Grants Pass Adopts Softer Approach to its Homeless Situation

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Grant’s Pass City Council has adopted a softer approach to the problems surrounding homeless people camping overnight in public areas within city environs.

Two New Ordinances Will Provide Better Amenities and Increase Camping by up to a Week

At a special council meeting on Wednesday, the city council voted 8 – 1 in favor of an ordinance that sanctions improvements to the campsites and an increased investment in the support system provided for homeless people.

See also: Grants Pass Residents Push For Park Cleanups A Month After City’s Supreme Court Win

In a second motion, a previous ruling to restrict overnight camping to 24 to 72 hours was overturned when Mayor Sara Bristol used her casting vote to break a 4 – 4 tie to allow homeless people to camp at one of two public sites for up to one week. The encampments are located at J St and NW A & 6th St opposite the City Hall.

These decisions follow a Supreme Court ruling two months ago that allowed the council to enforce a ban on public camping in Grants Pass, saying that such a measure did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

Mixed Emotions Greets City Council Decision

The city council’s turnaround has been met with mixed emotions.

Businessman Shawn Hvall whose lumber and property management business is next door to the J Street campground says he is frustrated by the lack of security in the area. Hvall says while he understands the humanitarian emotions involved with the situation, he feels it is unfair that he is being held responsible for bad decisions made by others.

Angel Hansen of Max’s Mission believes the city is moving in the right direction. However, she feels that Wednesday’s council decisions are only a temporary solution. Hansen says homeless people must receive the services needed to ‘rise up’ out of their present predicament.

She confirmed that Max’s Mission stopped distributing supplies at the two city encampments until the city council provided them with guidelines. Earlier this month, Mayor Bristol said the two sites were intended as a short-term stopgap while the council developed a long-term solution.

The Improvements Sanctioned by the Council

After listening to arguments from both councilors and members of the public, the special meeting agreed to work with nonprofits to set up improvements at the two sites.

The improvements will include running water, benches, and shade at the two sites in J St and NW A & 6^th St, across from the City Hall. Other items of the agenda for discussion with nonprofits are:

• The reevaluation of the time homeless people can camp at the J Street site;
• Sanitation services;
• Fencing the J Street property;
• The provision of shade and park benches that will be provided by nonprofits;
• The provision of potable water;
• The provision of doggy bags and trash cans;
• A can for depositing cigarette butts.