But rolling back the safe sleeping policy was not a sign of failure, Hales said. "The `safe sleep' policy was well intended, but it created a lot of confusion and maybe some accidental or deliberate misunderstandings," Hales said. While the safe sleep policy is ending, the city still hopes to create planned outdoor shelters on publicly owned land that can be managed by nonprofit groups. A coalition opposing the policy, Safe & Livable Portland, called the mayor's move a step in the right direction and added they wouldn't seek further legal action against the city. "Mayor Hales' policy failed, in part, because he ignored the voices of the affected Portland residents, neighborhood communities and businesses," the coalition said in a statement.

Source: Fox News August 02, 2016 23:38 UTC