Managed Outreach & Community Resource Facility

Jump to May 2022 Update

Homelessness is a serious issue that affects all of us in one way or another, directly or indirectly. Over $100,000 per year is spent by local government agencies and nonprofits reacting to homeless issues. Every community in Oregon faces these issues. Sweet Home's Community Health Committee has been researching successful models to combat the effects of homelessness for some time. In August, several members of the committee and two City Councilors visited a successful facility in Walla Walla, Washington. The business community, neighborhoods, nonprofits, churches, and local elected officials have all worked together to formulate this facility. (click here to visit the Walla Walla Alliance for the Homeless website)

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HOMELESSNESS & PUBLIC SPACES

Recent federal court decisions required cities and counties to reconsider local ordinances regulating public space and homelessness. As a result, communities are forced to re-evaluate how they deal with homelessness or face hefty legal consequences.

Martin v. Boise
In the April 2019 Martin v. City of Boise decision, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court ruled that homeless persons cannot be punished for sleeping outside on public property in the absence of adequate alternatives, or unless the law imposes “reasonable time, place and manner” restrictions on the regulated activities in public space. For now, this is the law in Oregon. As a result, Oregon cities have been forced to update their ordinances and change how they enforce urban camping ordinances in their community. Check out the League of Oregon Cities conference session for more information on recent case law.

Harvard Law Review: Martin v. Boise: a "plain language" review of the Martin v. Boise decision.
 

Blake v. Grants Pass:
In August 2020, Oregon’s Federal District Court handed down a decision further clarifying how the government deals with homelessness in Blake v. Grants Pass.
 

Oregon House Bill 2006:
Requires local governments to approve an application for an emergency shelter regardless of state or local land use laws, if the application meets specific approval criteria outlined in the bill. 

In other words, a city cannot deny an application to develop an emergency shelter if the application complies with HB 2006, even if the city’s land use code would prohibit the emergency shelter at that location.
 

Oregon House Bill 3115: 
HB 3115 requires that any city or county law regulating the acts of sitting, lying, sleeping or keeping warm and dry outside on public property must be “objectively reasonable” based on the totality of the circumstances as applied to all stakeholders, including persons experiencing homelessness. What is objectively reasonable may look different in different communities.

The bill retains cities’ ability to enact reasonable time, place, and manner regulations, aiming to preserve the ability of cities to manage public spaces effectively for the benefit of an entire community. 

Sweet Home Public Meetings Addressing Homeless Issues
A Coordinated Approach

A community-wide coordinated approach to delivering services, housing, and programs is needed to mitigate the effects of homelessness on our community. Coordination with multiple public and private partners is critical to building equitable and sustainable strategies for preventing and ending homelessness.

A nonprofit organization will handle the day-to-day operations of the managed homeless facility, with the city providing overnight security. The city will form a seven-person policy board to oversee operational policies, including a member of the City Council, the Police Chief or their designee, and others from the community. Our community-driven committee works closely with Walla Walla to model our managed facility after theirs. 

  • Sweet Home's facility would be fenced.
  • The fencing would have privacy slatting to obscure structures from neighbors and prevent items from passing through the fence.
  • Controlled access: Everyone will be required to check in to gain entry.
  • Monitored 24 hours per day with overnight security.
  • Tenants must keep their hut and area clean of garbage and rubbish.
  • Facility staff will periodically inspect huts.
  • Drugs and alcohol would not be allowed in the facility.
  • This will not be a typical "Homeless Camp."

 

 

conestoga huts
 Walla Walla Sleep Center

Funding

The City is currently negotiating terms with Family Assistance and Resource Center Group (FAC). They are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves people experiencing homelessness and housing instability in Linn county. FAC has raised enough funds to cover the costs for construction and operations with additional support still coming in. After that, we anticipate zero funding needed from city taxpayers.

MAY 2022 UPDATE

For over a year, the City has been working with FAC to create a facility where the unsheltered can keep warm, sleep, and access the services necessary for them to move into permanent housing. Such a facility would enable the City to enforce its urban camping ordinances and direct individuals to the facility, as long as the facility has space available.
Recently, Linn County donated property to FAC for this facility, and the City Council has approved a Memorandum of Understanding with FAC for the development and operation of the facility.

  • The City and FAC continue to meet once a week to coordinate the development.
  • Public Works staff have begun rough grading of the site, both on the FAC property and on the easement through City property.
  • Fencing along the south side of the easement has been completed, keeping the Public Works Yard secure.
  • Work on the water line has begun, and work on the conduit for power and telecommunications will begin soon.
  • Students at the High School are continuing their work constructing components of the huts, which will later be assembled on site after the site is graded, graveled, and fenced. Click HERE to watch a video of the students explaining the project. 
  • FAC is working with a local contractor to schedule the transfer of the City Hall Annex building to the site.
  • As directed by the Council, staff are seeking community input and assistance regarding the relocation of the old railroad depot building, which currently sits partially in the easement area. Currently, the building is not hampering any work—site development can continue for the time being. The building will need to be moved in order to complete the roadway.
  • The Sweet Home School District is generously helping with the creation of a promotional video of the development of the site. Staff are looking for City officials and other involved parties who are willing to talk on camera about the project.
  • Staff are assisting FAC with gathering applications for people interested in serving on the site Policy Board. The Community Health Committee will be reviewing applications and making recommendations to FAC’s board.
  • FAC is developing draft rules for the site that will be modified by the Policy Board once the board is established.

 

Supporting Documents

PDF icon Guide to Persons Experiencing Homelessness in Public Spaces (489 KB)
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