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Searching for homeless solutions
Due to recent closing of Corvallis's Cold Winter Shelter, the city is in the process of finding a new place to keep Corvallis's homeless out of the cold
Samantha Blann
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: News
Three locations have been chosen for campsites in Corvallis as a suggested option for homeless housing. The chosen locations are the BMX track, Avery Park and Willamette Park.
Due to Corvallis's Cold Winter Shelter closing, dozens of homeless advocates asked the Corvallis city council to come up with another option.
City Manager Jon Nelson met with city staffers, homeless advocates and representatives from Community Outreach Inc., which provides services for homeless individuals, in Corvallis to decide sites and other alternatives for housing.
Nelson also presented other options instead of a camp, which included paying for transportation, medication and a mental health worker for the homeless.
"We have over $500,000 a year put into homeless help," Nelson said. "What isn't being done [for the homeless] is housing, either because of [a homeless person's] personal lifestyle choices, substance abuse or mental health problems."
The city council will wait until a later meeting in either May or June before deciding whether or not to establish a homeless camp.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Nelson said. "The council will identify alternatives [after the later meeting]."
Corvallis needs a solution to the shelter shortages. Community Outreach Inc. is the only shelter available to homeless persons now since the Cold Winter Shelter closed.
"We only take people in who want to change their lives," said Community Outreach Executive Director Richard Donovan. "We have 50 to 70 people [who stay at our shelter] per night."
Donovan said most of the people staying at Community Outreach are families.
Community Outreach features many facilities for people in need, including a medical and dental clinic, child care services and an emergency shelter that features a single men's and single women's center along with a family center. The agency also provides transitioning programs to help homeless persons obtain and keep homes, along with many other services geared toward helping those in need.
"Housing costs are very high here in Corvallis, so it's a struggle no matter who you are," Donovan said.
"There is a need for housing, but I'm not sure the city parks are the best answer," Donovan said. "It's not a good mix for the men, women and children."
Donovan said he worries how the camp will be supervised. Will it be the police's job to supervise? Or will there have to be volunteers?
"It's a tough issue," Donovan said. "[The camp] is an attempt at a solution. It was considered as an alternative because the weather clinic closed and there is not enough money for another clinic."
The city is trying to find a solution to the housing problem by providing support and funding for projects.
"No matter who you are, we do not want people out in the cold and the rain," Donovan said.
Samantha Blann, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Due to Corvallis's Cold Winter Shelter closing, dozens of homeless advocates asked the Corvallis city council to come up with another option.
City Manager Jon Nelson met with city staffers, homeless advocates and representatives from Community Outreach Inc., which provides services for homeless individuals, in Corvallis to decide sites and other alternatives for housing.
Nelson also presented other options instead of a camp, which included paying for transportation, medication and a mental health worker for the homeless.
"We have over $500,000 a year put into homeless help," Nelson said. "What isn't being done [for the homeless] is housing, either because of [a homeless person's] personal lifestyle choices, substance abuse or mental health problems."
The city council will wait until a later meeting in either May or June before deciding whether or not to establish a homeless camp.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Nelson said. "The council will identify alternatives [after the later meeting]."
Corvallis needs a solution to the shelter shortages. Community Outreach Inc. is the only shelter available to homeless persons now since the Cold Winter Shelter closed.
"We only take people in who want to change their lives," said Community Outreach Executive Director Richard Donovan. "We have 50 to 70 people [who stay at our shelter] per night."
Donovan said most of the people staying at Community Outreach are families.
Community Outreach features many facilities for people in need, including a medical and dental clinic, child care services and an emergency shelter that features a single men's and single women's center along with a family center. The agency also provides transitioning programs to help homeless persons obtain and keep homes, along with many other services geared toward helping those in need.
"Housing costs are very high here in Corvallis, so it's a struggle no matter who you are," Donovan said.
"There is a need for housing, but I'm not sure the city parks are the best answer," Donovan said. "It's not a good mix for the men, women and children."
Donovan said he worries how the camp will be supervised. Will it be the police's job to supervise? Or will there have to be volunteers?
"It's a tough issue," Donovan said. "[The camp] is an attempt at a solution. It was considered as an alternative because the weather clinic closed and there is not enough money for another clinic."
The city is trying to find a solution to the housing problem by providing support and funding for projects.
"No matter who you are, we do not want people out in the cold and the rain," Donovan said.
Samantha Blann, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jeff Hess
posted 4/13/09 @ 2:36 AM PST
"We only take people in who want to change their lives," said Community Outreach Executive Director Richard Donovan.
What a grandiose, glossed over, missed-it-by-a-mile, statement. (Continued…)
rural soria
posted 4/13/09 @ 4:08 AM PST
Ask the poverty-ridden and homeless in a conventional group what they want and they will tell you exactly what they think the public wants to hear. We've all been nicely trained to parrot the party lines. (Continued…)
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