Homeless camping increasing downtown
Homeless camping has moved from the industrial outskirts of McMinnville to downtown, where a new “hot spot” for camping has raised concerns from citizens and drawn increased enforcement from Mac PD.
A resident spoke about the situation on the western end of Second Street at Tuesday’s city council meeting and ticketing for public camping has risen in the area around three downtown churches.
“The downtown area around the three churches has become the new hot spot so to speak in terms of houseless subjects camping, and all the related calls for service that we know will happen when they congregate in a small area,” Capt. Scott Fessler said in an update to city leaders.
Photos attached to the update show sidewalks lined with shopping carts, tents, luggage and other debris near First Presbyterian Church.
“The trash (and) debris had grown tremendously over the course of a couple weeks and the subjects congregating in the area had basically taken up residency on the sidewalks and planting strips in that area and were not moving along during the day,” Fessler said. “Just like we saw on (Marsh Lane and Dustin Court), if they are allowed to remain in an area for more than a (couple) days, they accumulate junk (and) debris and they leave trash strewn about.”
The former popular camping areas on Marsh Lane, Dustin Court and Rivergate Street have been vacant since changes to the definition of “established campsite” went into effect in June. The change allows officers to enforce city rules and abate campsites without a 72-hour grace period.
There were only three calls for service in that area of town in July and only one involved illegal camping, according to Fessler.
The migration downtown hasn’t gone unnoticed by residents. Jay Hlavka said he can hear people camping in Cozine Creek from his nearby apartment and described a recent visit to the Farmers Market.
“Along the way I noticed that there was blocks of homeless people just parked on the sidewalk, on the curbs with shopping carts and lawn chairs and blankets and all sorts of groceries and stuff just camping out in front of the (farmers) market all along Second Street here,” Hlavka told city council. “Is it acceptable to you guys to have this visible problem in downtown McMinnville?”
From his apartment patio Hlavka hears nightly disturbances coming from Cozine Creek.
“I can hear screaming, I can hear dogs barking at night and I can see people in the morning basically using Cozine Creek as their living room and their bathroom.”
In a passionate response, Encompass Yamhill Valley’s Julia Sublett said people camp in those areas because there aren’t adequate shelter services in the city.
“The city has not provided resources for them to live,” Sublett told the dais. “We really don’t have a place to shelter people, we don’t have a place for people to wash their clothes. We don’t have bathrooms that are open 24 hours.
“The people, they live in the creeks and they sleep on the sidewalks.”
Sublett paused to collect her emotions before continuing.
“I get text messages, phone calls from people who are desperate. They call me and they message me and they say, you know, ‘my car’s in the impound,’ ‘the police took my stuff,’ ‘I just got a ticket, it's $1,200, what do I do?’ They tell me ‘somebody stole my cellphone,’ ‘I don’t have a sleeping bag.’ I mean just, you know, ‘I want to kill myself,’ ‘I did try to kill myself.’ Anyway sorry, I’m rambling but I care about these people and feel like we have not provided solutions, we have caused more problems.”
Mac PD have trespassed over 30 individuals from one church’s property following staff complaints of debris and drug paraphernalia and Fessler said patrol squads will “significantly ramp up focus on criminal enforcement in the areas surrounding the churches in the downtown area.”
Sublett reported that enforcement happened this week, leading many clients to contact her regarding potential fines.
“The police have been handing out tickets this week which is why the street looks amazing,” she said. “Now our agency is scrambling. We’re going to attend court with them, we’re going to try to fight it, but they’re scared and they already didn’t have homes and they already didn’t have resources and now I don’t even know where they are. So, if I can find them, I’ll help them.”
One of Sublett’s clients also spoke at the meeting, sharing his success of obtaining housing at Baker Street Lofts after four years on the streets and in the Project Turnkey program.
“I’m very thankful for being able to get off the street and get back into a house again and protection, because it’s been a living nightmare of what’s happened to me,” Topo Thompson said. “It’s like living in the twilight zone.”
During his time on the street, Thompson said people often treated him and other homeless as “worthless individuals,” but that’s not the case.
“There are a lot of us out there that are good citizens, you know, that have a lot to give back,” Thompson said.
Comments
Patches1
Very sad. Most of these folks were bused in from Seattle and Portland area.
CubFan
Patches 1... Yes, it IS a very sad situation, and one with no obvious, or easy solutions. Curious why you are so certain they are bussed in from Seattle and Portland?
Bleepbloop
As someone who lives downtown, this is so hard to see. On one side, these are people that are struggling and seemingly have very little options. From everything I've read, most people are not lazy and deciding to live on the street. The majority have some sort of mental illness and/or addiction. If we force them to move or fine them, what does that do. On the other hand, shouldn't they have some responsibilities? They have to be held accountable for not trashing the entire area and openly using drugs in front of people. I know that if I just throw garbage in my front yard and smoke fentanyl on my porch, I am going to face consequences. I wish there was some sort of mass housing solution that is not overly comfortable, but provides the necessities. That way we could actually say go there or get out.
carolsm
Bleepbloop: you've said "I wish there was some sort of mass housing solution...", and you're right, that would certainly solve much of the problem. However, to do that would cost money, and we all scream bloody murder when anyone suggests raising our taxes. Same with addressing the addiction and mental health issues. No, I don't know the solution either, but we truly need to come together and do SOMETHING! Whatever their problems, these folks deserve better, and most are unable to do it on their own.
tagup
Designate a location where they can camp legally and hold them to it…. Yes, there would be a cost for garbage collection & sanitation facilities…. But we are already paying for much of that.
Bleepbloop
I agree with both Carolsm and tagup. I think if there was a plan that could work (big if) most people would be ok with paying for it with a tax increase. It just seems we keep paying for programs that do not do anything. And if I remember correctly, Bend started a designated camping area and it has taken most of the homeless issues out of downtown and neighborhoods. They centralized services for the homeless and made things better for the community.
I am just tired of having to explain to my children that the person passed on the sidewalk is having issues and that they aren't necessarily a bad person. Or that the woman that screams obscenities on our street at 10pm when they are trying to sleep is just not getting the help they need. The answer is not to outlaw homelessness and the answer is to not enable homelessness.