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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 17h

“A lot of people just keep their eyes closed and keep walking” when they see a homeless person, she said. To see a huge space full of items donated for someone like her to get a fresh start, she said, “gives you hope.”
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

How secondhand home goods could help restore dignity for a Portlander in need

For more than two decades, this Northeast Portland nonprofit has been collecting donated items to help people furnish their homes.

www.oregonlive.com

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Reposted by Lillian Mongeau Hughes

Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 1d

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 1d

Sept. 12: www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...

How ICE protests have unfolded in Portland, from June until now

Here's what Portlanders need to know as President Donald Trump weighs whether to send the National Guard.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 1d

June 23: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Portland residents are caught in crossfire as ICE protests intensify

Noise, trash, vandalism and noxious gases accompany the clashes between protesters and federal agents. Residents bear some of the consequences.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 1d

Other media orgs: If you have tried to get access to the ICE building, I'd love to hear your experience. Contact deets in profile. And I'm on Signal.

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 1d

The question of who gets to tell the story is a critically important one right now. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Feds grant ICE building access to conservative media, influencers, ignore local Portland press

Not all news organizations have been granted the same access to the ICE facility and the people who work there.

www.oregonlive.com

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Reposted by Lillian Mongeau Hughes

Alex Zielinski @alexzee.bsky.social · 2d

“It appears the federal government is engaging in prohibited viewpoint discrimination by targeting demonstrators based on the content of their speech, while favoring those with whom the federal government agrees,” he wrote.

OPB @opb.org · 2d

Portland’s top attorney lambasted the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Monday, in a letter accusing the department of turning a blind eye to federal officers’ heavy-handed response to protests.

Portland accuses federal officers of violating demonstrators’ constitutional rights

Portland’s top attorney lambasted the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Monday, in a letter accusing the department of turning a blind eye to federal officers’ heavy-handed response to protests.

www.opb.org

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 2d

THere's been a lot of news since Thursday, but ICYMI: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

24 hours outside Portland’s ICE facility: Is this what ‘lawless mayhem’ looks like?

President Trump said conditions continue to deteriorate. Here’s what the newsroom saw.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 6d

Right, so I know there's a lot going on out there, but if you can look away from the "mayhem" for a moment, Portland, you'll want to read this one: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Trump policy change could put formerly homeless Portlanders ‘back out on the street,’ officials warn

The potential policy change would slash the federal housing assistance that can be used for permanent housing.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 7d

And yes, it's piggybacking, but here's some additional context on these shelters from my own reporting. And since my requests to go inside have NOT been granted (yet), I'd like to reiterate my call for tips and information from people who stay and work in shelters. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Blood, bugs at 1 of Portland mayor’s new homeless shelters reveal ‘appalling’ training gaps

Until July, The Salvation Army didn’t require most workers at a new shelter to receive training about exposure to bodily fluids.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 7d

Props to @alexzee.bsky.social for capturing an inside view of one of the mayor's Salvation Army-run overnight-only shelters. This is a carefully and sensitively written story placed firmly in the context of Mayor Wilson's overarching homelessness policy. Read to the end. www.opb.org/article/2025...

Behind the doors of Portland’s plan to end unsheltered homelessness

Before Wilson’s tenure, publicly-funded, nighttime-only shelters were rare in Portland – only occasionally used during weather emergencies. Now a cornerstone of the city’s homelessness plan, it’s wort...

www.opb.org

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Reposted by Lillian Mongeau Hughes

Leah Sottile @leahsottile.bsky.social · 8d

Took a little drive today past the ICE building to get a sense of where we Portlanders are on the war-ravaged spectrum, and there was just one guy blowing bubbles and some journalists.

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 8d

For clarity: The move is sharply cutting funding for permanent housing and rapid rehousing. Federal funding made up a significant chunk (about 20%) of Multnomah County's homelessness services budget in 2024.

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 8d

Well, this move by the Trump administration would likely make homelessness worse in Portland (and the rest of Oregon). Will be paying attention to how it trickles down in the tri-county area...
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

Trump admin looks at deep cuts to homeless housing program

A new policy change will significantly cut funding used to place people experiencing homelessness in permanent housing.

www.politico.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 8d

White House: “The Radical Left’s reign of terror in Portland ends now, with President Donald J. Trump mobilizing federal resources to stop Antifa-led hellfire in its tracks.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...

President Trump likens what’s happening in Portland to World War II, calling city ‘a nightmare’

“The Radical Left’s reign of terror in Portland ends now," the White House announced.

www.oregonlive.com

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Reposted by Lillian Mongeau Hughes

OPB @opb.org · 9d

The Oregon National Guard said it has begun the process of mobilizing guard members with law enforcement experience to comply with President Donald Trump’s deployment order for 200 troops in Portland, but it could be next week before there are actual boots on the ground.

At least 166 Oregon National Guard members have volunteered for Trump deployment

Lt. Col. Stephen Bomar, director of public affairs for the Oregon Military Department, said Thursday is the absolute earliest the guard could arrive in Portland – but he wouldn’t bet on that.

www.opb.org

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 14d

This story came to me from people who had been inside the shelter. I have been told press cannot stay in a Salvation Army shelter overnight. If you have stayed or worked in a city shelter and want to talk, my contact info is at the end of the story. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Blood, bugs at 1 of Portland mayor’s new homeless shelters reveal ‘appalling’ training gaps

Until July, The Salvation Army didn’t require most workers at a new shelter to receive training about exposure to bodily fluids.

www.oregonlive.com

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Reposted by Lillian Mongeau Hughes

Alex Zielinski @alexzee.bsky.social · 15d

A hard look at the soft rules governing one of Mayor Wilson’s overnight shelters by @lmonghughes.bsky.social:

Blood, bugs at 1 of Portland mayor’s new homeless shelters reveal ‘appalling’ training gaps

Until July, The Salvation Army didn’t require most workers at a new shelter to receive training about exposure to bodily fluids.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 16d

ICYMI - Dwight Minnieweather, executive director of Straightway Services, and Latoya West, Straightway’s lead site coordinator, have categorically denied the allegations. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Eyebrow raising accusations prompt Multnomah County to monitor new SE Portland homeless shelter

Several people, including three homeless service providers, brought major concerns about how the shelter is being operated to the county this summer.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 19d

News: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Major homeless services operator in Portland faces loss of funding, money mismanagement in other cities

The homeless services nonprofit, which manages five Portland sites, is facing problems with its contracts in Austin and San Francisco.

www.oregonlive.com

Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · 27d

“To me, it’s just (the mayor) trying to bluff the community that he’s doing what he said he would do,” Michelle said. “And he’s just putting a Band-Aid on it. A cheap Band-Aid too, like the grocery store kind, not Band-Aid brand.”
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

A morning of outreach on Portland’s streets starts with mayoral cheerleading, ends with a tent sweep

A new volunteering initiative by a collection of homeless service providers working with the city of Portland aims to increase street outreach.

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · Sep 8

ICYMI - Good work from Senya Scott on the mayor's plan to reunite (his word) homeless people in Portland with their families in other states. www.wweek.com/news/2025/08...

Mayor Keith Wilson Is Sending Unhoused People Back to Their Families

So far this year, the city has reunified 53 people with family members or friends out of state.

www.wweek.com

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Reposted by Lillian Mongeau Hughes

RoseCityReform.bsky.social @rosecityreform.bsky.social · Sep 8

In the latest episode of Stump Talk, Mayor Wilson discusses his hallmark shelter plan, council pushback, and neighborhood opposition. With commentary from Lillian Mongeau Hughes of The Oregonian.
@mayorkwilson.bsky.social @lmonghughes.bsky.social

open.spotify.com/episode/5asi...

“That’s not who we are."

open.spotify.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · Sep 4

Our latest shorty on Mayor Wilson's unique approach to tackling homelessness in Portland. With @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Portland mayor suggests Trump could crack down on city’s homelessness crisis, solicits donations for new shelters

www.oregonlive.com

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Lillian Mongeau Hughes @lmonghughes.bsky.social · Sep 2

This story was inspired by a question from a reader. Email me yours: lmhughes AT oregonian DOT com