Ashland is Optimistic That it Will Provide an Interim Winter Shelter by the End of the Week

ASHLAND, Ore. — Ashland City Manager Sabrina Cotta told a recent city council meeting that an interim winter shelter for homeless people could be provided by the end of this week.

Cotta said she would update the city council as soon as arrangements for services for occupants of the winter shelter were finalized.

A Church Hall or Gym Could Provide Winter Shelter

Ashland does not have the resources to provide a winter shelter for homeless people. However, Cotta said staff were negotiating to with church community members in the hopes that they could offer the space needed for a severe weather shelter.

The City Manager told the meeting that a hall or gym would be ideal to provide interim shelter to the homeless

2200 Ashland Street Will Open on New Year’s Day

On January 1, Ashland will open its emergency winter shelter at 2200 Ashland Street for three months for 14 to 15 hours daily. Cotta said negotiations were underway to appoint a service provider to operate the shelter.

While 2200 Ashland Street can accommodate 28 people, the fire code has restricted the number of beds allowed to 14 until the building is equipped with a sprinkler system.

City Councilor Paula Hyatt said the ability to provide people without homes a shelter only during bad weather ‘makes it nearly impossible’ for the city to find a service provider prepared to operate the premises.

Councilors expressed frustration at the city’s inability to use 2200 Ashland Street until the New Year. The lack of a sprinkler system restricts occupation until that date and for 90 days only in terms of fire code restrictions.

Councilor Hyatt proposed that the city use funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to undertake whatever renovations are required to bring 2200 Ashland Street up to fire code demands. Councilor Gina DuQuenne supported Hyatt’s proposal.

Ashland Community Development director Brandon Goldman told the meeting that $114,000 could be tentatively allocated from the CBDG funds and a further $125,000 from funds in the upcoming financial cycle that would only be available next July.

Councilors unanimously supported a six-month pilot program to provide much-needed storage facilities at the dusk-to-dawn sleeping area.