Neighborhood Safety & Reporting

How to report trash, graffiti, and abandoned vehicles — and how to prepare yourself and your household for an earthquake or other disaster.

Keep Arbor Lodge Clean

In addition to the “Delitter Arbor Lodge” events where neighbors partner with SOVLE to help clean up litter in the neighborhood, there are other resources available to help.

Trash Removal

Camp-related Trash

For trash removal related to camps, file a campsite report. This will automatically create a work assignment for Central City Concern’s Clean Start crew to come by and assist with garbage removal. This crew has lived experience, and they will not remove anything identified as personal property.

Choose one of these options to report garbage because of a nearby encampment:

  • Call 311
  • PDX Reporter: Go to: https://pdxreporter.org and select “Campsite Reporting” from the main menu.
  • Calling Information & Referral: 503-823-4000

Other Illegal Dumping

For other illegal dumping in public spaces (not related to camps):

Residential Trash Removal

For your residential trash removal:

Abandoned Vehicles

Unfortunately, a number of vehicles have been abandoned in our streets. If you believe the car was stolen, please first check with the police non-emergency line at 503-823-3333. If the car is clearly abandoned, please follow the instructions at the city’s Report and Abandoned Vehicle page.

Graffiti Removal

Graffiti You Discover

If you discover graffiti in the neighborhood, please take a picture and report it. Note: Do not attempt to remove graffiti from official street signs as it may damage the reflective film on the sign.

Graffiti on Your Business or Property

If your business or property is tagged with graffiti

If you don’t qualify for city assistance, consider using a paid contractor for graffiti removal:

  • Portland United Graffiti Removal: Call at 503-764-8355
  • Portland Graffiti Removal: Reach out to them at 971-678-5249
  • Graffiti Removal Services: Contact them at 916-233-7739

Small Business Repair Grants

The Local Small Business Repair Grants program offers emergency funding support of up to $10,000 to local small businesses in the city that have suffered physical damage due to vandalism, such as broken windows, graffiti, or sign damage. These grants aim to help eligible businesses stay open and contribute to a better street environment. Prosper Portland administers the grants on a reimbursement basis with no matching requirement.

Disaster Preparedness

Scientists estimate a 37% chance of a magnitude 9.0+ Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake occurring off the Oregon coast some time in the next 50 years. The earthquake will have a profound affect on our community, and most of us will be relying entirely on our neighbors for help in the minutes, hours, and weeks after it hits. Professional responders will be overwhelmed and unable to get to us. The combined Arbor Lodge / Kenton Neighborhood Emergency Team (ALK NET) is working hard to prepare for this earthquake and other potential disasters such as flooding, wildfires, etc., to make our community more resilient.

The Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) Program

The Neighborhood Emergency Team program (NET) is organized by the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM). NET members are volunteers who are trained by Portland Fire & Rescue to provide emergency disaster assistance within their neighborhoods. Volunteers are trained to save lives and property. Anyone who lives or works in Portland can take NET training, which includes light search and rescue, basic disaster medicine and triage, radio communications, fire suppression, disaster psychology, and trauma intervention. After completing basic training, NET members receive access to free advanced training and practice opportunities. NET training is superb, and we can’t recommend it highly enough. Not everyone has the time or desire to join the program, but that doesn’t mean they can’t contribute.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend team meetings and connect with the ALK NET’s team leaders to ask questions. Our community needs your participation! Visit the Arbor Lodge / Kenton NET’s website to learn more about what we’re up to. Your participation and questions are welcome!

PortlandPrepares.org

Explore the PortlandPrepares.org website to learn how you can:

  • Prepare yourself, your family, and your neighbors 
  • Get training, volunteer, and connect via social media 
  • Communicate via two-way radio after a disaster 
  • Find out which emergency preparedness products we recommend 
  • Get involved in K-12 school preparedness 
  • Find out the many ways in which you can contribute 
  • Subscribe to their blog 
  • And much more 

Make sure to visit the Arbor Lodge / Kenton NET’s team page.