Throughout his first five months as Portland mayor, Keith Wilson has taken nearly every opportunity to tout his plan to end unsheltered homelessness by Dec. 1 and insist that his ambitious goal to have a shelter bed available for every person on the street who wants one is eminently achievable.

He doubled down on that message Friday in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive.

“No change in plans,” he said. “We’re on target. I’m optimistic.”

Prodded about the challenges to his plan, including mounting skepticism from partners, a lack of housing options for people ready to leave shelter and the fact that homelessness has increased every month since at least January 2024 , the mayor held firm.

He said he invited Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor and adviser to Presiden

See Full Page