Two weeks in, law enforcement and some shelter leaders said the policy has been “successful,” while some residents experiencing homelessness want more shelter funding and less enforcement. To provide more shelter options, Helping Hands and the Columbia Inn added 22 low-barrier shelter beds, the amount lost when LiFEBoat shut its doors, without sacrificing any higher-barrier beds. Other people experiencing homelessness told The Astorian the Shelter First policy was “criminalizing mental health” and poverty. “Reasonable alternate shelter” looks different depending on the circumstanceKelly said the Shelter First ordinance is only enforced when low-barrier shelter beds are available. If married couples can’t stay together in the shelter, Kelly said they do not have to move into a shelter.