The Portland City Council on Wednesday narrowly rejected a proposal to drastically scale back a program that cleans and removes thousands of homeless encampments throughout the city each year.

The measure, introduced by Councilors Mitch Green and Angelita Morillo, had aimed to slash $4.3 million from the Impact Reduction Program — nearly a third of its current fiscal year budget — and redirect about half those dollars toward housing, food assistance and refugee support.

After seven hours of heated deliberation and impassioned public testimony, it failed to receive the seven votes needed to pass, with only three of the sponsors’ progressive allies — Councilors Jamie Dunphy, Sameer Kanal and Tiffany Koyama Lane — joining them in support.

Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Counc

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