Portsmouth City Council took its first formal step toward creating a citywide homelessness task force during its April 28th meeting, voting unanimously to advance legislation aimed at coordinating a community-wide response.
The proposed “Resolution Supporting the Establishment of a Homelessness Task Force” will have two more readings before final approval. If passed, it would pull together local service agencies, first responders, healthcare providers, and community leaders to develop a strategic plan for addressing the escalating issue.
Notably, while the council chambers were packed with residents eager to weigh in on a separate proposal to make Portsmouth a transgender healthcare sanctuary city, no citizens spoke either for or against the task force initiative.
What the Resolution Proposes
Introduced by Sixth Ward Councilperson D. Packard, the resolution envisions a task force made up of representatives from:
- The Counseling Center
- Community Action Organization (CAO)
- Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments
- Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC)
- Scioto Christian Ministries
- The Salvation Army
- Shawnee State University
- The ADAMHS Board
- Local churches and shelters
According to the resolution, these groups already work to support unhoused individuals, but “do not have an official blueprint, resources, capacity, or all tools needed to fully address this complex challenge separately.”
The task force would aim to create a coordinated plan to address homelessness as a social, economic, and health crisis, with the long-term goal of sharing its strategy with state leaders, including Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health.
Why Now?
The council’s move follows months of heated debate over how to manage growing concerns about public encampments, sanitation issues, and health risks.
Last December, members debated—but ultimately rejected—a proposal to ban tent habitation within city limits. That conversation exposed just how complex the issue is, with city officials citing cases like a Fourth Street backyard encampment where a five-gallon bucket was reportedly used as a toilet and dumped in an alley.
City Manager Sam Sutherland stressed that the city doesn’t want to criminalize homelessness. However, he pointed to past cleanup efforts, such as the removal of 600 tons of trash from a viaduct encampment, as evidence of the urgent need for a coordinated solution. Residents have expressed growing concerns about safety, disease, and environmental impacts from unmanaged camps.
What’s Next?
City Council now faces a few options:
- Approve the resolution and formally establish the task force
- Modify the language or scope of the resolution
- Reject it altogether
- Delay the issue by taking no action
If approved, the task force would represent Portsmouth’s first formal step toward a unified, data-driven approach to homelessness, signaling to state and local partners that the city is serious about tackling the crisis.
The Bigger Picture
Shelters and nonprofits across Portsmouth, led by people like Maureen Cadogan, continue to do vital work—but often at full capacity and without a cohesive citywide strategy. Experts warn that without coordinated action, the community risks greater public health emergencies, strain on emergency services, and missed opportunities for long-term rehabilitation.
A dedicated task force could bridge these gaps, bringing together health experts, social workers, law enforcement, housing advocates, and faith-based groups to design solutions rooted in compassion, data, and sustainability.
