I am encouraged that the Portland leadership is now responding to homelessness using a different approach, one that features scale and an orientation towards solutions, (“Portland leaders jumpstart new homelessness plan with $27M cash infusion,” Nov. 30). It seems that previous iterations largely resulted in the perpetuation of the problem instead of facing addiction, mental illness and housing availability more directly. Hopefully the long-term interactions between campers and the staff within the city-managed sites will build personal relationships and trust. Certainly, some mid-course corrections will be necessary to adjust to the realities on the ground. But I believe that the overall structure of this ambitious project makes sense.

David Delaney, Portland

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