Grants Pass City Council Will Replace Homeless Campsite in a Smaller Location

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Despite public outcries, the Grants Pass City Council has voted to close a campsite for homeless people and replace it with a site that is 40% smaller.

The new campsite will be at 712 NE 7^th Street to replace the 6^th and A Street location the council has decided to close. The second campsite for the homeless at 755 SE J Street will remain open.

Public Outcry at the Way Council is Handling the Crisis

The public expressed dismay at a council meeting earlier this week, describing how the City of Grants Pass is handling the homeless situation as falling way short of addressing the ongoing crisis.

They feel that the new plan does not adequately address the homelessness situation or the concerns of Grants Pass businesspeople affected by the problem. Comments from business owners are that they are experiencing less foot traffic because of the negative impact of homeless campsites in proximity.

Council is ‘Violating’ Federal Laws

Grants City Council has been accused of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act by Disability Rights Oregon (DRO). In a statement to Daily Tidings after the council meeting, DRO said its concerns are that the council ‘is required to provide reasonable accommodation’ for people with disabilities under federal law. They allege that:

• “Police officers are disregarding letters from physicians when campers with disabilities cannot relocate from one camp to another every week,” and
• “Grants Pass is criminalizing being homeless with a disability by issuing citations to, threatening, fining, and arresting people who are asking for reasonable accommodations because of their disability—including people with only one leg and wheelchair users.”

DRO goes on to say that city officials ‘appear unwilling to listen to people with disabilities’ or to reconsider current camping policies in Grants Pass. The organization says that when the city was approached to discuss the issue with disability experts, city lawyers responded that it was an ‘internal process.’

Readers can access the DRO press release and letter online: DRO Press Release