Portland mayor now pushing for 1-year extension to 'housing emergency'

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales on Wednesday will propose extending the city's declared "housing emergency" for another year -- and this time he may have political support to move forward.

The City Council first declared a housing emergency last October, making it easier for officials to site homeless shelters and camps by waiving certain regulations.

That year-long emergency is set to expire Oct. 7 without action. Under rules approved last year, the emergency can be extended in six-month increments.

But last week, Hales proposed extending it by three years. All four city council offices panned the idea.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/08/portland_mayor_now_pushing_for.html