dec. 16.
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Serve on a board or committee
The Design Commission provides leadership and expertise on urban design and architecture and advances the purpose of the Design overlay zone. It supports development that builds on context, contributes to the public realm, and provides high quality and resilient buildings and public spaces. It also helps develop design guidelines for design districts and provides advice to other City Bureaus and Regional Government Partners. Deadline extended to Dec. 14, 2025
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Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
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Come join Rose City Self-Defense and the Safe Blocks Program in collaboration with Midland Library for an Introductory Personal Safety and Self-Defense workshop to learn the empowering skills to help keep yourself and your young ones safe and strong! Snacks provided for all attendees. Dec. 17
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Featured events
December 14 – 21, Sunday to Sunday
Free events
Volunteer events
For Portland Parks & Recreation planting and park clean up volunteer events, check the volunteer event filter. |
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Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible. |
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Your Portland moment
On June 26th, 1911, the Union Oil Fire took the life of Fire Chief David Campbell. As a highly regarded and very well-liked person of the community, the public outcry at his death was impactful. His funeral procession was one of the largest ever in Portland’s history and led to the formation of what we now know as the David Campbell Memorial Association and a memorial placed at SW 19th and Alder, near the current Providence Park Stadium. This memorial is in place to honor Chief Campbell and all 77 Portland Firefighters who have lost their lives to service-related deaths while serving the city of Portland.
In this image you can see the members of Station 12 help reinstall the refurbished lanterns at the current memorial as it goes through the funded portion of the renovation project spearheaded by the David Campbell Memorial Association. |
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या
口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad
Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me
Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711. |
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