Who We Are
We started Clean Camp PDX in July 2021 with three pilot locations. The initial aim was to see if by simply providing a container to deposit garbage in would result in less trash on the sidewalks and streets. To no surprise, our unhoused neighbors not only kept the areas clear, but also significantly decrease the number of rodents.
So, in the fall of 2021 we started expanding Clean Camp to more sites.
We are always looking for sites that could benefit from our program. If you or your organization want to propose a specific location for new Clean Camp PDX garbage service site, please contact us with details.
Our Partners
Shelter Now: mission is to center and meet the needs of those who are unhoused by increasing alternative shelter and village options NOW to ensure a safe and decent place for everyone to rest, secure their belongings, and find community.
Shelter Now is the fiscal sponsor to Clean Camp PDX.
See: https://www.shelternow.org/
Metro RID Patrol: Portland’s regional government tackles the problem of dumped garbage on public property and provides other cleanup services. See: https://ridpatrol.oregonmetro.gov/report/#/start and https://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-partners/grants-and-resources/regional-refresh-fund
Ground Score: has a number of program’s serving the homeless including:
G.L.I.T.T.E.R providing litter collection and tent side waste collection, The People’s Depot is a beverage container redemption center located under the east side of the Morrison, The Sewing Program teaches people basic hand and machine sewing and design to encourage repair and redesign culture, free laundry services at the ”Wash House”, and day storage offering secure and convenient solution for community members to store personal belongings.
See: https://www.groundscoreassociation.org/glitter
Southwest Outreach: is an organization connecting neighbors living outside in SW Portland through visits, conversation, and relationship-building to connect the homeless with resources including trash pickup, medical care, and transportation. They staff a weekly shower project at Riversgate Church in Multnomah Village, where guests can come for a shower, food, clothing, conversation and connection to social services.
To learn more contact: sandy@DRDtrue.com, or marilynpalumbo@comcast.net
Republic Services: Provides weekly garbage service to some of our sites and helps us monitor what is going on, camps that are responsible as well as problem areas. See: https://www.republicservices.com/about-us
A BIG contribution to our work is the support we receive from Republic Services of Portland. Republic was impressed of our initial pilot program leading their corporate office in Phoenix to award us a grant to expand our program to more camps.
We are successful, in part, because Republic employees in Portland, including their regional managers, dispatchers and truck drivers believe in the contribution we are making to help improve the lives of folks living on Portland streets!
The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is our fiscal sponsor.
With grant money from state funding through Metro, we are continuing our expansion of garbage collection services.