Portland's homelessness crisis has become acutely visible over the past seven weeks because Mayor Charlie Hales quietly directed police to mostly stop enforcing anti-camping rules prohibiting tents.

The undisclosed policy shift has been something of an open secret among emboldened homeless Portlanders but is frustrating some residents and business leaders, who this week demanded an explanation from Hales.

The reprieve is temporary until new rules can be considered next month, Hales told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday. He declined to discuss the proposed changes but hopes they'll provide balanced enforcement with new options for the nearly 1,900 residents estimated to sleep on the streets each night.

"We are in a transition," Hales said in an interview. "But it's a deliberate transition from playing whack-a-mole from having sweeps all the time."

Portland's visible surge in tents stems from the City Council's declared housing emergency last fall and new federal guidance discouraging the criminalization of homelessness. Portland's current anti-camping rules are inhumane, Hales said, because they force homeless people to move from one place to another without any direction about where they can legally go.

Recognizing the need for change, Hales in December deputized his top aide to approve all homeless sweeps until new rules are crafted. As a result, police are now leniently enforcing tent rules except in cases of blatant law-breaking or extremely large camps.

That decision has encouraged a flock of new tents inside some city parks and along busy sidewalks, upsetting residents and business owners left confused about the city's long-term strategy. And it's created nervous energy among local politicians who worry that Hales' plan hasn't been vetted and could create a public backlash.

"They should be enforcing the laws that exist," said Sandra McDonough, president of the Portland Business Alliance. "If there's a change going on around that, around enforcement, they should be communicating that."

Hales will propose changes at a Feb. 8 City Council work session, but it's not immediately clear what they'll be or how they'll work. Portland's mayor, in his final year of office, said he wants to gauge support from city commissioners before publicly rolling out details. Any proposal will likely focus on the concept of "safe sleeping" rather than camping.

"I hope the new system offers balance and proportionality," Hales said, "that we will intervene on the street where the livability effects are egregious."

Homelessness in Portland hasn't dipped in recent years despite renewed political attention and its status as a central theme in this year's mayoral race.

Hales last year joined with Multnomah County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury to pledge $30 million toward housing and homelessness in 2016, and the city has opened 275 new shelter beds in recent months. Hales also authorized the Hazelnut Grove camp site in North Portland and is trying to find a permanent home for the Right 2 Dream Too camp, which opened in 2011.

But when the City Council unanimously declared a housing emergency in October, officials didn't hint that camping changes could be in the works. It wasn't until Dec. 10 when the mayor's chief of staff, Josh Alpert, began considering a new approach.

Homeless advocates frantically dialed Alpert's cell phone that morning questioning why campers were being roused amid heavy rains. From that point forward, Alpert began approving homeless sweeps on city-owned property.

Some unruly camps have been disbanded, according to the mayor's office, including one where two stabbings were reported in 10 days.

"Rumors that it's the wild west are not only greatly exaggerated, they're simply wrong," Hales said.

But many homeless Portlanders have recognized that police no longer require tents to come down at daybreak.

Along Southwest Naito Parkway, for instance, seven tents lined the sidewalk underneath the Morrison Bridge at noon Thursday.

"They're not making us take 'em down," said Melissa Sayson, sitting inside her red-and-gray tent. "It's a lot less work and hassle."

A similar scene is playing out in other neighborhoods.

A large homeless encampment underneath the Steel Bridge prompted nearby condo owners to take matters into their own hands, blocking access to a public trail along the Willamette River. City officials have threatened legal action.

Meanwhile, residents who complained a week ago about a homeless camp in Sellwood Park are still waiting.

"It's not clear to us what's being done," said Jessica Almeida, 36, who made the complaint to Commissioner Amanda Fritz. "Is there a timeline? I think people are pretty much understanding if they know what's happening, they know what they're waiting for. ... Just be honest with everybody."

Inside the park, about 100 yards from a play area, two campers have set up a vast collection of belongings inside an old pavilion. One of the campers, who identified himself as Floyd, said he lost his painting job last year after a knee injury and has been homeless since.

Floyd said park rangers and police know he's been living there for months. His tent is new, he said, but no one has complained since it's gone up.

"They asked us to do everything we can to not piss the people off," he said, gesturing to nearby homes.

Fritz, who oversees Portland Parks & Recreation, said Thursday that "camping in parks is not allowed." The complaint has been referred to Hales' office for enforcement, she said.

Residents such as Almeida have been told to log objections online. Portland has created a website to track complaints, although its existence hasn't been publicized. Since Jan. 5, the city has received 178 complaints about 12 sites, according to the mayor's spokeswoman.

The Portland Business Alliance has also logged more direct gripes with Hales. In a letter this week, McDonough asked the city to clarify what appears to be "an extreme departure from past policy" that suggests the city is "turning a blind eye to camping."

Hales said he's now "done" trying to move homeless people from place to place, something he first attempted in 2013 when he hoped to shoo away campers in sleeping bags outside City Hall. Federal authorities last summer questioned that strategy in Boise, Idaho, Hales said, and he wants to be "more humane and smart with our resources."

Whether he'll have political support is unclear.

Commissioner Nick Fish said Thursday he's received little information about Hales' plan.

Fish said he's concerned about public health and safety for campers and nearby residents. He's also worried that widespread complaints will jeopardize efforts to approve a ballot measure this fall to raise taxes for affordable housing.

"We seem to be making it up now as we go along," Fish said, "and I think that's a big mistake."

At a makeshift campsite in Creston Park, homeless Portlander Laura King figures she eventually will be forced to leave but is grateful for the recent peace.

Homeless for two years, King said she and her girlfriend began camping in the Southeast Portland park sometime after Thanksgiving. At one point, parks officials told them they couldn't camp on nearby tennis courts, she said, but no one has told them to go.

"Hopefully," she said, "it'll last as long as they'll let us stay here."

-- Brad Schmidt

503-294-7628

@cityhallwatch