Portland's 'Safe Rest Village' program plagued by organized crime and drug use.
A Portland resident has criticized the city's "Safe Rest Village" program for the homeless, citing an increase in public drug dealing and loud noises late at night. The program provides the homeless with a place to stay, toilets, laundry, showers, and more. Urban Alchemy, a California-based nonprofit, manages the program in Portland. Some residents living next to the Safe Rest Village have complained about people doing drugs on their property, stealing their water, and hearing fights and screams nearby. The resident argues that the state is profiting from people's suffering and that the program fails to address the root of the problems. Urban Alchemy has responded by adding more practitioners per shift to provide safety and service monitoring.