New Grants Pass Low Barrier Homeless Shelter Funding Approved

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A new low barrier homeless shelter that will help address homelessness has been approved for funding by the Grants Pass City Council.

Although still in the planning phase, once operational, the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) will manage the new shelter for at least ten years.

Grants Pass New Low-Barrier Homeless Shelter

The shelter will be at the current MINT site at 10 and 220 Redwood Highway, and preliminary reports indicate it will be up and running in six months. Intended to accommodate up to 100 people when fully operational, the new shelter will initially house 50 people.

Concerns about the timeline, location, and condition of the buildings have been raised, but discussions have been initiated.

The buildings will be purchased by the city at the appraisal price of up to $200,000 each, and a condition of the grant is that MINT operate the shelter for a minimum of ten years. The shelter will also offer vital support services.

As a low-barrier model, the shelter will be accessible to a wider range of people and is seen as a step toward addressing homelessness in public spaces around the city.