HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-05 Study SessionralAs Council Study Session Meeting Agenda
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION AGENDA
Monday, August 5, 2024
Council Chambers, 1175 E Main Street
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complete the online Public Testimony Form no later than 10 a.m. the day of the
meeting.
5:30 p.m. Study Session
PUBLIC FORUM
15 minutes — Public input or comment on City business not included on the agenda
II. HOMELESS SERVICES MASTERPLAN REPORT
a. Homeless Services Masterplan Report Presentation
III. ADJOURNMENT
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this
meeting, please contact the City Manager's office at 541.488.6002 (TTY phone number 1.800.735.2900).
Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure
accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).
*"`Agendas and minutes for City of Ashland Council, Commission and Committee meetings may be found at the
City website, ashlandoregon.gov,
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Homeless Services Masterplan
Outlining the City's role in providing and supporting resources and services
that address the issues of homelessness in the Ashland community.
2024
Created by the Homeless Services Masterplan Subcommittee, July 2, 2024
Reviewed by the Housing & Human Services Advisory Committee, July 18, 2024
Presented to City Council, August 5, 2024
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Table of Contents
1. Acknowledgements
2. Preface
a. City of Ashland Efforts
b. Participation in Regional Efforts
c. State Leadership
d. Legislative Agenda
e. The National State of Homelessness
3. Introduction
a. The Charge
b. The Subcommittee
c. The Approach
d. The Timeline
4. Actions Summary
a. Triage and Manage Homelessness
b. Support Pathways from Homelessness to Housing
c. Create Long-term Change
d. Maximize Resources
e. Foster Public Engagement
f. Form Strategic Alliances
g. Continue to Learn and Educate
5. The Players
a. Federal
b. State
c. Region/County
d. Ashland
6. Funding Streams
a. Government Funding
b. Community Funding
c. Take-Aways
7. Services Inventory & SWOT Analysis
a. Definition of Types of Homeless Services
b. A Note About Mainstream Services
c. Tally of Services and Locations
d. Housing Inventory Count
e. Affordable Housing
f. Take-Aways
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S. Data Page 38
a. A Note About Data Sources
b. What the Data Says
i. How Many People are Homeless
ii. Evictions in Jackson County
iii. Supply and Demand
iv. Demographics/Populations Experiencing Homelessness
v. Needs Identified through Coordinated Entry Assessments
c. Take-Aways
9. Community Perspectives Page 53
a. Businesses
b. People Experiencing Homelessness
c. Frontline Direct Services Staff
d. General Public
e. Who We Didn't Hear From
f. Take-Aways
10. Regional Coordination Page 71
a. Needs Assessment / Gaps Analysis
b. Community Planning
c. Coordinated Entry System
d. Homeless Management Information System
e. Data Reporting
f. Program Monitoring
g. SWOT Analysis
h. Take-Aways
11. Take-Aways (Compiled) Page 76
a. Funding Streams
b. Services Inventory
c. Data
d. Community Perspectives
e. Regional Coordination
12. Appendices Page 82
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Acknowledgements
Subcommittee
Subcommittee.-
• Jan Calvin*
• Alexandra Reid
• Echo Fields*
• Rich Rhode
• Ro Henigson-Kann*
• Dennis Slattery
• Debra Neisewander
• Avram Sacks
• Deb Price
• Helena Turner
*Subcommittee Leadership Team • Lawrence VanEgdom
Liaisons and City Staff
Dylan Bloom, City Council Liaison
Bob Kaplan, City Council Liaison
Sgt. Robert Leonard, Ashland Police Department Liaison
Linda Reid, Community Development, Housing Program Manager
Veronica Allen, Community Development, Associate Planner
OHSU School of Nursing I Street Nursing Program
Led by assistant professor Helena Turner, students from the OHSU School of Nursing, Street
Nursing Team (SOU campus) worked with members of the Subcommittee to design and administer
a survey of 48 people experiencing homelessness in Ashland.
In addition, the students conducted a 1-day count of 181 people experiencing homelessness in
Ashland. The results of the survey and the 1-day count are included in this report.
The combined efforts of the 11 Subcommittee members,
two Council liaisons, and the OHSU Street Nursing Team
to gather information, analyze the data, and create this
report totaled more than 1,250 volunteer hours, with an
estimated value of more than $41,800.
Hourly Volunteer Rate Source: Independent Sector
City Staff
Support from Community Development Department staff Linda Reid and Veronica Allen was
invaluable. They provided a wealth of information, handled meeting logistics, and ensured accurate
record keeping and a flow of communications throughout the process.
Also, many thanks to GIs Specialist, Jamie Blankenship for mapping regulated affordable housing
units for this report, and to Community Development Director Brandon Goldman for his support.
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Preface
The City of Ashland does not have a comprehensive strategy for how the City will provide
for the health and safety needs of the City's homeless populations. Nor does the City have
a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness.
Some cities take an active role in addressing issues of homelessness, providing dedicated
staffing or programs that work directly with people experiencing homelessness. However,
many cities do not take on these issues directly, instead opting to provide support for
organizations whose mission it is to do this work.
Direct service is just one of the ways entities can address homelessness. Governments are
in a unique position to also affect or implement public policy, stimulate development of
affordable housing, coordinate services and/or strategic planning, and collaborate with a
broad spectrum of partners necessary to address homeless issues.
This preface provides a brief overview of the
actions the City of Ashland has taken to address
the issue of homelessness and identifies some
basic responsibilities of the City regarding
homeless populations.
City of Ashland Efforts
To date the City of Ashland has primarily addressed homeless needs by providing funding
to support the work of non-profit agencies through grant funding from the federal
Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City's general fund. See
Appendices for City grant information.
The City of Ashland has long worked to provide options for homeless residents through the
support of non-profit service organizations, local allowances, and other actions.
• Adopting allowances for car camping in 2019
• Providing federal and general fund grants to social services
• Providing approximately $500K to support the OHRA Center 52-unit (72-bed) Project
Turnkey Shelter
• Establishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2008
• Providing space for volunteers to offer community meals
• Providing space and funding for an extreme weather shelter (heat/cold/smoke)
• Securing State funds to purchase a facility for the extreme weather shelter and
temporarily operate a 30-bed housing -focused emergency shelter
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Despite these efforts, homelessness continues to increase. Ashland is not alone in
experiencing this escalation in homelessness. Over the past six years, homelessness in
Oregon grew 63%, and 132% in Jackson County alone between 2017 and 2022,
exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, and, locally, the Almeda Fire.
A city's potential response to homelessness
includes a range of options, from direct services to
local policies, regional strategies, and state and
federal advocacy.
A city may provide direct services, offer funding, or participate as a partner in one or more
services. The direct service continuum typically starts with emergency camping and car
camping as the most basic level of support, and progresses to shelter, transitional housing,
rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing as the most comprehensive and long-
term solution for certain populations.
• Emergency camping and car camping area temporary solution for people
experiencing homelessness, who have no other options available to them. These
arrangements can be set up on public land and may provide basic amenities such
as portable toilets and trash removal, but often lack running water or electricity.
• Shelters are the next step up in the continuum of care, providing a safe and warm
place to sleep at night, and often include basic necessities such as food and
clothing. Shelters can offer night -by -night stays or an ongoing duration. Duration
shelters often offer additional services such as resource navigation, access to
healthcare, employment support, and case management.
Transitional housing is a step up from shelters, offering longer -term housing for
people who are working on transitioning out of homelessness. These programs often
provide additional services such as job training and life -skills classes.
Rapid rehousing provides rental assistance and case management, typically for 12-
24-months as households develop the capacity and resources to sustain their
housing.
• Permanent supportive housing is a comprehensive and long-term solution for
people with disabilities, providing permanent, affordable housing, along with
services such as case management, mental health and substance abuse treatment,
and access to healthcare, which may include assistance with activities of daily
living.
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Additionally drop -in centers and warming, cooling, safe air centers are other types of
services that can be included in a continuum of city responses to homelessness.
• Drop -in centers are facilities that provide a safe and comfortable space for people
experiencing homelessness to rest, eat, and access basic necessities such as
showers and laundry facilities. They may also offer services such as a clothing
closet, hygiene kits, job training, resource referral, and even access to healthcare.
• Warming, cooling, safe air centers are facilities that provide temporary relief from
extreme temperatures or toxic air conditions.
Both drop -in centers and warming/cooling/safe air centers can play an important role in
providing basic needs and addressing immediate concerns for people experiencing
homelessness, as well as connecting them with more comprehensive services and long-
term solutions.
Homelessness is a dynamic issue, requiring
regional partnerships and strategies.
Participation in Regional Efforts
In 1989 the City of Ashland was among the founding members of the regional Homeless
Task Force, which has evolved to be part of the HUD -recognized Jackson County
Continuum of Care (CoC).
Currently one City Councilor and a City staff member represent the City of Ashland in the
regional CoC, which is in the process of conducting a regional Gaps Analysis.
See Appendices and The Players section of this report or visit Home- Jackson County
Continuum of Care (jacksoncountyorcoc.org) for more information about the CoC.
Local and regional options are impacted by and
built upon State and Federal actions.
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State Leadership
An excerpt from a June 11, 2024 article summarizes some of Oregon's recent efforts':
Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek made it a top priority this year for the Legislature to pass
her $5oo million request addressing the housing shortage, though the legislature slashed
that number down to $369 million.
Kotek signed the funding bill in April meant to help backfill the decades -long housing
shortage. The funding package allocates money toward building middle -income housing,
homeless shelters, infrastructure projects such as the extension of sewer systems and
rental assistance to prevent evictions.
State Rep. Pam Marsh, chair of the state House's Committee on Housing and
Homelessness, pointed to the pandemic and wildfires in 202o as events that
supercharged homelessness in the state.
Millions in state funding to expand emergency shelters, street outreach, and rapid
rehousing has been released through the regional CoUs to support a coordinated
community approach. Additional dollars have been provided directly to shelters to ensure
continued operations. See the Appendices and the Funding Streams section of this report
for more information.
Legislative Agenda
Many local governments adopt a legislative agenda of policy and funding priorities, which
guides education and advocacy at the state or federal level. Tracking legislation requires
substantial investment of staff time or a contract with a legislative relations firm.
Like the majority of municipalities in Oregon, the City of Ashland relies on the League of
Oregon Cities and the National League of Cities to stay informed about state and federal
legislation.
1 Six states where housing is hard to find: Here's what governors are doing about it - POLITICO
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The National State of Homelessness
Below are excerpts from the 2022 report to the President from the U.S. Interagency Council
on Homelessness (USICH) identifying the needs and challenges to addressing the issues
of homelessness.
Communities face many challenges in the work to prevent and end homelessness,
including.
• Lack of Housing Supply: Housing ultimately ends homelessness, but prior to the
pandemic, the U.S. lacked an estimated 7million affordable and available homes
for renters with the lowest incomes, disproportionately impacting people of color —
especially Black/African Americans.
• Rise of RentAmid Slow Wage Growth: Wages continue to fail to keep up with
rising rents. According to a 2021 report, in no state can a person working full-time at
the federal minimum wage afford a two -bedroom apartment at the fair market rent.
As a result, 70% of the lowest -wage households routinely spend more than half of
their income on rent, placing them at risk of homelessness if any unexpected
expenses or emergencies arise.
• Inadequate Access to Quality Health Care, Education, and Supportive
Services: Low -barrier, culturally and linguistically competent, and accessible
supportive services —including mental and substance use disorder treatment —
often are not available or funded at a level to meet the need, especially in rural
areas. People seeking these services may face long waits or may not receive them
at all, and service providers may only be reimbursed for a fraction of the cost of
care.
• Limited Alternatives to Unsheltered Homelessness: The number of people
living in tents and vehicles continues to rise. In many communities, a rise in
encampments has resulted in the criminalization of homelessness through
encampment clearings, public camping bans, and other policies. These "out of
sight, out of mind" policies can lead to lost belongings and identification; trauma
and distrust, breakdowns in connection with outreach teams, health care facilities,
and housing providers; and overall disruption to the work of ending homelessness.
• Fatigue Among Providers: The pandemic has strained the capacity of service
providers —many of whom earn wages low enough to qualify them for the programs
they help administer. Many are overwhelmed and exhausted from the pressure and
trauma associated with supporting not only the people they serve but also
themselves and their families during a sustained global pandemic. As a result, many
programs experience high rates of staff turnover, which can disrupt continuity of
care and limit positive outcomes.
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Introduction
The Charge
In November 2023, Ashland City Council asked the Housing and Human Services Advisory
Committee to prepare a draft masterplan to guide the City of Ashland's investment in
homeless services. The request was to develop a document (plan) that outlines the City's
role in providing and supporting resources and services that address the issues of
homelessness in the Ashland community.
The objectives of the plan are to
1. produce a roadmap of the homeless response system, and
2. identify local strengths, weaknesses, and performance gaps to better inform and
plan for the City's investments of limited resources to address issues of
homelessness in the Ashland Community.
Subcommittee actions will include:
• The scope of the problem in Ashland
• An assessment of the current homeless response system (including the Continuum
of Care (CoC) and suggest some options for improvements.
• Engaging community members in providing feedback about the City's role in
providing and supporting resources to address issues of homelessness.
• Gaps and shortcomings along the range of services and resources needed for
unhoused residents of Ashland.
The Council asked that the Subcommittee conduct its work openly and with broad
stakeholder participation. The Subcommittee should summarize the Ashland community's
current approach and characterize the general degree of effectiveness of those efforts
using a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Challenges (SWOT) framework. The
Subcommittee should use the SWOT analysis to help develop the masterplan and identify
priority needs that could be assisted or addressed by the City.
The Subcommittee
The Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee (HHSAC) appointed a total of 11
volunteers to serve on the ad hoc Subcommittee, who served along with one law
enforcement liaison, and two City Councilor liaisons. As requested by the City Council and
based on the applications submitted, the HHSAC appointed one or more representatives
from a few different sectors; a representative from OHRA; several representatives who live,
work or own businesses in the South end of the Ashland community, people who work with
homeless populations, business owners, and people with lived experience of
homelessness. The Subcommittee roster is included on the Acknowledgements page.
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The Approach
At its first February meeting, the Subcommittee adopted the following approach, which it
shared with City Council during an April 1, 2024, study session:
• The Subcommittee will gain an understanding of the level of homelessness and the
homeless response services and systems in Ashland and affecting Ashland. The
Subcommittee will prepare an inventory of local services and gather current data
about people experiencing homelessness.
• The Subcommittee will outline the funding sources to illustrate the current
investments in responding to the homeless crisis. NOTE: Time will not allow for
comprehensive data collection, but by providing an outline and some examples, the
Subcommittee's report will offer a framework for further fiscal analysis.
• Within the time and resources allowed, the Subcommittee will consider the
strengths and weaknesses of the current homeless response system and gather
perspectives from a cross-section of the Ashland community about the problem
and how the City of Ashland can better address the complex issues of
homelessness in Ashland.
• The Subcommittee's findings, including the areas of greatest concern/need,
current strengths in the homeless response system, and potential
opportunities will be included in the Subcommittee Report.
The Timeline
Homeless Master Plan Subcommittee Roadmap 2024
g` Five Months to Provide the Foundation for Informed Decision -Making
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
• Understand the
Understand Role ofCoC
• CoC SWOTAnalysis
• Service Inventory-
Re%iesc Finding,
Player
Inventory Programs &
• Collect Community
SWOT Analysis
Pha,e 1
• Adopt Roadnrtp
Services
Input
• Compile & Analyze
Report
Report
�
• Assign Tasks
• Gather Archival tam
• Review Archival Data
Community Input
01
02
03
04
OS
Feb
start
June
Complete
Mar
Information
April
System Analysis /
May
Program Analysis /
Phase 1
Gathering
Community Input
Community Findings
Phase 1
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Actions Summary
The issues of homelessness are complex. As such, there are no simple answers. This report is
offered as a means to better understand the issues, current realities, and possible opportunities.
Selecting the best action depends on the objective. Any one of the following options would produce
benefits; some may produce unintended consequences. The Subcommittee recognizes that
careful consideration and clear objectives are necessary in selecting a course of action.
Each heading might be considered an objective. The opportunities listed below each heading
were identified through rigorous review of local data and community feedback.
Triage and Manage Homelessness
- Respond to community livability concerns, particularly in south Ashland; clean up unsightly
areas, provide more trash receptacles and weed abatement.
Strengthen partnerships between law enforcement, social service agencies, and volunteers
to connect people with help and support.
Provide multiple locations for electronics charging and Wi-Fi access.
Increase the number of public restrooms and access to drinking water.
Expand access to showers and laundry facilities.
Develop a daytime lockable storage program where unhoused people can store their
belongings while navigating other resources, employment, etc.
Create a day center/respite from outdoors, with access to water, bathrooms, and resources.
Establish a winter shelter for seniors and other vulnerable populations that is open 24/7
from mid -November through mid -April; explore healthcare partnerships to address chronic,
acute, and emergent needs.
Support Pathways from Homelessness to Housing
Develop priorities for funding effective housing -focused homeless services; monitor
housing placements and retention outcomes.
Expand street outreach services; ensure seamless connections to resources.
Provide educational/skill-building programs and meaningful employment opportunities.
Establish a housing -focused transitional shelter with case management and access to
health services, employment resources, ready -to -rent courses, and other assistance.
Expand local access to countywide Rapid Rehousing programs.
Create Long-term Change
Approach issues of homelessness from a public health, mental health, and social service
perspective. Advocate for quality, effective, and evaluated services.
Improve neighborhood livability through infrastructure development and community -
building strategies (both structural and social avenues).
Participate in the development of a countywide strategic plan to address / end
homelessness. Ensure research -based strategies and promising practices.
Develop a strategic plan to address / end homelessness in Ashland; identify community
goals and metrics for success.
Implement the Ashland Housing Production Strategy.
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Maximize Resources
Develop federal and state Legislative Agendas related to issues of homelessness, ranging
from eviction prevention to homeless response to affordable housing and development.
Educate and advocate for federal and state funding to address homelessness in Ashland
and the greater region/county.
Increase financial resources through grant writing
Provide grant -writing assistance to homeless service providers.
Monitor the capacity and use of homeless service programs in an effort to maximize use.
Foster Public Engagement
Strengthen methods for community engagement and information sharing about issues of
homelessness in Ashland.
Promote volunteer opportunities available with homeless services programs.
Establish a "community donations portal" for donor -directed contributions to a wide range
of homeless services.
Host focus groups to gather feedback, explore new ideas, and identify hidden resources.
Form Strategic Alliances
Strengthen City of Ashland participation in the Jackson County Continuum of Care.
Leverage existing relationships (intergovernmental, economic, social, etc.) to increase
communication, coordination, and collaboration around issues of homelessness.
Facilitate coordination of current health service providers (e.g. Max's Mission, ACCESS,
JCMH, La Clinica, HIV Alliance, Pathfinders/other peer support); host mini summits.
Convene an interdepartmental team to keep pace with and address issues of
homelessness in Ashland.
Continue to Learn & Educate
Keep pace with federal and state priorities.
o Subscribe to news from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, National
Alliance to End Homelessness, HUD Exchange, and Oregon Housing and
Community Services (OHCS)
o Monitor the work of the Oregon Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Senate
Interim Committee on Housing and Development, the House Interim Committee on
Housing and Homelessness, and the OHCS Housing Stability Council
Convene, sponsor, and otherwise expand access to professional development courses for
frontline staff, such as Motivational Interviewing techniques, trauma informed practices,
equity, and cultural responsiveness.
Provide and collect relevant data, analyze trends, and monitor the performance of the
homeless services system, as well as individual programs.
Continuously learn about what works and what doesn't -and seek to understand why.
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The Players
Federal
United States Interagency
1t� Council on Homelessness
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
(USICH) coordinates the work of 19 federal agencies
to address homelessness. The USICH mission is "to
coordinate the federal response to homelessness
and to create a national partnership at every level of
government and with the private sector to reduce
and end homelessness in the nation white maximizing the effectiveness of the federal
government in contributing to the end of homelessness."
USICH produces the strategic plan for addressing homelessness on a federal level (All In).
The plan was developed in partnership with the 19 federal agencies that make up the
USICH Council and is updated annually to reflect the latest evidence, progress, and input.
All In sets an ambitious goal to reduce homelessness 25% by 2025 and encourages state
and local governments to use the plan as a blueprint for developing their own strategic
plans and for setting their own ambitious goals for 2025. View the Implementation Plans_&
Guidance on the USICH webpage.
-,MEN T p,-yO
O� GN
G,pegN DEN41E�Ce
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) brings more than $5 Billion to the
Oregon economy. HUD provides funding in three ways:
• Mortgage Insurance - provides credit enhancements
for home buyers and for multifamily developers. The
insurance results in additional private investment
exceeding $4 billion in recent years.
• Rental Assistance - makes housing affordable for the
very low-income. HUD contracts with local public
housing authorities and private landlords to provide
housing under the Low -Income Public Housing program, and the Housing Choice
Voucher program (client -based and project -based vouchers). Rental assistance
brings more than $300 million to the Oregon economy.
Grants - for housing and community development activities. HUD awards grants to
local and state government, and occasionally non -profits. Awards are made either
by formula distribution or by competitive process. See the Money Map section of
this report for information on current grants benefiting Ashland.
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State
State government has several different agencies providing a wide variety of programs, grant
funds, and services to support health, housing, and address issues of homelessness.
• Oregon Housing and Community Services:
https://www.oregon.p-ov/ohcs/pages/agency-programs-asp—x
• Oregon Health Authority: hAtps://www.oregon.gov/oha/page-s/index.aspx
• Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS):
https //www.oregon.gov/odhs/pages/default.aspx?utm_source=odhs&utm_mediu
m=egov_redirect&utm_ca mpaign=https%3a%2f%2fwww.oregon.gov%2fd hs
• DHS, Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program:
https://www.ore o ov/odha/providers-.partners/hometess-
youth/Pages/default.aspx
• Oregon Department of Education, McKinney Vento Program:
https://www.oregon.gov/ode/schools-and-districts/grants/ESEA/McKinney-
Ve n t o/Pages/d efa u lt. a s px
• Oregon Youth Authority:
https://www.oregon.gov/oya/paroteprobation/Pages/residentiat.aspx
• Business Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/CDBG/Pages/default.aspx
The January 2024 issuance of the Governor's Executive Order (EO 24-03) refocused the
State Interagency Council on Homelessness, originally formed in October 2022.
Oregon Housing and Community Servic that administers over 35 federal and state programs. Housing Stabilization and
Homelessness Prevention administers SNAP, CSBG, EHA, ESG and others. Current ICH co-chair.
rOHCS Provides staffing support to ICH.
Oregon Health Authority ,-'A Includes most of the state's healthcare programs including public health, behavioral health
programs, and Oregon Health Plan. Current ICH co-chair.
Oregon Department of Human Services Provides benefits and services to children, families, older adults, and people with disabilities. Administers
SNAP, TANF, child protective services, foster care, developmental disability services. 75%of youth in
(ODHS) foster care have experienced houselessness.
Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs Provides benefits to veterans including healthcare, service -related disability, housing, and drop -in
ODVA! services for unhoused folks.
Oversees the education of over S60,000 students in Oregon's public K-12 education system. 22,000
Oregon Department of Education (ODE) students reported being homeless, in shelter, or doubled up in 2019-20.
Oregon Youth Authority OYAi Part of Oregon's juvenile justice system. Provides community supervision and maintains five youth
correctional facilities. Runs its own foster care program.
The department has custody of adults sentenced to prison for more than 12 months. Provides oversight
Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) and funding for the community corrections activities of Oregon's 36 counties. S% of adults in custody
become unhoused upon release.
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOn Maintains highways, bridges, and other parts of the transportation system. Provides grants for
communities providing public transportation.
Oregon Department of Administrative Implements policy and financial decisions made by the Governor and Legislature. Sets standards for and
Services QAS; monitors how tax dollars are used.
Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ) Provides legal representation to state government. Runs child support offices and crime victim and
survivor services.
For more information, visit https://www.oregon.gov/gov/policies/pages/interagency-council-on-
hometessness.aspx
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Housing -Related Services That States Can �;
Choose to Cover With Medicaid
Pre -Tenancy Supports
Tenancy -Sustaining Supports
Identify and address
barriers to successful Identify risks for eviction
�— F tenancy
Locate adequate housing
Assist with housing
applications
- a\_ Arrange details of the
- -' move
\, Pay one-time fees:
f• security deposit
,r • moving expenses
" • utility set-up fees
• safety modification
Educate on tenant's rights
I and responsibilities
Link to community
resources
Via Resolve disputes with
landlords and neighbors
Source: Centers for Medicare 6 Medicaid Services State Health Official Letter 921-M
CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES I CBPP.ORG
Region / County
Jackson County Government
Research shows that
housing is a social
determinant of health.
The poster (left) identifies
housing -related services
that states could choose to
cover with Medicaid in
2021. These and additional
housing -related services
are now eligible costs
under Oregon's Medicaid
waiver.
Through its federal Community Development Block Grant funds, Jackson County has
provided staff and funding support for the Mobile Crisis Unit and for the local Continuum of
Care (see next page).
The county government also provides services that interface with issues of homelessness,
including public and behavioral health, Veteran services, and some resources through the
Criminal Justice Division's Transition Center.
• Jackson County Mental Health:
https://jacksoncountyor.gov/departments/health human services/programs_and
-services/mental health/index.php
• Veteran Services:
https://www.jacksoncountyQr.gov/departments/health human services/p
s_and_services/veterans_services/index.php
• Transition Center:
https://jacksoncountyor.gov/departments/_communityJustice/transition_center/in
dex.php
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Continuum of Care (CoC) Program
The CoC Program is designed to
Promote community -wide planning and strategic use of resources to address
homelessness
:- Improve coordination and integration with mainstream resources and other
programs targeted to people experiencing homelessness
Improve data collection and performance measurement
Allow each community to tailor its programs to the strengths and challenges in
assisting homeless individuals and families within that community
The majority of CoCs are not legal entities. As such, a CoC designates a "lead agency" to
serve in that capacity on its behalf. The lead agency for the Jackson County CoC is
ACCESS, the regional community action agency.
More than 35 partners from non-profit organizations and government agencies participate
in the local CoC.
Specific CoC responsibilities include
• Conducting an annual needs assessment
• Developing a homeless services response plan
• Prioritizing projects for HUD funding
• Submitting a comprehensive application and reports to HUD
• Operating a coordinated entry system (CES)
• Operating a homeless management information system (HMIS)
See the Regional Collaboration section of this report or visit Home - Jackson County
Continuum of Care (iacksoncountyorcoc.org) for more information about the local CoC.
Public Housing Authority
The Housing Authority of Jackson County (HAJC) provides regulated affordable housing
units and rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
HAJC provides housing for more than 4,000 Jackson County households and administers
nearly 2,100 Housing Choice vouchers. In the past, HAJC offered robust home repair loan
program for homeowners. In FY2022, 23% of people served by HAJC were experiencing
homelessness at the time of entry.
HAJC is one of the largest developers, owner, and operator of affordable rental housing in
Southern Oregon.
17
Pane IS of ?()R
Ashland
The City of Ashland
The City has established a Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee as the
primary citizen body to advise the City Council on the housing and human service needs of
the community and on the use of Community Development Block Grant funds, Affordable
Housing Trust Funds, and Social Service Grant funds.
The Committee consists of nine voting members, one Southern Oregon University student
liaison, and at least one City Council liaison, and is staffed by the Housing Program
Manager. All members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The
Committee meets on a monthly basis serving as an informed link between the citizens and
the council.
School District
The federal McKinney-Vento Act's Education of
Houseless Children and Youth Program ensures that
houseless children and youth are provided a free,
appropriate public education, despite lack of a fixed
place of residence or a supervising parent or
guardian. Every school district in Oregon has at least
one designated Houseless Student Liaison to provide
direct assistance to families navigating
houselessness and unaccompanied youths to
access and achieve in school.
In Ashland, the district contracts with The Maslow
Project to provide case management, resources, and
transportation to homeless students and families in
Ashland public schools.
Ashland Public Library
40
P:rE UAL
" 'M C'Al 1 0 N
QWE eligibility
MccKinneyVento
HOMELESS
Wattai aww P di
enrollment
As a program of the Jackson County Library District, a full-time social worker and a team of
resource specialists (one specifically in Ashland) support patrons seeking referral to
resources that address housing insecurity, substance use disorder and recover, mental
health challenges, employment, and more. People can also request information online at
https://jcts.org/services/community-resources/#contact-social-worker
18
Pane 19 of 908
Funding Streams
Service providers rely on a range of government and community funding sources to deliver
homeless services. This section illustrates the current funding sources used in responding
to the local homeless crisis.
The collective annual budget for the 24 homeless programs that provided information (30%
of the identified programs) totals $25,436,565.
The charts below show where these 24 programs (22 of which are in Ashland) get their
funding:
Programs Reporting Funding Sources
Area
X of
Programs
Sum Annual
Funding
Federal
Gov.
State
Gov.
Local
Gov.
Foundation
Donors
Fees
Health
Insurance
Other
Region
24
$ 25,436.565
6
8
5
6
17
2
2
2
Ashland
22
$ 4,986,565
5
6
5
6
17
2
2
2
Percent of Programs Receiving Each Type of Funding
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40% ,
30%
20% ,
10%
0%
x�°y
C�°
■ Receive this Type of Funding ■ Do Not Receive this Type of Funding
*Other includes fundraising events and store proceeds.
19
Panes go of qnR
Government Funding Streams
The City of Ashland has traditionally supported organizations whose mission is to provide
direct services and resource assistance. The City does this by providing funding, the use of
buildings, and contributions of staff time.
The City of Ashland has assigned approximately $1,611,000 in the current biennium toward
addressing the issues of homelessness. See Appendices for a list of grants.
The sources of funds distributed by the City include a State of Oregon Department of
Administrative Services grant, federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
funding, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and City general funds. Funding has been used
to support a variety of services and resources including:
• Severe weather shelter
• Emergency and transitional shelters with and without case management
• Rental assistance to avoid homelessness
• Case management to address homelessness for school aged children and families
• Shower and laundry facilities
• Emergency shelter and resources/navigation services
Current federal, state, and local government grants specific to Ashland
Funding Stream
Granting Entity and Amount
HUD Community Development Block Grant
State $11,449,421, City of Ashland $162,000
HUD Continuum of Care
HUD $320,217
HUD Emergency Solutions Grant
State $1,975,255
HUD Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS
State $734,941
HUD HOME Funds (housing development)
State $9,498,563
Housing Trust Fund (housing development)
State $5,468,942*, City of Ashland $100,000
* As of 2024, the State begins using Oregon Centralized Application process to select projects for HTF funding based on
first come, first served approach for projects that meet established criteria.
The City also dedicates staff time and other "in-kind/non-cash" resources to support local
and regional efforts to coordinate and address issues of homelessness through a
collaborative approach. These efforts have included:
• Regional planning and funding through the Jackson County Continuum of Care
• Locations to park the volunteer- and staff -operated shower and laundry trailer
• Allowances for car camping on church properties
• Locations to host severe weather shelter
20
Pane 91 of gnR
Governor's Executive Order Declaring a Homeless Emergency
In January 2023, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency due to the rise
in homelessness. This launched a pathway for millions of dollars to flow to communities to
expand housing -focused services - outreach, emergency shelter, and rapid rehousing,
specifically. Below are two examples of the funding the Jackson County region received in
2024. For information about how these funds were distributed, contact the local CoC.
Grants.Gov
https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration
HUD Build for the Future — Online Funding Navigator
The Funding Navigator provides a listing of funding opportunities under the Inflation
Reduction Act (IRA), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and others across federal agencies
to support efforts to enhance climate resiliency, energy efficiency, renewable energy
integration, healthy housing, workforce development and environmental justice in HUD
supported communities, programs, and properties. Find open and upcoming
opportunities, including funding status and where to apply, for funds to implement
projects that reduce energy use and strengthen resiliency in communities.
https://www.hu_dexchange.info%ro rams/build-for-the-future/funding-navigator/
Community Funding Sources
The vast majority of Ashland's homeless services rely heavily on community (non -
government) funding. See page 19.
Interestingly, only the major players, such as ACCESS and OHRA get most of their funding
from government grants. Smaller programs -typically providing supportive services, such
as meals, clothing, transportation assistance, and other basic needs - garner the vast
majority of their funding from foundation grants, community donations, and fundraisers.
21
Panes 99 of 208
Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO)
NAO maintains a searchable database of grant opportunities available to nonprofit organization in
Oregon: https:llnonprofitoregon.org/funding-opportunities/
Volunteers
Nearly half of the programs interviewed in Ashland (12 of 25) operate solely on volunteers.
The other programs are staff led, and nearly half of the staff -led programs (6 of 13) utilize
volunteers, for a total of 72% that either rely solely or partially on volunteers. The seven
other staff -led programs do not use volunteers.
The Subcommittee was not able to quantify the total number of volunteer hours but
verified that the majority of supportive services (meals, showers, laundry) would not exist if
it were not for the volunteers who dedicate time and resources in an effort to meet these
local needs.
The majority of supportive services (meals,
showers, laundry) would not exist if it were not for
the volunteers who dedicate time and resources.
22
Pane 93 of 90R
Funding Streams Take Aways
Government Funding
The vast majority of funding for homeless services comes from government sources.
It is the major players, such as ACCESS and OHRA that get most of their funding from
government grants.
Potential Actions:
• Maximize government funds for local and regional services. Grants / grant writing /
coordination -to support staffing and expanded capacity for support services,
outreach, etc.
• Seek funding solutions from existing funding entities / engage in advocacy / activate
a State legislative agenda
Community (non -governmental) Funding
Nearly every non-profit organization depends on fundraising, with 71 % reporting that they
receive funds from individual donors. Organizations are essentially competing for the same
donor resources.
Preliminary research identified a practice in Chico, CA where people can contribute to a
central fund to help address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Potential Action:
• Create an online portal for donor -designated contributions.
Imagine if...
You could click on one website and
Make a one-time or recurring donation
To a specific organization or
To a population of interest (youth, families, seniors, Veterans ... or
To the area of greatest need
In the town of your choice
You could then opt in to receive agency -specific and/or a regional
newsletters that would keep you informed of activities,
opportunities, and progress being made to address issues of
homelessness.
23
Pane 94 of qnR
Volunteers
The sentiments expressed in response to the Subcommittee's public surveys revealed a
high level of compassion and interest in addressing the myriad of issues faced by people
experiencing homelessness.
Seven (7) of the 49 resources/programs in the Subcommittee's Service Inventory are efforts
spearheaded by or supported completely by volunteers. Six (6) of these are in Ashland.
Another six professionally staffed organizations also stated that they use volunteers.
The SWOT analysis of current programs highlighted the fact that volunteers are "aging out."
Potential Actions:
• Encourage volunteer recruitment and management for support services (i.e.
community meal providers)
• Provide more community education about the opportunities to volunteer
• Promote and provide regular and accessible volunteer training / orientation sessions
24
Pane. gs of qns
Services Inventory & SWOT Analysis
The Subcomittee conducted an inventory and surveyed service providers about the extent
to which they offer several types of services in or around Ashland. The service types below
are defined by HUD and were used by the Subcommittee to group and analyze the local
resources.
Definitions of Types of Homeless Services
Homeless Services are ones that exist specifically to address the needs of people
experiencing homelessness.
• Eviction Prevention programs should intervene as early as possible, for the briefest
duration and minimum resources to be adequately effective.
• Supportive Services are designed to meet non -housing needs of people experiencing
homelessness, such as food/meals, resource centers, showers, laundry, etc.
• Street Outreach includes staff and materials to reach people experiencing
homelessness in public and other settings to 1) meet immediate/crisis needs, and 2)
engage them in the homeless response system of housing -related services.
Street Outreach services should meet people where they are, with progressive
engagement toward permanent housing (Housing -Focused Street Outreach).
• Emergency Shelter provides, at a minimum, safe, habitable shelter for one or more
nights. Emergency Shelter may also include meals, resource navigation, and housing -
focused case management.
Shelter Type
Description
Day Shelter
Drop -in, with or without addition services, often (but not
always) part of a resource center.
Night -by -Night Shelter
Drop -in, typical hours of 7 pm-7 am, but often include a
dinner and a breakfast.
Duration Shelter
Short-term shelter, typically 1-4 weeks, with case
management. Can serve as "bridge shelter" prior to
permanent housing.
Transitional Shelter
Cased managed services, typically 6-18 months,
depending on client needs for stabilization while
preparing for permanent housing
25
PaoP 96 of gns
• Transitional Housing is designed to provide homeless individuals and families with
interim stability and support for up to 24 months to successfully move to and maintain
permanent housing.
• Permanent Housing -
o Rapid Rehousing emphasizes housing search and relocation services and
short- and medium -term rental assistance to move homeless people and
families (with or without a disability) as rapidly as possible into permanent
housing.
o Permanent Supportive Housing is permanent housing with indefinite leasing or
rental assistance - paired with supportive services to assist homeless people
with a disability or families with an adult or child member with a disability
achieve housing stability. Clients pay a portion of their rent, not to exceed 30% of
their income.
A Note About Mainstream Services
Mainstream services are those that exist to support a need, regardless of an individual's
housing situation. People experiencing homelessness may access these services, but they
do not exist solely as resources for people experiencing homelessness.
Mainstream services (food banks, TANF, etc.) are not included in the inventory. However,
mainstream services are critical resources for many households experiencing
homelessness.
26
Pane 97 of 9nA
Tally of Homeless Services and Locations
Services in the Region: The
Subcommittee identified 80
homeless services in the area
and was able to conduct
interviews with 49 (61 %).
Homeless Services in the Region
Permanent
Housing n 1)
Transitional
Housing (11)
Emergency
Shelter (19)
Supportive
Services
(including
resource
centers and safe
parking) (24)
Street
uuireach (7)
Support
Service
Resource
Center
Safe
Parking
Street
Outreach
Emerg.
Shelter
Trans.
Housing
PH-
RRH
PH-
PSH
Other
Total
Identified
19
3
2
7
19
11
6
5
8
80
Interviewed
10
3
2
3
15
5
3
2
6
49
53 %
100%
1 100%
1 43%
1 79%
45%
50 %
1 40%
75%
61%
* Seven of the eight "other" services were activities coordinated by churches to donate funds, food, supplies, and
volunteer time to other service providers. The eighth service was Ashland's Night Lawn.
Homeless Services in Ashland
Transitional Permanent
Housing(2) Housing (1)
Emergency
Shelter (3) Supportive
Services,
includinga
Street resource
Outreach (2) center and
safe parking
(15)
Services in Ashland: Twenty-
nine (29) of the 80 homeless
services the Subcommittee
identified were available in
Ashland, and interviews were
conducted with 25 of those
(86%).
* One of the emergency shelters
and one of the transitional
housing sites listed has since
closed.
Support
Services
Resource
Center
Safe
Parking
Street
Outreach
Emerg.
Shelter
Trans.
Housing
PH-
RRH
PH-
PSH
Other
Total
In Ashland
11
2
2
2
3*
2*
0
1
6
29*
Interviewed
9
2
2
0
3
2
0
1
6
25
82%
100%
100%
-
100%
100%
-
100%
100%
86%
27
Pane 98 of qnR
Volunteer -led. Twelve of the twenty-five programs interviewed in Ashland (48%) operate
solely on volunteers. The others are staff led, and six of those (46%) utilize volunteers, for a
total of 72% that either rely solely or partially on volunteers.
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Volunteers in Service to Ashland's Homeless Population
Volunteer -led Programs Staff -led Programs
■ Staff ■ Volunteers
Distribution of Services
The 80 services identified is not a comprehensive list, particularly as it relates to Support
Services (meals, showers, laundry, etc.) and programs in the "other" category (primarily
places of worship that donate funds, supplies, and volunteer time to other programs).
However, the list is believed to be comprehensive in terms of Street Outreach, Emergency
Shelters, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Permanent Supportive Housing.
Distribution of Street Outreach and Housing -Related Services
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Street Emergency Transitional
Outreach Shelter Housing
0
Rapid Permanent
Rehousing Supportive
Housing
■ Outside of Ashland
■ In Ashland
28
Pane qA of 2ns
Support Services
Eleven Ashland support services provide laundry, showers, and meals to people
experiencing homelessness.
Resource Centers
As a service of the Jackson County Library District, the Ashland Library has a Resource
Specialist that provides referrals to myriad of social services.
In addition, Opportunities for Housing, Resources and Assistance (OHRA), located at the
OHRA Center in South Ashland operates a resource center for people experiencing
homelessness or housing insecurity in Ashland.
Safe Parking
The Subcommittee identified two safe parking sites in Ashland, with a total of seven
parking spots, supplemented by porta-potties.
Support Services - Resource Centers - Safe Parking Sites in Ashland
Organization
Program
# of People Served
First Congregational Church
Good Neighbor Program
Unknown
First Presbyterian Church
Car Camping
Unknown; 4 parking spaces
Hawthorn Park Potluck
Hawthorn Park Potluck
2,000 meals served annually
Havurah Shir Hadash
Safe Parking
Unknown; 3 parking spaces
Jackson Regional Library Services
Ashland Homeless Services Desk
Unknown
La Clinica del Valle
Health Services at OHRA
177 individuals in one year
Laundry Love
Laundry Love
805 visits in a year
Maslow Project
McKinney Vento Homeless Students
Unknown
Mestrovich, lanai
Meals for Homeless @ Night Lawn
Unknown; daily meals
Monday Meals
Monday Meals
2,000 meals served annually
OHRA
Laundry/ShowerTrailer
1,601 visits in a year
OHRA
Resource Center
1,966 individuals in one year
Peace House
Uncle Foods Diner
6,500 meals served annually
Recovery Cafe
Recovery Cafe
Unknown; no records kept
S. OR Jobs with Justice
Peace Meal
6,240 meals served annually
St. Vincent de Paul
Ashland Conference
143 individuals in one year
29
Pant-30 of 908
Street outreach is often the first contact with
individuals and families experiencing
homelessness.
Street Outreach
Street Outreach is limited in Ashland. The Maslow Project recently launched a mobile
outreach unit to engage youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. The OHSU
Street Nursing program does outreach once a week.
The most robust outreach effort in Ashland is a handful of individuals who volunteer more
than 200 hours per month to help people experiencing homelessness navigate resources
ranging from health care to housing, getting a valid I.D., food, and finding a safe place to
sleep.
Three other agencies provide street outreach throughout the county: ACCESS, Jackson
County Health & Human Services, and Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center &
Clinics/Department of Veterans Affairs.
Emergency Shelters
When the Subcommittee conducted the inventory, there were three shelters in Ashland —
two residential 24/7 shelters and one severe weather shelter. The 30-bed residential shelter
at 2200 Ashland Street has since ceased operation.
Shelters
Capacity
OHRA Shelter
52 units w/72 beds
Severe Weather Shelter
28 mats
Let me tell you about...
A gentle, quiet man who stayed at the shelter for a
while and made beautiful art objects, which he
sold successfully on the street, eventually made it
up through the waitlist and into his own
apartment. We celebrated his last night at the
shelter. A week later, he was back at the shelter
dinner table. l asked him what happened - if he'd
lost his place. He looked sheepish. "No," he said,
"but it's kinda lonely there."
30
Pane .11 of 2nR
Transitional Housing
Parker House is the only Transitional Housing program in Ashland, with five units and a total
of 15 beds.
Permanent Housing (RRH and PSH)
Ashland has no direct access to Rapid Rehousing (RRH), as the administration and case
management for RRH is located in Medford.
Columbia Care operates a 30-bed Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project in
Ashland.
Other Services
Five Ashland churches collect and donate cash, food, clothing, supplies, and volunteer
time to resource other community programs, such as the severe weather shelter, meal
programs, Laundry Love, and OHRA services.
The Ashland Night Lawn (18 camping sites) is another resource that does not fit neatly into
any other category. The space is designated for camping from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
(summer) and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. (winter) but is not a managed campground. Health
and safety concerns have plagued this sight, and local advocates are working with city
officials to improve conditions.
Housing Inventory Count
Each year, the region's Housing Inventory Count (HIC) is reported to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The data includes the number of homeless
services beds on the night of the annual Point -in -Time Count.
• For shelter and transitional beds, this data is fairly static.
• For market -based rehousing programs (e.g., Rapid Rehousing, Veteran Housing
Vouchers), the count includes only the number of people housed that night (and not
the number of possible vouchers).
The HIC provides data to identify the level of available shelter and housing resources to
community need. Maintaining and reporting on the HIC is one of the roles of the regional
Continuum of Care.
Jackson County's 2024 HIC includes the vast majority, but not all of the region's shelter and
housing programs. (See Appendices for the 2024 Jackson County HIC.) Editing based on
the Subcommittee's Services Inventory shows the following:
31
Pant-R2 of 2nR
All Year
Around Beds
Weather
Activated Beds
Total Beds
Temporary Shelter
- Emergency Shelter
426
78
504
- Transitional Housing & Safe Haven
363
363
Permanent Housing
- Rapid Rehousing
478
478
- Permanent Supportive Housing
139
139
Totals
1,406
78
1,484
A 52-unit shelter operated by OHRA (with 72 beds) is Ashland's only emergency shelter
and provides residential shelter and housing navigation.
Parker House provides five units (15 beds) for transitional housing in Ashland, and
Columbia Care's Rogue Ridge provides 30 permanent supportive housing beds.
With an estimated 230-320 people experiencing
homelessness in Ashland, there are only 117
beds.
Facility -Based Beds
Type
In Jackson
# in Ashland
% in Ashland
Facility
County
Emergency Shelter 426
72
16.9%
OHRA Center
Transitional/Safe Haven 363
5
4.1 %
Parker House
(aU
Permanent Supportive
114
Housing
30
26.3%
Rogue Ridge
Year Around Facility-
903 117 12.9%
Based Beds
Severe Weather/Smoke Severe Weather
78 28 35.9%
Shelter Beds Shelter
Total 981
145
14.8%
32
Panes 33 of 90R
Affordable Housing Units
A lack of available and affordable housing contributes to homelessness.
In addition to the aforementioned types of homeless services, the full continuum also
includes affordable housing. Most often the cost of developing, managing, and maintaining
affordable housing is supported by government funds to allow households below a certain
income level to have access to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing.
Rapid Rehousing and Housing Choice Voucher programs provide subsidies to households
with the lowest incomes; however, those programs depend on the availability of regulated
affordable housing units.
Throughout the region, there exist more than 3,300 multifamily rental units regulated to be
affordable as required by the federal and state funding utilized to build them. 11.4% (376
units) are in Ashland.
Regulated Affordable Rental
Housing in Jackson County
ROGUE GOLD O
RIVER ,., 146 HILL
Ashland
376
Butte Falls
0
Cerhal Poird
334
Eagle Point
130
Gold Hill
6
Jacksonville
48
Medford
1735
Phoenix
76
Rogue River
146
Shady Cove
24
Talent
234
white City
191
Total
3302
ulU MI dd n from e 0". —hM
.. Cnmm any S—im Weave, mu
CENTRAL
POINT
JACKSONVILLEO
0 5 10
Miles
SHADY O
COVE Ej�{
O
WHITE ZEAGLE
CITY • POINT
• • 3!1
MEDFORD
RAI
PHOENIX O
,b'1
TALENT
Ti
ASHLANDf ••
�11�
BUTTE
FALLS
*Please note, this map does not include affordable housing ownership units deed restricted through the City of Ashland Affordable
Housing program.
The City of Ashland Housing Capacity Analysis provides a more thorough analysis of the
community's housing needs.
33
Pane .14 of 90A
SWOT Analysis
The Subcommittee's 49 program interviews included an analysis of each program's
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). See Appendices for a list of
programs. The common themes were:
• Need for information, data, and data sharing
• A call for coordinated services and more connection
between partners in the region
• More funding, particularly steady and flexible funding
• Staff are at or beyond capacity, staff/volunteer
shortages
• Need for more outreach services
SWOT by Service Type
The information provided by the 49 programs was subdivided by program type. (See the
beginning of this section, pages 25-26 for definitions of program type.)
Support Services (meals, laundry, showers)
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
• Variety of
• Abundance of needs
• Grants
• Aging volunteers
services/programs
• Need for more $$
• Community
• Changing political
• Diversity of
• Need more
• Variety of partners
environment
entities/partners
volunteers/staff
• Building partnerships
• Social opinions/media
• Committed/persistent
• Burnout (staff/volunteers)
• Collaboration
• Increased food costs
people
• Not adequately servicing
• Build infrastructure
• Increased supply costs
• Community building
Veteran needs
(e.g., commercial
• End of funding
• Strong relationships
kitchen)
Emergency Shelters & Transitional Housing
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
• Location - predictable,
• Agingvolunteers
• Volunteer, partners,
• Losing house/facility
safe
• No regulated standards
food bank
• Political pendulum
• Extensive & effective
for staffing, lack of
• More state funding—
• Always chasing money
partnerships
training/support
homeless and fire
• Succession planning
• Always prospecting
• Lack of funding, staff
• Education tuition
• Insufficient cultural
• BilinguaUculturat
• Need staffing levels
reimbursement
competence
competence
evaluated
• Promote/hiring new
• Need more
• Specialized grants
• Shelter closed
staff
infrastructure for
• Strong volunteers
• Need better/larger
smaller organizations
facilities
• Need reliable funding
• Growing population of
• Co -morbidity
houeless
34
Pane 35 of 908
Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Housing, Veteran's Services
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
• Pride in
• Lack of data
• Continuous
• Funding is political and
mission/organization
. Lack of follow-up, long
improvement,
unstable
• Wrap around services
term outcomes
education, and
• Shortage of housing
• Dedicated staff
• Not enough
development for staff
vouchers
• Many entry points
staff/volunteers
• Improve coordinated
• "sketchy" property
• Community building
• High turnover
entry system
managers/evictions
• Lack of case
• Increased actions to
• "sketchy"
management
improve transportation
clients/residents —
• Wait line
• Build more capacity in
problem behaviors
• Daily, complex needs
smaller organizations
. Aging— geriatric care
• Increasing demand
• Standardize definitions
• Centralization of
• May be limited to people
of "wrap around"
services (creates
who are "housing ready"
services
access challenges)
• Services don't meet
• 18-24-year-olds need
• 2 major players, so left
individual's needs
more services
with few other options
• Require referrals
Street Outreach, Day Center, Safe Parking Services
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
• Network of partners
• Staff/volunteer shortages
• More services —
• Aging population
• $ from Governor's
• Parking serves too few
geriatric
(volunteers)
Emergency Order
people
• Create shared
• Change in willingness
• Offer a safe place
• Budget cuts
standards of care
(safe parking)
(parking)
• Needs are higher than
• More outreach
• Lack of community
• A willing subset of the
the funding
• Longterm programs
patience
community
• Recruit/provide
• Hard to raise $$
opportunities for
younger work force
• Community education
The Subcommittee reviewed the interview forms to identify common barriers reported by
providers, then identified potential solutions to those barriers.
Barriers Reported by Providers
Potential Solutions Identified by Subcommittee
•
Fear/discomfort/distrust
•
Community education; a communications plan
•
Criminalization of homelessness
•
Defining & training staff for specific skill sets
•
Lack of affordable housing
•
Mental health court & drug court
•
Behavioral health needs/crisis
•
Incentivize affordable housing
•
Inconsistent funding
•
Provide staff support: respite, rotations, sabbaticals
•
Constant crisis
•
Continue with check -ins longer/more follow-up
•
Underpaid positions
•
Longer client engagement to support stability
•
Mental health impacts (i.e., burnout) on staff
•
Adequate staffing models
and volunteers
•
Collaborate on regional strategies
•
Access to information: general public,
•
National service program
potential clients, staff, what's working and not
•
Burden of data entry
35
Pane .,i6 of ?nR
Services Inventory & SWOT Analysis Take Aways
The "Weaknesses" and "Opportunities" sections of the SWOT analysis are commonly two
sides of the same coin. For example:
Weakness Opportunity
Services don't meet individual's needs. 18-24-year-olds need more services.
Supportive Services
The most abundant resources for people experiencing homelessness in Ashland are free
meals. Multiple community groups comprised of dozens of volunteers provide thousands
of home cooked meals to people in need. The settings vary from parks to churches and
non-profit locations, the Night Lawn, and the Extreme Weather Shelter. This is not to say
that people experiencing homelessness have their food needs met.
Potential Actions:
There is a great opportunity for additional supportive services
• Storage for personal belongings
• Public bathrooms
• Access to water
• Public gathering places
• Community health workers
• Electronics charging areas and Wi-Fi
• Hygiene supplies
• Showers
• Laundry
• Meals
• Gas and transportation vouchers
• Gym memberships
Opportunities
• Grants
• Community
• Variety of partners
• Building
partnerships
• Collaboration
• Build infrastructure
36
Pane 17 of 9nR
Opportunities
• More services -
geriatric
• Create shared
standards of care
• More outreach
• Longterm programs
• Recruit/provide
opportunities for
younger work force
• Community
education
Street Outreach
Street outreach is regarded as a critical component for
successful transition from homelessness to
housing. (footnote) It can also provide much -needed triage
for health and safety concerns.
Potential Actions:
• Housing -focused Street Outreach
• Outreach that meets the needs of the older population
• An outreach "hotline" anyone can call when concerned
Residential Needs from Shelter to Housing
With an estimated 230-320 people experiencing homelessness in Ashland, there are only
117 beds (occupied).
Potential Actions:
• Incentivize development of housing that is affordable.
• Support more Affordable Housing (subsidized, regulated, low -rent units).
• Advocate for more Permanent Supportive Housing (for those with disabilities).
• Create access in Ashland to Rapid Rehousing (12-24 months of financial assistance
and case management).
• Explore the need for more Transitional Housing.
• Expand Emergency Shelter (immediate access, ideally with supportive services and
housing -focused case management).
• Establish Medical Respite beds (step down housing after hospitalization/treatment).
Emergency Shelter / Transitional Housing <--- > Rapid Rehousing / Supportive Housing
Opportunities
• Volunteer, partners,
food bank
• More state funding -
homeless and fire
• Education tuition
reimbursement
• Promote/hiring new
staff
Opportunities
• Continuous improvement,
education, and
development for staff
• Improve coordinated entry
system
• Increased actions to
improve transportation
• Build more capacity in
smaller organizations
• Standardize definitions of
"wrap around" services
• 18-24-year-olds need more
services
37
Pane RR of 90R
Data
A Note About Data Sources
Public Data Sources
A variety of public agencies gather data relevant to homelessness, however, there are few
common standards, and much data is difficult for the public to view or obtain.
Unavailable. The following are data that would be
helpful, but seem to be unavailable locally:
• Emergency responder services to people
experiencing homelessness
• Crime data showing perpetrator and victim by
homeless status
• GIS mapping of homeless encampments on a
month -by -month basis
Difficult to Gather. The following are examples of public data that exist but the
Subcommittee was unable to gather:
• Emergency Department visits by people experiencing homelessness
• Ashland -specific data about eviction cases
Available. The following are examples of public data that are readily available:
OREMM O
DEPARTMENT Of
EDUCATION
Ofegur,oc+reve� rugerherr
He alth
• School Districts provide data to Oregon
Department of Education's McKinney Vento Program
for students enrolled in public schools identified as
experiencing homelessness.
• Since January 1, 2022, reports of death were
required to list the residence address as "Domicile
Unknown" for decedents who were homeless at the
time of death. This Oregon requirement was the
result of 2021 Legislation, SB 850.
38
Pan,_�9 of gns
Fioell Ewwo - .
- '�
�A1
qqwoon
��
stem
Homeless Management Information System
Programs funded by federal (and Oregon) homeless
services grants are required to participate in a single
regional Homeless Management Information System
(HMIS) governed by the local Continuum of Care
unless the organization meets the criteria of being a
Domestic Violence Service Provider (DV provider).*
'Under federal taw, to ensure client privacy, a DV provider must use a separate, comparable data system. Aggregate data
from the DV system are integrated with HMIS data for reporting purposes.
Similar to every Continuum of Care, the Jackson County CoC has limited data capacity.
While each program provider is required to enter their data in HMIS, a CoC typically has
less than a full-time staff member to oversee the HMIS data system, primarily for the
purposes of reporting to the State or HUD.
What the Data Says
Oregon has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country.
How Many People Are Homeless?
The numbers typically used to quantify how many people are homeless come from
different methodologies and depend on three basic factors.
Factors
Options
1. The way in which numbers
A snapshot or Point -in -Time (PIT) Count, the CoC database of
are gathered
individuals (HMIS), or a school district
2. The time period selected
A day, a calendaryear, a federal fiscal year, or a school year
(or any part thereof)
3. The definition of "homeless"
HUD uses one definition, and the Department of Education
uses another
• The annual PIT Count tells you how many people were identified as experiencing
homelessness on a single night during the last week of January (timeframe set by
HUD). These people either stayed in a shelter/transitional housing or in a place not
meant for human habitation (streets, cars, bus station, etc.)
Each federal reporting year (October 1 -September 30), the number of unduplicated
individuals in the local HMIS database is reported to HUD. These people met the
HUD definition of homeless.
39
FAnp. 40 nf 208
How Many People Are Homeless in Jackson County?
2500
2000 1876 1950
1500 1406
1251
1100 1143
1000
712 621 727 773
500
0
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
■ PIT Count ■ HMIS Database
A complicating factor is the varying definition of" homeless" between HUD and the U.S.
Department of Education. Beyond the HUD definition, schools include students who are
doubled up with another family. More information on students experiencing homelessness
is provided later in this section.
Evictions in Jackson County
Evictions can be a major driver of homelessness and
a barrier to securing future housing. A 2023 report by
Portland State University provides eviction data by
county (see Appendices), including baseline
information about renter occupied units, median
rent, and affordability.
Nearly half (49%) of Jackson renters are rent -burdened, meaning they spend 30% or more
of their income on rent. Nearly a quarter (24%) are severely rent -burdened, meaning they
spend 50% or more of their income on rent.
A higher percentage of eviction cases in Jackson County result in eviction compared to
cases statewide.
In 2023, 37% of Jackson eviction cases resulted in evictions, compared to only 27%
statewide. Similarly, the year prior (2022) 43% of Jackson eviction cases resulted in
eviction, compared to 36% statewide. See chart on next page.
40
Panp 41 of 208
Cases Filed
Case Outcomes
#
# per 100
rental
units
Eviction
Judgement
(evicted)
Dismissed
Final
Outcome
Unknown
2022Jackson
1,046
3.3
446 (43%)
593 (57%)
6 (1%)
2022 Oregon
18,812
3.1
6,723 (36%)
11,486 (61 %)
529 (3%)
2023Jackson
1,118
3.5
419 (37%)
403 (36%)
296 (26%)
2023 Oregon
22,470
3.7
6,161 (27%)
12,359 (55%)
3,916 (17%)
Supply and Demand
Oregon ranks fourth in failing to produce enough
housing for its residents, behind California,
Colorado and Utah. Oregon is currently behind in
building 140,000 housing units and needs to
produce over 400,000 homes in the next 20 years to
keep up with demand.
�o
OS/
�ycu,t 1 runt
f {c uu ,.,.,
2 - HOM � T;,mil �
I AFFORDABLE'IbMNG'
ibau.
41
pane 49 of gnR
Demographics / Populations Experiencing Homelessness
Annual Point -In -Time (PIT) Count
Each CoC is required to conduct an annual Point -In -Time (PIT) Count. In odd -numbered
years, the PIT Count must include people in homeless shelters and transitional housing
(the Sheltered Count), as well as people living on the streets (the Unsheltered Count).
The number of people able to be contacted during
the Unsheltered Count depends on weather, the
number of volunteers, and methodology.
Experts estimate the PIT Count is an
undercount of at least 50%. Doubling the PIT
Count numbers provides a more realistic
estimate of at least 2,286 people experiencing
homelessness in Jackson County.
Ages - The 2023 PIT Count shows 13.6% of people experiencing homelessness in Jackson
County were under the age of 18 and another 8% between the ages of 18 and 24. Youth and
young adults (up to age 24) represent approximately 22% of the county's homeless
population.
296 OlderAdL
ages 55+ (26
600 Adults, ages
25-54 (52%)
247 Children,
Y-1th, and Young
s, <25 (22%)
42
Pane 41 of 9nR
On the other end of the age spectrum, 8.6% of people experiencing homelessness in
Jackson County were over the age of 65 and another 17.3% between the ages of 55 and 64.
Older adults (ages 55+) represent approximately 26% of the county's homeless population.
Detailed Age Groups, 2023 Jackson County PIT
Count
65+ (8.6%), 98 < 18 (13.6%), 156
55-64 (17.3%), 198
45-54 (17.2%), 19
35-44 (19.2%), 219
18-24 (8%), 91
25-34 (16.1%), 184
Gender —The PIT Count data over the past five years shows a growing percentage of
females experiencing homelessness, from 27.7% in 2019 to 34.7% in 2023.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Gender Distribution
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
■ Female ■ Mate ■ Other
43
Panes 44 of 908
The number of people experiencing homelessness
jumped with the impacts of the Covid pandemic
and the Almeda Fire.
Point In Time Count Data — Jackson Count — Past Five Years
2023
Sheltered ES
Homeless
Sheltered TH
Homeless
Sheltered SH
Homeless
Sheltered Total
Homeless
Unsheltered
Homeless
Overall Homeless
OR-502
301 281
5
587
556
1 143
2022
Sheltered ES
Homeless
Sheltered TH
Homeless
Sheltered SH
Homeless
Sheltered Total
Homeless
Unsheltered
Homeless
Overall Homeless
L0R-502
382 252
4
638
613
i
1.251 J
Sheltered ES Sheltered TH
Sheltered SH
Sheltered Total
Unshehered
2021
Homeless Homeless
Homeless
Homeless
Homeless
Overall Homeless
i�
OR-502
158 191
0
349
424
773
2020
Sheltered ES
Homeless
Sheltered TH
Homeless
Sheltered SH Sheltered Total
Homeless Homeless
Unsheltered
Homeless
Overall Homeless
OR-502
177 187
01 364
383
727
2019
Sheltered ES
Homeless
Sheltered TH
Homeless
Sheltered SH
Homeless
Shattered Total
Homeless
Unsheltered
HomoMaa
Overall Homeless
OR-502
135
213
0
348
364
112
Point In Time Count - Jackson County
1300 1251
1200
1100
1000
900
800 .' 773
712 'i27
700 638 613
600
500 424
400 348 364 364 363 349
300
200
100
0
2019 2020 2021 2022
01111111111111 Sheltered aMMEMEM Unsheltered IMMEMME Total . • ... Linear jota'j
2023
1143
Note: From 2017 to 2022, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Oregon increased by 44%. From 2019 to
2023 (chart above), the number in Jackson County increased by 61 %.
44
PnnP 45 of 7f1R
One -Day Count on May 2, 2024
Subcommittee members worked with OHSU School of Nursing students from Southern
Oregon University to conduct a point -in -time count of people experiencing homelessness
on May 2, 2024.
The volunteers divided their assignment into 10 zones and identified 181 people in one day.
�.lr„J.)'ff
t on
•`!?may 7c• 10
G � a
;4 zone 9:
Z
fT
f"► �coc2 �3
Zone 8
17
7 c.. ,. 1
Zone 3:
4, 10
1
Zone Distribution
53 Additional people were in OHRA Center
1 person was at Ashland Hospital
Total Count:181
Zone 6: t
53
9A 8
z n a
a
i..
Y
Zone 5:
10
Note: The 53 people identified in Zone 6 were in addition to 53 residents of the OHRA Shelter.
45
PanP. 46 of 908
Shelter Status
People
Percent
Sheltered
54
29.8%
Unsheltered
127
70.2%
Total
181
100.0%
Age - The vast majority of
people (83.3%) were
between the ages of 25 and
64 years old. 7.7% were
younger, and 8.9%were
older.
Gender - The majority of
people (71.4%) identified as
male, 27.4% as female, and
1.2% as non -binary. This
gender distribution differs
from that of the 2023
Jackson County PIT Count
with 64.4% male, 34.7%
female, and <1 % non -
binary.
181 people were counted as experiencing
homelessness in one day in Ashland. One person
was staying at the hospital, 53 were sheltered at
OHRA, and 127 were unsheltered.
15 people 12 people ages
olderthan 1 person<18- 18-24 7%
65, 9%
59 people ages
45-64, 35%
`81 people ages
25-44, 48%
2 Non -Binary,
1.2%
46 Female,
27.4%
120 Male,
71.4%
Note: Age and gender tally equals 168, as information about 13 people is unknown.
46
Panp 47 of 9OR
School -Aged Students
Homeless student information reported to Oregon Department of Education shows
Ashland has a higher -than -average percentage of the student body experiencing
homelessness than across the state.
The 121 Ashland students experiencing
homelessness during the 2022-23 school year
accounted for 4.7916 of the student body, which
was higher than the State average of 3.9916.
ASHLAND
DISTRICT
ENROLLMENT
Shelter Doubled -Up
Unshekered Motel/Hotel
ASHLAND
HOMELESS
STUDENTS
PERCENT
ASHLAND
STUDENTS
HOMELESS
ASHLAND i %ofASHLAND
UNACCOMPANWO HOMELESS
HOMELESS STUDENTS
STUDENTS UNACCOMPANIED
School
Year
OREGON
HOMELESS
STUDENTS
PERCENT
OREGON
STUDENTS
HOMELESS
2,567
76 24
7 14
121
4.7%
30
24.9%
2022-23
21,478
3.9%
2,434
' 112
21 21
154
6.3%
25
16.2%
2021-22
18,358
3.3%
2,552
124
85
23 12
31
259
1 6.2%
22
13.8%
202D-21
17,593
3.2%
3.6%
2,845
116
1 4.1%
24
20.7%
2019-20
21,080
2,899
1 6 88
8 33
135
1 4.7%
25
18.5%
2018-19
22,215
3.9%
Percent of Students Homeless
7.0%
6.2% 6.3%
6.0%
5.0% 4.7% 4.7%
3.9% 4.1 % 3.9%
4.04b 3.696 ■ . 32%
� 3.3%
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
■ Oregon Students ■ Ashland Students
47
Pane 48 of 908
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Ashland has a higher -than -State -average
percentage of students experiencing
homelessness `on their own"(unaccompanied).
Homeless Students on Their Own
15.4%
Percent of State homeless
students experiencing
homelessness on their own
13.3%
Percent of Jackson County
homeless students
expereincing homelessness
on their own
25.0%
Percent of Ashland homeless
students experiencing
homelessness on their own
During the 2022-23 school year, thirty (30) unaccompanied Ashland students were
identified, meaning 25% of Ashland's 121 homeless students were experiencing
homelessness on their own versus the state average of 15.4% of homeless students being
on their own. The Jackson County average was 13.3%.
48
Pane 49 of qnR
The one hundred twenty-one (121) Ashland students experiencing homelessness during
the 2022-23 school year were living in various environments, with the largest percentage in
shelter (63%), then doubled up (20%), then in a hoteUmotel (12%), followed by those who
were unsheltered (6%).
PERCENT
ASHLAND
% of ASHLAND
PERCENT
ASHLAND
ASHLAND
ASHLAND
UNACCOMPANIED
HOMELESS
OREGON OREGON
DISTRICT
HOMELESS
STUDENTS
HOMELESS
STUDENTS
School
HOMELESS STUDENTS
ENROLLMENT
Shelter
Doubled -Up Unsheltered
Motel/Hotel
STUDENTS
HOMELESS
STUDENTS
UNACCOMPANIED
Year
STUDENTS HOMELESS
2,567
76
24 7
14
121
4.7%
3D
24.8%
2022-23
21,478 3.9%
2,434
112 21
21
154
6.3%
25
16.2%
2021-22
18,358 3.3%
2,552
124 23
12
159
6.2%
22
13.8%
2020.21
17,693 3.2%
116
_ 24
20.7%
2019-20
21845
'
85 31
4.1%
21,080 3.6%
2,899 1
6
1 88 8
1 33
1 135
1 4.7%
1 25
1 18.S%
1 2019.19
1 22,215 3.9%
2023 was the first year with a significant number of students living in a shelter, seemingly
offset by a 79% drop in the number of students living in doubled -up settings, a 67% drop in
the number of students living unsheltered, and a 33% drop in the numbers in a moteUhotel.
Ashland Homeless Student Living Situations
Sheltered, 63%
led -Up, 20%
HoteliMotel, 12%
(sheltered, 6%
Let me tell you about...
Seven -year -old and nine -year -old siblings ride a
half hour from a shelter in Medford to go to school
with the teachers and friends they know in
Ashland. They can't stay after school to get help
with homework or participate in activities, but they
have each other and their mom, who rides her
bike to take community college classes and work
at a local restaurant. "It's lots better than when we
lived in our car."
49
pane rill of ?ns
Deaths of People Experiencing Homelessness in Jackson County
Since 2022, when Oregon Health Authority began collecting data about homeless status at
time of death, 70 people have died while experiencing homelessness in Jackson County.
Deaths in Jackson County
50 42
40
30 21
20
10 7
0 0 _
2022 2023 2024, Q1
■ People Experiencing Homelessness
2022 Data about the twenty-one (21) people who died while experiencing homelessness in
Jackson County in 2022.
Month of death
4
3
3
2
2
O°
2
2
1
t
t
0
0
Jan
Feb
Nor
Apr
May
Jm
Jul
A4
Sep
Oct
Nnr
Dec
Race and ethnicity
White
Other and unknown, 1
Hispanic I 0
Black, 1
American Indian and Alaska Native 0
Two or more races' 0
Asian ( 0
Native Hawaiian and Pad6o Isla wrier i 0
Age
Under 18 10
18-24 I 0
2534
35-14 - 2
45.54 -
65-74 - 2
75+ _ 1
4
5
Drug Overdose
Heart Disease
Other Natural Causes
Other FJdernal Causes -
cancer -
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
■ cause of Death
Place of death
19 Hospital 11
Outside -public 6
Inside -private - 3
Outside -private - 1
Inside -outer 10
Inside -public 10
Residential Institution 10
Education
Less than high school - 4
High schoouGED 10
Some college - 2
Associate degree = 1
Bachelor's degree or higher 10
Unknown - 4
7 Sex
Male 18
Female - 3
50
Panp -.i1 of MR
2023 Preliminary data for 2023 shows forty-two (42) people died while experiencing
homelessness in Jackson County. Detailed information is not yet posted on the Oregon
Health Authority website.
2024 In the first three months of 2024 (1/1/24-3/31/24), seven people died while
experiencing homelessness in Jackson County.
Let me tell you about...
A woman in her mid -sixties, who was once a corrections
officer on the East Coast. She now lives in her van and is
applying a second time for disability since her first attempt
was denied. She's on every wait list for housing. When well
enough, she earns money by donating blood plasma twice a
week, receiving$115 each time. When she's not well and her
blood is not good enough to donate, others take care of her
until she's able to donate again. "That's how a lot of people
on the street support themselves,"she said, "along with
collecting cans."
Needs Identified through Coordinated Entry Assessments
Each CoC is required to operate a coordinated system to engage, assess, and refer people
experiencing homelessness to appropriate services. A standardized assessment is part of
this process.
The Coordinated Entry Assessments measure the level of vulnerability and service needs.
Scores indicate the need for different types of housing resources. The template below is
the type of information that can be generated. However, the CoC was not able to fulfill the
Subcommittee's data request.
Type of Service
Households Assessed
Description
__.
Needed
Diversion
One-time intervention, such as rent
payment to prevent eviction
Transitional
Short-term intervention, typically 3-12
Housing
months, with varied levels of case
management
Rapid Rehousing
Short- or medium -term intervention, 6-
(RRH)
24 months, with moderate to intensive
case management. Client lease, with the
option to continue renting after RRH.
Permanent
Medium- to long-term intervention with
Supportive
intensive support services for a minimum
Housing
of two years and typically much longer.
Total Assessments in 2023
51
Pane 5? of gns
Data Take-Aways
What the Data Says
A higher percentage of eviction cases in Jackson County result in eviction compared to
cases statewide.
Females represent a growing percentage of the people experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness is growing at a faster rate in Jackson County than in Oregon overall.
Ashland has a higher percentage of students experiencing homelessness than that in
Oregon and a higher percentage of homeless students living on their own than that in
Jackson County or Oregon.
What the Data Doesn't Say
Often the review of data leads to more questions, such as:
• How does the local data compare to the rest of the state and the nation?
• Where were people living before they became homeless?
• What are the outcomes for local services?
• What is driving the numbers, data, changes, trends?
Where is the Data?
Some data does not exist / is not kept.
Even when data exists, it is often not publicly accessible and/or it is difficult to gather.
What Do We Do with the Data?
Knowing more about the specific needs and the available resources (i.e., the number of
homeless people vs number of shelter resources) is a first step toward solutions.
Potential Actions:
• Identify the types of data the City will collect (facilities, parks, police, library, etc.).
• Make data publicly available.
• Work with the CoC to improve countywide data collection for a robust annual needs
assessment.
• Work with the CoC to increase capacity for data collection and analysis.
• Increase data collection and monitoring of City grant recipients.
• Continuously learn about what works and what doesn't - and seek to understand
why.
• Use data for decision -making.
52
pane 53 of 908
Community Perspectives
The Ashland City Council directive included instruction to gather input from community
stakeholders. Subcommittee members designed four separate questionnaires, customized
to survey the following stakeholder groups:
• Businesses
• People experiencing homelessness
• Frontline direct services staff
• General population
Marketing the Opportunities / Requesting Input
• The City distributed a media release and used the City website to highlight the
opportunity to complete two of the surveys online (the business survey and the
general population survey).
• Ashland News published an article with the information.
• The Ashland Chamber of Commerce distributed information about the opportunity
to its members.
• Subcommittee members posted information on various social media platforms.
• Emails were sent directly to homeless service providers in the Homeless Task Force.
In -Person Outreach Activities
• Tabling at the Ashland Co-op (adding 8 respondents to the 274 online responses).
• Interviewing businesses in South Ashland (adding 40 respondents to the 42 online
responses).
• Interviewing people experiencing homelessness (done by OHSU students in the
Street Nursing Team)
Number of Responses
Survey / Population
Responses
Businesses
82
People Experiencing Homelessness
48
Frontline Direct Services Staff
8
General Public
282
Total Responses
420
Note: Data gathering used convenience sampling, not random sampling, e.g. respondents self-selected
to participate.
53
Pane 54 of 208
Business Survey Findings
Business representatives were asked about the location of their business, followed by
three open-ended questions. In an effort to minimize the time demand, the questions were
quite brief and asked about:
1. Impacts of homelessness on their places of business
2. Recommendations for improvement
3. Additional comments
A total of 82 businesspeople responded. Due to targeted outreach activities, 57% of the
business survey respondents were located in south Ashland. See Appendices for complete
survey results.
Please describe the impacts your business encounters with
homelessness
While 7% of the respondents said "no impact," the remaining respondents (74 of 82)
described impacts ranging from physical environment to concerns about behaviors.
.! �- -
Camping& General unre
Wash
Public Sleepieting unsafe &
loitering
ir
h1b dw r -00
• Camping and public sleeping
• General unrest and feeling unsafe
• Trash and loitering
• Illness - mental and/or physical
• Panhandling for money and/or food
Illness - mental '"Access
to Public health &
or physical 4throorrts safety
n 011T
M MA. A J hkb
Theft &
vandalism
If %
• Access to bathrooms
• Public health and safety (for all)
• Theft and vandalism
• Obstructing sidewalks
• Entering businesses to get out of the weather
Additionally, the majority of respondents expressed care and concern about the people
who are experiencing homelessness.
54
Panp 5.9 of 908
What recommendations do you have for improvements?
Suggested actions to address identified issues focused on beautification, sanitation, law
enforcement, and providing additional services for people experiencing homelessness.
eealth
mental re� Fund services
Weed and dru� t�, Public restrooms & Increased patrols with food &
abatement trey nt services & shower access and fines by police beverage tax
hour+ng A
r
•.dw d A i
• Weed abatement
• More mental health services
• More shelter
• Increased police patrols and fines
• Fund services w/food & beverage tax
• Public restrooms & shower access
• More drug treatment services
• Affordable housing
• Job training & employment opportunities
What other comments would you like to offer?
The majority of the responses to this question echoed what was said earlier, with one
notable difference. The tone of many of the additional comments was almost that of
hopelessness or despair —for those experiencing homelessness, and for the businesses in
the south end of town.
The problem isn't "get rid of the
home less/unhoused ; the problem is how do we *actually*
help these people? Genuinely, it's a
lot, and kind of a loaded question. We have to
acknowledge we can't help everyone, but we
should strive to tryanyways. This city is important to the
homeless in the same way it's
important to the people taking this survey, it's their home.
55
Panp 5R of 9i7R
Survey of People Experiencing Homelessness
Subcommittee members worked with OHSU School of Nursing students from Southern
Oregon University to conduct a survey of 48 people experiencing homelessness in Ashland
during the month of May 2024. The survey consisted of both open-ended questions and
detailed lists to elicit the widest possible range of responses.
Not surprisingly, housing needs emerged as the predominant theme, with respondents
highlighting:
1. Lack of shelter options, including temporary and extreme weather shelters
2. OHRA waitlist protocol challenging / too long
3. Lack of housing options for couples and families
Top 3 things deemed unhelpful:
1. Police -having possessions taken and difficult to retrieve, fines, harassment, etc.
2. OHRA Shelter - difficult to get in, lack of independence with a curfew and no TVs in
rooms, structural/building issues, and poor water quality
3. Lack of Storage / Theft - of their unsecured belongings
Several other responses were mentioned more than once, including:
o Lack of public restrooms
o Lack of medical care / resources
o Lack of spaces for individuals to sleep in their cars
o Safety issues on the night lawn
o Being kicked out of housing or shelters
o Stigma against people who are experiencing homelessness
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
What is Unhelpful?
Lack of storage / theft OHRA Shelter Police
56
Pane 57 of 9nA
Top 3 available resources deemed most valuable:
1. Showers
2. Laundry
3. Community meals
Several other valuable resources were
mentioned, including bathrooms; food
pantry; access to water, charging, and Wi-Fi;
healthcare, OHRA resource navigators, the
extreme weather shelter, and more.
What resources have been valuable to you?
Respondents Said
Resource
it was Valuable
Showers
41
Laundry
35
Community Meals
34
Bathrooms
27
OH RA Shelter
23
Food Pantry
22
Access to Water
21
Healthcare/Mental Healthcare
21
OHRA Resource Center/Navigators
18
Extreme Weather Shelter
18
Access to Charging
15
Housing
14
Kindness of Townspeople
14
Access to WiFi
12
(Storage
11
Housing Options
People were asked to select the three housing options they would like to see in Ashland.
Pick 3 housing options you would like to see in Ashland
Vouchers for motel rooms 27
Year-round 24 hour shelter available regardless of sobriety 25
Urban campground with supervision for safety and access to services 24
Permanent location for tent camping 22
Tiny home/Pallet shelters 21
More parking sites with access to water and sanitation for persons living in vehicles 21
"Sober" year-round 24 hour shelter 19
Supportive housing 18
57
Pane 5R of ?nR
Other than housing, what would be most valuable?
More public restrooms topped the list of what would be most valuable to people
experiencing homelessness, followed closely by storage for belongings, more shower and
laundry facilities, and a drop -in day shelter or community room.
What would be most valuable?
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
.GAS \moo°
�aJ �Ge J`�° e rG ova°c� �5�t� °a��c` aos4o JQ� aJG
Qo 0c5� p� O o`b �yQ
tiar
Of the following resources, what 3 would be the most valuable to you
(what would be the best way the city could help you)?
More public restrooms
19
Lockers/storage
18
More shower and laundry facilities
17
Drop -in day shelter/community room
17
More outreach on the street
14
24-hr weather shelter during extreme cold/heat or smoke events
14
Transportation passes/bus tokens
12
Community mental health facilities
8
Pet -sitting services for emergencies
7
Addictions treatment facilities and programs
6
More case managers and resource navigators
5
clean supplies for safe use etc
3
Harm reduction services: needle exchange
3
58
Pang 59 of ?()R
Frontline Direct Service Staff Survey
The Subcommittee reached out to 20 direct service providers and received eight responses
to gather perspectives from staff working directlywith people experiencing homelessness.
Responses generally mirror the service providers' SWOT analysis and offer some insight
into how frontline staff define the strengths and challenges they face in their work.
What do you do and where do you do it?
Throughout
the county
In
Medford
In
Ashland
Total
Street Outreach
1
1
0
2
Support Service (resource navigation, education, healthcare)
4
1
2
7
Peer Support (walking alongside / whatever it takes)
2
1
2
5
Supplemental Services (providing meals, clothes, bus pass)
3
1
4
8
Program intake and/orCE Assessment
2
0
1
3
Emergency Shelter
1
0
1
2
Transitional Housing
2
0
1
3
Rapid Rehousing
1
0
0
1
Permanent Supportive Housing
2
0
0
2
Affordable Housing
2
0
1
3
What would make your work more successful?
Six of the eight respondents (75%) indicated that more
system integration and coordination between agencies
would enhance their success. See Appendices for
complete survey results.
What would make your work more successful?
s
5
4
3
2
1 1 1 ■ ■
0
More System More Skill Building Workload
Resources Integration / Information Management
Coordination
Other
59
PanP Rf) of qnR
Examples of the types of resources and information that would make frontline staff more
successful:
More resources, such as:
More information about things, such as:
o
More grant funds
o Available funds for housing and utilities
o
Childcare resources
assistance
o
Car repair/financial help
o Who has funding and how to access it
o
Mental health supports
o Permanent housing
o
Co-occurring treatment centers
o Childcare
o
Secure/safe mental health housing
o How to engage clients
o
Low barrier shelters
o Pathways for systems change around
o
Assess to treatment beds
mental health needs
o
Same day access to medication
assisted treatment and primary care
providers
What action could the City of Ashland take that would be more helpful to
your work?
• Provide a year-round safe place for shelter and navigation.
• Provide space for an urban rest stop / day center where homeless people can gather
and meet with social service agency members, wash clothes, shower, and eat.
• Extend the ALIEAP utility assistance program to operate year around for low-income
persons and families of any age and condition (not just seniors or the disabled).
• Exempt low-income families from the approximately $100 in fees that appear on
each utility bill before a tap is turned on or a light switch is flipped.
• Make zoning changes to facilitate innovation around service provision.
• Provide consistent places and rules for unhoused individuals to perform daily tasks
of living (eating, sleeping, using restrooms).
• Sheltering options with targeted case management and access to a continuum of
housing services and treatment.
.I
Pane 61 of 2ns
General Population Survey
Atotal of 282 people responded to the community survey. Nearly everyone answered all
fifteen questions; a few people skipped one or two questions.
The data provides a snapshot of the complexity of public sentiment regarding
homelessness and strategies to address the issues.
Characteristics of Survey Respondents
Survey respondents identified as mostly older (52% were age 55+), white (72%), residing in
Ashland (96%), and without children in their homes (73%).
Respondents' Experiences with Homelessness & Housing Insecurity
40%
35%
30%
25%
,9Marti
26%
20% 17% 18%
16%
15%
10%
5%
Orb
Personal Experience Know Someone Know Someone Know Someone Know Someone
with Homelessness Temporarily Living Living in a Vehicle Living in a Tent Living at a Shelter
with Family/Friends
0 17% of respondents had personal experience with homelessness.
• 16% to 36% of respondents knew someone living in one of the listed settings.
o At a shelter, 16%
o In a tent, 18%
o Ina vehicle, 26%
o With family/friends, 36%
61
Pang 69 of 908
How important is it to address the following aspects of homelessness in
Ashland?
80%
70% 68%
59% 60%
60%
52%
49%
50% 44%
40%
30% 27 27 27 26
22 21
20%
10%
Cost to taxpayers Impact on local Impact on Access to public Health and welt- Public safety
businsesses tourism restrooms being of people
experiencing
homelessness
■ Not Important ■ Slightly Important ■ Important ■ Very Important
Responses indicate that each item was more important than not, with public safety
garnering the highest percentage of "very important" responses (68%).
Combining "important" and "very important" responses resulted in the following:
Aspect to be Considered
Important or
Very Important
Public safety
94%
Access to public restrooms
86%
Health & well-being of people experiencing homelessness
81 %
Impact on local businesses
79%
Impact on tourism
71 %
Cost to taxpayers
71 %
62
Pane FR of qnR
Where do you see or encounter people experiencing homelessness in
Ashland?
A total of 250 people answered this question. A sample of the responses are provided
below. See Appendices for complete survey results.
• Downtown
• At the severe weather shelter, waiting to access the Night Lawn, walking along
sidewalks, outside of grocery stores, at the south 1-5 exit into Ashland
• In every area of town
• Outside the co-op, also Main St where the tents are, or just walking with their few
belongings
• Around the plaza on Main St., in front of the Chamber of Commerce, and on the
slopes of Lithia Park
• Everywhere
• On the bus, by the Co-op, near Bi-mart, bythe police station, at the library, by
Safeway
• Everywhere- walking, sitting on curb, parks, shelter, grocery store, in their cars on
the street where I live
• At church, on sidewalks, in front of stores
The visibility of homelessness varies within the Ashland community, as do the ways in
which members of the public interact with people they perceive to be experiencing
homelessness.
• Nearly all respondents (98%) notice or see people who appear to be homeless at
least monthly and 85% do so daily
• Most respondents (84%) said they at least make eye contact
• 54% reported having conversations with someone experiencing homelessness
Less frequent was providing food, giving money, donating items to homeless -serving
groups or volunteering with such organizations.
■ More than half of respondents (55%) indicated that they never give money
directly to someone perceived as homeless
■ 66% stated that they never volunteer with organizations serving homeless
people.
63
Panes 64 of ?ns
How much do you agree with the following statements?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Services are adequate Services should be reduced Services should be expanded
STRONGLY
DISAGREE
NEITHER AGREE
AGREE
STRONGLY
TOTAL
DISAGREE
OR DISAGREE
AGREE
Services to homeless people in Ashland
32.36%
28.73%
18.91%
8.73%
11.27%
are adequate to meet the need
89
79
52
24
31
275
Services to homeless people in Ashland
47.25%
14.65%
17.22%
8.79%
12.09%
should be reduced
129
40
47
24
33
273
Services to homeless people in Ashland
16.25%
11.19%
14.44%
21.664b
36.46%
should be expanded
45
31
40
60
101
277
Additional comments were added by 170 respondents. The Subcommittee analyzed these
comments and found the following themes:
• A call for enhanced policing and criminal penalties for drug use, vandalism,
disorderly conduct.
• The need for more diverse shelter and housing options, including shelters for
families with children, a walk-in day shelter, safe parking sites, supported housing.
• The need for expanded access to showers, daily meal sites, places to store
possessions, public restrooms.
• The need for childcare for working parents, mental health crisis support, and access
to treatment programs.
Also mentioned was a need for better coordination in providing services and seeking
funding involving all the programs that support people experiencing homelessness.
Some respondents focused specifically on the current "Night Lawn." They called for ending
the prohibited camping ordinance or for providing better supervised and regulated urban
campgrounds.
64
Panes 65 of 9OR
Where do you think funding for homeless services should come from
(rank 1-6)?
6
4.91
5 4.69
4
3
2
1
0
1091.1
3.14
2.58
2.32
Federal State County Charitable City Community
Foundations Donations
People were asked to rank the possible funding options 1-6. The higher the number, the
more that funding source should be used.
In this forced ranking, federal, state, and county funding, as well as charitable foundations
were prioritized ahead of city dollars or community donations as the sources for funding
homeless services.
Possible Funding Source
6
5
4
3
2
1
Total
Score
Federal goverment programs/grants
48.86%
17.80%
15.91%
14.02%
0.009b
3.41%
129
47
42
37
0
9
264
4.91
state government programs/grants
21.59%
47.35%
14.02%
13.26%
3.03%
0.76%
57
125
37
35
8
2
264
4.69
County budget (taxes/general fund)
2.27%
9.47%
42.80%
16.29%
25.76%
3.41%
6
25
113
43
68
9
264
3.36
Gty budget (taxes/general fund)
7.50%
4.17%
9.85%
31.44%
10.61%
36.36%
20
11
26
83
28
96
264
2.58
Charitable foundations grants/giving programs
12.12%
9.85%
12.50%
15.53%
45.45%
4.55%
32
26
33
41
120
12
264
3.14
Community giving/philanthropists/donations
7.58%
11.36%
4.92%
9.47%
15.15%
51.524b
20
30
13
25
40
136
264
2.32
65
Pan . 66 of 9OR
What rote(s) do you think Ashland city government should play in
addressing homelessness?
Respondents could choose multiple answers.
800/
71% 71%
70% 66%
63%
60%
50% 46%
40%
32%
30%
20%
10% 8%
0% •
2r`ao 4z` GoJ�
oc� aca �co cQc�5`cP
r $ 5°c
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e5 Ka �a
o c 5 0 c
aaat0 coca
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aQ`°may °��
ti
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0�\ 0 `ac
NO
The roles that the vast majority of respondents (71 %) felt belonged to City government were
to 1) secure grant funds and 2) participate in regional/countywide planning to address
homelessness.
Sixty-six percent of respondents (66%) wanted to see the City collect data/monitor efforts
to address homelessness in Ashland, and 61 % stated that City government should lead
plans to address homelessness in Ashland.
Pane 67 of 908
Fifty-three (53) respondents wrote additional comments on this question, which included
suggestions ranging from more law enforcement to more social and public health services.
A final open-ended question asked for additional ideas and other actions Ashland's city
government could take. Responses reflected the following:
Law enforcement
Social service/public health
Prioritize residents'
Services:
public safety
Support services ratherthan criminalization or policing approaches
Safe use sites
Discourage homeless
Public bathrooms, hygiene facilities
peoples' use of public
More support for non-profit service organizations and groups
facilities (e.g. the
More access to medicaVmental health facilities, including
library)
rehab/substance treatment, "trauma informed"
Provide storage for personal property
Ban/issue citations for
Create a community kitchen
panhandling,
Assist people with getting employment
loitering
Shelters:
Ban "safe use" sites Support for"housing first," low barrier shelters, with wrap -around
services, resource navigation
Require participation in More shelters, day centers, drop -in facilities, Pallet shelters, pods with
services, when doors
available Re -open 24/7 shelter and improve the weather shelter
Compulsory treatment I Camping:
Reorganize camping, "Night Lawn"
Require homeless
Create permitted camping areas
people to do
community work or
Housing:
leave town
Support more affordable housing, e.g. accessory dwelling units, rent
control, stringent enforcement of Fair Housing laws
Require
treatment/sobriety
Other:
before receiving
Community outreach to educate citizens about lived experience of
housing
homelessness
Open Ashland's public buildings
Engage the faith community
Empower homeless people, encourage autonomy, self-reliance
Respondents who were in support of the City providing services wanted the services to be
regionally coordinated. They suggested more inter -jurisdictional cooperation to provide
services countywide.
Respondents also stated that programs should be evaluated for effectiveness and efficient
use of public/taxpayer funds. Learning from other cities that have had some success was
recommended, e.g. "best practices" to inform decisions.
67
Pane 68 of ?nR
Conflicted Community Feelings
Respondents were offered the opportunity to add comments throughout the survey.
Overall, these comments were emblematic of a dichotomy that has long existed around
issues of poverty throughout the United States: Are situations reflective of individual
actions or collective social conditions?
The respondents' perspectives were characterized by two broad themes:
• Homeless people chose a "homeless lifestyle," refused to try to achieve sobriety, to
work, were "voluntarily homeless"
• Homelessness was a result of social system failures, such as lack of affordable
housing, failed medical systems, other factors that led to "involuntary homelessness"
The themes were reflected in comments that expressed respondents' emotional
perspectives, summarized in the table below.
Perspectives
• Anger toward the voluntary homeless
• Viewing involuntary homelessness as
who refuse to work or change
common
• Fear of encountering homeless people
• Concerns for the physical and mental
• Feeling "sick" of homelessness,
health of homeless people
seeing homeless people
• Dehumanizing homeless people was a
• Not responsible to take care of
problem
transient/traveling/migrant homeless
• Responsibility for the community to
who are not locals
care for "our own" homeless
• Thinking of moving somewhere else
• Sympathy for homeless people feeling
• City response ineffective
invisible, marginalized, hated
m
pane 69 of qns
Who We Didn't Hear From
Ashland School District
INSPIRING LEARNING FOR LIFE
$I* Southern OREGON
U UNIVERSITY
The Subcommittee had originally hoped to conduct
two additional surveys.
One with K-12 school staff to understand how issues
of homelessness impacted their work and what
actions would be helpful.
And the other with students at Southern Oregon
University.
Looking at the demographics of people who
responded to the general population survey, it
seems that families with children in their
household were under -represented,
as were people under the age of 55 years old
F]
A At 11% * M 1
"40#19"64
Ike M� fH rh MFtif
M t N Cif �# k14,�t1
Feedback also noted that a survey of people who were now rehoused after having
experienced homelessness could have provided useful information.
.•
Pane 7n of 2ns
Community Perspectives Take-Aways
Perspectives from the Business Community (pages 52-54)
• A wide range of concerns -about their business, the community, and the people
experiencing homelessness
• Balance the location of homeless services (in Ashland and in the county)
• Increase police patrols
• Increase mental health and treatment services
• Provide for basic needs, job training, and employment opportunities
Perspectives from People Experiencing Homelessness (pages 55-57)
• A call for resources to meet basic needs (restrooms, showers, laundry, water)
• Phone charging stations and Wi-Fi
• Need case managers/navigators and street outreach to help connect to services
Perspectives from Frontline Staff (pages 58-59)
• A call for more coordination
• Need more resources and information
• Want more training / professional development
Perspectives from the General Community (pages 60-67)
• Differing viewpoints on who to help and what, if anything, will be effective
• Want City involved in regional and local planning and coordination
• Want City to secure grant funds
• Funding should come from federal, state, and county resources more than city funding
• Concerned about public safety -for all
• Concerned about the health & well-being of people experiencing homelessness
• Need for additional services to help people experiencing homelessness get out of
homelessness (real help and not handouts)
• Call for accountability -effective services, data, outcomes
So many bad things and appalling horrific-ness happens
every day. And good things also happen daily, even
though theyget less publicity. Neither the good nor the
bad negates the other. And angels also walk among us.
70
Pane 71 of 908
Regional Coordination
Oregon has eight organizations responsible for regional coordination of a Homeless
Services System. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) refers to
each of these organizations as a "Continuum of Care (CoC)." CoC: Continuum of Care
Program - HUD Exchange
A Continuum of Care (CoC) is the local HUD -recognized planning body designed to
promote communitywide planning and strategic use of resources to address
homelessness by improving coordination and integration with mainstream resources.
A CoC is expected to address homelessness through a coordinated community -based
process of identifying needs and building a system of housing and services that meet those
needs. Every CoC is required to:
• Complete an Annual Needs Assessment / Gaps Analysis
• Compile and submit the Annual Consolidated Application
• Operate a Homeless Management Information System
• Operate a Coordinated Entry System
• Complete an annual Sheltered Point in Time (PIT Count) and Housing
Inventory Count (Unsheltered PIT Count is required bi-annually)
• Submit reports to HUD (e.g., PIT Count, Housing Inventory Count, System
Performance Measures)
City of Ashland
City of Medford - Crossings
ACCESS
Columbia Care
Community Works
Family Nurturing Center Jackson County
Hearts with a Mission
Housing Authority of Jackson County
Jackson County Mental Health
Jackson County Resource Center
Magdalene House
Medford Gospel Mission
OnTrack
Opportunities for Housing, Resources and
Assistance
Resolve Center for Dispute Resolution and
Restorative Justice
Rogue Retreat
Rogue Valley Council of Government
St. Vincent De Paul
The Arc Jackson County
The Salvation Army
U N ETE
Maslow Project
VA White City
71
Pane 79 of 9nR
Needs Assessment / Gaps Analysis
The Jackson County Continuum of Care (CoC) is currently conducting a countywide needs
assessment (gaps analysis). This assessment will be used in system -level planning to
address issues of homelessness throughout the county, as well as prioritize the use of
local, state, and federal funding.
Community Planning
The Jackson County CoC is the body responsible for undertaking community planning and
coordinating the homelessness response system across the region/county. HUD provides
an extensive set of tools, guidance, and best practices to support the work of local CoCs.
Cross -system planning is particularly important, as individuals and families are affected by
a number of systemic issues. As an example, the chart below shows just one section of
HUD's online resources. For more information, visit:
https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/strategic-priorities/
Key Issues Affecting Person Experiencing Homelessness
Chronic Homelessness
Decriminalizing
Disaster Preparedness,
Disease Risk & COVID
Homelessness
Response, & Recovery
Domestic Violence
Employment
Housing & Healthcare
Human Trafficking
Coordination
Multifamily Housing
Homeless Preference
Racial Equity
Rural Homelessness
In its 2023 Consolidated Application, the Jackson County CoC stated that it actively
coordinates with the following systems of care to ensure persons who have resided in them
longer than 90 days are not discharged directly to the streets, emergency shelters, or other
homeless assistance programs:
• Foster Care
• Health Care
• Mental Health Care
• Correctional Facilities
72
Pane 73 of 9nR
Coordinated Entry System
• Coordinated Entry is a consistent, communitywide intake process to match people
who are experiencing homelessness to existing community resources that are the
best fit for their situation. It is a streamlined system that provides quick access for
individuals and families seeking assistance through a coordinated referral and
housing placement process.
• Households are assessed using a standard and objective assessment tool that
identifies their vulnerability and barriers to housing.
• Those who are assessed as having the highest vulnerability and housing barriers are
prioritized for access to available housing programs as vacancies occur.
Homeless Management Information System
• The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is an internet-based client
data management system that helps coordinate, manage, and document services
for people who are experiencing homelessness or struggling with a housing crisis.
• Data collected in HMIS is utilized by homeless service providers and federal and
local governments to identify gaps in housing and services and to inform effective
planning. ACCESS is the HMIS lead for the Jackson County CoC.
• Jackson County has 12 agencies entering information into the HMIS system.
Data Reporting
• Annually, the CoC Systems Performance Measures are sent to HUD, which uses this
data to evaluate the results of HUD investments and the CoC's homeless
assistance system's performance.
• HUD places particular emphasis on three of the measures:
• Length of homeless episode
• Successful placement in housing
• Housing retention (not returning to homelessness)
• The System Performance Measures data is used to drive CoC planning and
evaluation.
Program Monitoring
The Jackson County CoC is responsible for monitoring programs funded with HUD CoC
funding as well as any additional funding provided through state or local sources granted
through the CoC. In turn, the Jackson County CoC is subject to monitoring by funding
agencies such as the HUD, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Jackson County, and
the cities of Medford and Ashland.
73
Pane 74 of 9nA
SWOT Analysis
The following chart provides a preliminary and high-level perspective of the collective
efforts of partners engaged in the local CoC system. This list of strengths, weakness,
opportunities, and threats (SWOT) has not been vetted through the CoC but is informed by
Ashland's representatives to the CoC.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
•
Regional entity/
•
Data collections
• New and
• Expectations
provider commitment
systems are deficient
reconstituted
around regional
to CoC process
•
Coordinated Entry
committees with
collaboration are
•
Strong community
system is not being
designated
not well defined
support for the work
well -utilized
leadership
• Few natural
of the CoC
•
HMIS is underutilized
• HUD Technical
incentives for
•
Some political
and data quality is not
Assistance
service
support for the CoC
monitored or
• Potential
coordination due to
•
COC is
maintained
continuation of
competition among
institutionalized in the
•
Minimal use of tools
State funding for
service providers
community in the
for outcome reporting,
outreach, shelters,
• Lack of a strategic
form of the Homeless
program efficacy,
rapid rehousing,
plan to guide CoC
Task Force
longitudinal tracking of
and long-term rent
funding and
•
Additional short-term
populations served
assistance
intervention
funding from the State
•
Lack of resources to
• State data
strategies
to support the
shore -up or expand
• Greater
• Lack of community
administration of the
service provider
communication
education about
COC.
capacity
between providers
what the CoC
•
Recent reorganization
•
Service coordination is
• Greater alignment
should be and what
is helping to address
lacking
between local
it should be doing
shortfalls in the
•
Little to no
governments and
• Need data to drive
system
accountability of
systems
strategic planning
•
Has the potential for
service providers,
• New needs
process
good data collection
activities, or grant
assessment/ gaps
• Lacking a strong
and outcome
funds
analysis being
convener
reporting
•
Very few service
done, which could
• Need capacity
•
Increase in shelter
providers serving
be used in strategic
building resources
beds
minority and special
planning
for small
populations
organizations
•
Need better
serving special
geographic
populations
distribution of services
74
Pant- 75 of 9nR
Regional Coordination Take-Aways
• Service coordination is lacking
• The Coordinated Entry System is not
being welt -utilized
• HMIS is underutilized and data quality is
not monitored or maintained
• Recent CoC reorganization is helping to
address shortfalls in the system
• A needs assessment / gaps analysis is
being completed, which is intended to
be used in strategic planning
CONTINUUM of CARE
Working together to end homelessness
Potential Actions:
• Increase City of Ashland participation in the Jackson County CoC, particularly in
relationship to regional planning and coordination
• Educate City staff on the roles, responsibilities, and activities of the CoC
• Encourage and/or facilitate greater communication between service providers
• Require/incentivize City grant recipients to participate in Coordinated Entry and
HMIS, as applicable
• Request and analyze CoC data, particularly as it relates to and affects Ashland
75
Pane 76 of gas
Take-Aways (compiled)
Previous chapters include Take-Aways sections, which are compiled here. The potential
actions are highlighted in the Actions Summary on pages 12-13.
Funding Streams Take Aways
Government Funding
The vast majority of funding for homeless services comes from government sources.
It is the major players, such as ACCESS and OHRA that get most of their funding from
government grants.
Potential Actions:
• Maximize government funds for local and regional services. Grants / grant writing /
coordination — to support staffing and expanded capacity for support services,
outreach, etc.
• Seek funding solutions from existing funding entities / engage in advocacy / activate
a State legislative agenda
Community (non -governmental) Funding
Nearly every non-profit organization depends on fundraising, with 71 % reporting that they
receive funds from individual donors. Organizations are essentially competing for the same
donor resources.
Preliminary research identified a practice in Chico, CA where people can contribute to a
central fund to help address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Potential Action:
• Create an online portal for donor -designated contributions.
76
Paop 77 of qnR
Services Inventory & SWOT Analysis Take Aways
The "Weaknesses" and "Opportunities" sections of the SWOT analysis are commonly two
sides of the same coin. For example:
Weakness Opportunity
Services don't meetindividual's needs. 78 24-year-olds need more services.
Supportive Services
The most abundant resources for people experiencing homelessness in Ashland are free
meals. Multiple community groups comprised of dozens of volunteers provide thousands
of home cooked meals to people in need. The settings vary from parks to churches and
non-profit locations, the Night Lawn, and the Extreme Weather Shelter.
Potential Actions: There is a great opportunity for additional supportive services
• Storage for personal belongings
• Public bathrooms
• Access to water
• Public gathering places
• Community health workers
• Electronics charging areas and Wi-Fi
• Hygiene supplies
• Showers / Laundry
• Meals
• Gas and transportation vouchers
• Gym memberships
Opportunities
• More services -
geriatric
• Create shared
standards of care
• More outreach
• Longterm programs
• Recruit/provide
opportunities for
younger workforce
• Community
education
Street Outreach
Opportunities
• Grants
• Community
• Variety of partners
• Building
partnerships
• Collaboration
• Build infrastructure
Street outreach is regarded as a critical component for
successful transition from homelessness to
housing. (footnote) It can also provide much -needed triage
for health and safety concerns.
Potential Actions:
• Housing -focused Street Outreach
• Outreach that meets the needs of the older population
• An outreach "hotline" anyone can call when concerned
77
Pan- 78 of 9OR
Residential Needs - from Shelter to Housing
With an estimated 230-320 people experiencing homelessness in Ashland, there are only
117 beds (occupied).
Potential Actions:
• Incentivize development of housing that is affordable.
• Support more Affordable Housing (subsidized, regulated, low -rent units).
• Advocate for more Permanent Supportive Housing (for those with disabilities).
• Create access in Ashland to Rapid Rehousing (12-24 months of financial assistance
and case management).
• Explore the need for more Transitional Housing.
• Expand Emergency Shelter (immediate access, ideally with supportive services and
housing -focused case management).
• Establish Medical Respite beds (step down housing after hospitalization/treatment).
Emergency Shelter / Transitional Housing < ---------> Rapid Rehousing / Supportive Housing
Opportunities
• Volunteer, partners,
food bank
• More state funding —
homeless and fire
• Education tuition
reimbursement
• Promote/hiring new
staff
Opportunities
• Continuous improvement,
education, and
development for staff
• Improve coordinated entry
system
• Increased actions to
improve transportation
• Build more capacity in
smaller organizations
• Standardize definitions of
"wrap around" services
• 18-24-year-olds need more
services
N=3
Pane 7P of ?ns
Data Take-Aways
What the Data Says
A higher percentage of eviction cases in Jackson County result in eviction compared to
cases statewide.
Females represent a growing percentage of the people experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness is growing at a faster rate in Jackson County than in Oregon overall.
Ashland has a higher percentage of students experiencing homelessness than that in
Oregon and a higher percentage of homeless students living on their own than that in
Jackson County or Oregon.
What the Data Doesn't Say
Often the review of data leads to more questions, such as:
• How does the local data compare to the rest of the state and the nation?
• Where were people living before they became homeless?
• What are the outcomes for local services?
• What is driving the numbers, data, changes, trends?
Where is the Data?
Some data does not exist / is not kept.
Even when data exists, it is often not publicly accessible and/or it is difficult to gather.
What Do We Do with the Data?
Knowing more about the specific needs and the available resources (i.e., the number of
homeless people vs number of shelter resources) is a first step toward solutions.
Potential Actions:
• Identify the types of data the City will collect (facilities, parks, police, library, etc.).
• Make data publicly available.
• Work with the CoC to improve countywide data collection for a robust annual needs
assessment.
• Work with the CoC to increase capacity for data collection and analysis.
• Increase data collection and monitoring of City grant recipients.
• Continuously learn about what works and what doesn't - and seek to understand
why.
• Use data for decision -making.
79
Pane An of ?nR
Community Perspectives Take-Aways
Perspectives from the Business Community (pages 52-54)
• A wide range of concerns — about their business, the community, and the people
experiencing homelessness
• Balance the location of homeless services (in Ashland and in the county)
• Increase police patrols
• Increase mental health and treatment services
• Provide for basic needs, job training, and employment opportunities
Perspectives from People Experiencing Homelessness (pages 55-57)
• A call for resources to meet basic needs (restrooms, showers, laundry, water)
• Phone charging stations and Wi-Fi
• Need case managers/navigators and street outreach to help connect to services
Perspectives from Frontline Staff (pages 58-59)
• A call for more coordination
• Need more resources and information
• Want more training / professional development
Perspectives from the General Community (pages 60-67)
• Differing viewpoints on who to help and what, if anything, will be effective
• Want City involved in regional and local planning and coordination
• Want City to secure grant funds
• Funding should come from federal, state, and county resources more than city funding
• Concerned about public safety — for all
• Concerned about the health & well-being of people experiencing homelessness
• Need for additional services to help people experiencing homelessness get out of
homelessness (real help and not handouts)
• Call for accountability — effective services, data, outcomes
MM
Panes Al of qnR
Regional Coordination Take-Aways
• Service coordination is lacking
• The Coordinated Entry System is not
being well -utilized
• HMIS is underutilized and data quality is
not monitored or maintained
• Recent CoC reorganization is helping to
address shortfalls in the system
• A needs assessment / gaps analysis is
being completed, which is intended to
be used in strategic planning
■■
H
.
CONTINUUM of CARE
Working together to end homelessness
Potential Actions:
JACKSON COUNTY
OREGON
.
r
per,.
71 r �I
f
• Increase City of Ashland participation in the Jackson County CoC, particularly in
relationship to regional planning and coordination
• Educate City staff on the roles, responsibilities, and activities of the CoC
• Encourage and/or facilitate greater communication between service providers
• Require/incentivize City grant recipients to participate in Coordinated Entry and
HMIS, as applicable
• Request and analyze CoC data, particularly as it relates to and affects Ashland
81
PanP sq of qns
Appendices Table of Contents
a. GLOSSARY
• Definitions
• Acronyms
b. ADDITIONAL DATA
• Eviction Profiles
• Evictions in Jackson County
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Criminalization of Homelessness
• Impacts of Child/Youth Homelessness
c. CONTINUUM OF CARE
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Jackson County CoC
d. FUNDING
• Ashland Distribution of Grants
• Governor's Emergency Order Funding
e. SERVICES INVENTORY
• Inventory Questionnaire
• Service Information
f. SURVEYS RESULTS
• Businesses
• Frontline Staff
• General Public
g. PROCESS NOTES
• Process to Recruit and Appoint Subcommittee Members
• Subcommittee Operations
h. LEARNINGS
• Subcommittee Charge
• Services Inventory
• Data
• Community Input
Page 83
Page 91
Page 94
Page 95
Page 98
Page 106
Page 179
Page 180
82
Pant- Ri of qnR
Glossary
Definitions
The HUD final rule on the Definition of Homeless establishes four categories under
which an individual or family may qualify as homeless.
• Category 1: Literally homeless individuals/families: Individuals and families who
lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which includes one of the
following:
o Place not meant for human habitation
o Living in a shelter (Emergency shelter, hotet/motel paid by government or
charitable organization)
o Exiting an institution (where they resided for 90 days or less AND were
residing in emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation
immediately before entering institution)
• Category 2: Individuals/families who will imminently (within 14 days) lose their
primary nighttime residence, which includes ALL of the following:
o Have no subsequent residence identified AND
o Lack the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent
housing
• Category 3: Unaccompanied youth (under 25 years of age) or families with
children/youth who meet the homeless definition under another federal statute and
includes ALL of the following:
o Have not had lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in
permanent housing at any time during last 60 days
o Have experienced two or more moves during last 60 days
o Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time
because of chronic disabilities, OR chronic physical health or mental health
conditions, OR substance addiction, OR histories of domestic violence or
childhood abuse (including neglect) OR presence of a child or youth with a
disability, OR two or more barriers to employment
• Category 4: Individuals/families fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence,
dating violence, violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life -
threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or family
member and includes ALL of the following:
o have no identified residence, resources or support networks
o Lack the resources and support networks needed to obtain other permanent
housing
83
Pans 84 nf gns
Chronic Homelessness (HUD definition)
An unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been
continuously homeless for a year or more OR has had at Least four (4) episodes of
homelessness* in the past three (3) years. Families meet the definition of being chronically
homeless based on the status of the head of the household.
To be considered chronically homeless, people must have been sleeping in a place not
meant for human habitation (e.g., living on the streets) and/or in emergency shelter during
that time
ELM
Have a disabling condition, defined as follows: A diagnosable substance use disorder,
serious mental illness, developmental disability, or chronic physical illness or disability,
including the co -occurrence of two or more of these conditions. A disabling condition
limits an individual's ability to work or perform one or more activities of daily living.
*A separate, distinct, and sustained stay on the streets and/or in an emergency homeless
shelter.
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as individuals who Lack a
fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition also includes "Children
and youth who are sharing the housing of other people due to loss of housing, economic
hardship, or a similar reason." This definition is used by the U.S. Department of Education,
Oregon Department of Education, and local school districts.
HUD'S Public Housing Program -Public housing was established to provide decent and
safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and people with
disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family
houses to high rise apartments for elderly families. The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that
manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes
technical and professional assistance in planning, developing, and managing these
developments.
Public Housing Authority (HA) -An HA is responsible for the management and operation of
its local public housing program. They may also operate other types of housing programs.
• On -going functions:
o Assure compliance with leases. The lease must be signed by both parties;
o Set other charges (e.g., security deposit, excess utility consumption, and
damages to unit);
84
Panp s..9 of gnR
o Perform periodic reexaminations of the family's income at least once every
12 months;
o Transfer families from one unit to another, in order to correct over/under
crowding, repair or renovate a dwelling, or because of a resident's request to
be transferred;
o Terminate leases when necessary; and
o maintain the development in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition.
• Sometimes HAs provide other services, that might include such things as:
homeownership opportunities for qualified families; employment training
opportunities, and other special training and employment programs for residents;
and support programs for the elderly.
Housing First Model -A Housing first approach rests on two central premises: 1) Re-
housing should be the central goal of our work with people experiencing homelessness;
and 2) Providing housing assistance and follow-up case management services after a
family or individual is housed can significantly reduce the amount of time people spend in
homelessness. Case management ensures individuals and families have a source of
income through employment and /or public benefits, identifies service needs before the
move into permanent housing, and works with families or adults after the move into
permanent housing to help solve problems that may arise that threaten their tenancy
including difficulties sustaining housing or interacting with the landlord and to connect
families with community -based services to meet long term support/service needs.
Types of Housing
Emergency Shelter
(ES)
Transitional Housing (TH)
Rapid Re -housing
(RRH)
Permanent
Supportive Housing
(PSH)
Any facility, the
A project that has as its
An intervention,
An intervention that
primary purpose of
purpose facilitating the
informed by a
combines affordable
which is to provide
movement of homeless
Housing First
housing assistance
temporary or
individuals and families to
approach, is a
with voluntary
transitional shelter
permanent housing within
critical part of a
support services to
for the homeless in
a reasonable amount of
community's
address the needs of
general or for
time (usually24 months).
effective homeless
chronically homeless
specific populations
Transitional housing
crisis response
people. It pairs
of the homeless.
includes housing primarily
system. It may
housing with case
designed to serve
include the use of
management and
deinstitutionalized
time -limited
supportive services.
homeless individuals and
financial assistance
other homeless individuals
and targeted
with mental or physical
supportive services.
disabilities and homeless
families with children.
85
Pane RR of qns
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: In general, housing for which the occupant(s) is/are paying no
more than 30 percent of his or her income for gross housing costs, including utilities.
Please note that some jurisdictions may define affordable housing based on other, locally
determined criteria, and that this definition is intended solely as an approximate guideline
or general rule of thumb.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (CDBG): Created under the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, this program provides grant funds to
local and state governments to develop viable urban communities by providing decent
housing with a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities to assist
Low- and moderate -income residents. CDBG replaced several categorical grant programs,
such as the Model Cities program, the Urban Renewal program, and the Housing
Rehabilitation Loan and Grant program.
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT (CPD): HUD's Office of Community
Planning and Development seeks to develop viable communities by promoting integrated
approaches that provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expand
economic opportunities for low- and moderate -income people. The primary means toward
this end is the development of partnerships among all levels of government and the private
sector, including for -profit and nonprofit organizations.
CONSOLIDATED PLAN: A document written by a state or local government describing the
housing needs of the low- and moderate -income residents, outlining strategies to meet
these needs, and listing all resources available to implement the strategies. This document
is required in order to receive HUD Community Planning and Development funds.
EMERGENCY SHELTER any facility, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary
or transitional shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of the
homeless.
EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (ESG) PROGRAM: A federal CPD program grant
designed to help improve the quality of existing emergency shelters for the homeless, to
make additional shelters available, to meet the costs of operating shelters, to provide
essential social services to homeless individuals, and to help prevent homelessness. ESG
also provides short-term homeless prevention assistance to people at imminent risk of
losing their own housing due to eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoffs.
FAIR MARKET RENT (FMR): Primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for the
Housing Choice Voucher program, to determine initial renewal rents for some expiring
project -based Section 8 contracts, to determine initial rents for housing assistance
payment contracts in the Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program, and
to serve as a rent ceiling in the HOME rental assistance program.
M.
Pane 87 of 9nA
HOME (HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM): Provides formula grants to
states and localities that communities use — often in partnership with local nonprofit
groups — to fund a wide range of activities that build, buy, and/or rehabilitate affordable
housing for rent or homeownership, or to provide direct rental assistance to low-income
people.
HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY (HFA): State or local agencies responsible for financing and
preserving low- and moderate -income housing within a state.
HUD USER: An information resource from HUD's Office of Policy Development and
Research offering a wide range of low- and no -cost content of interest to housing and
community development researchers, government officials, academics, policymakers, and
the American public. HUD USER is the primary source for federal government reports and
information on housing policy and programs, building technology, economic development,
urban planning, and other housing -related topics.
LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT (LIHTC): Atax incentive intended to increase the
availability of low-income housing. The program provides an income tax credit to owners of
newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated low-income rental housing projects.
MODERATE INCOME: Households whose incomes are between 81 percent and 95 percent
of the median income for the area (HUD), with adjustments for smaller or larger families.
HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than 95 percent of the median for the
area on the basis of HUD's findings that such variations are necessary because of
prevailing levels of construction costs, fair market rents, or unusually high or low incomes.
SECTION 8 EXISISTING RENTAL ASSISTANCE: Provides rental assistance to low-income
families who are unable to afford market rents. Assistance may be in the form of vouchers
or certificates.
SECTION 8 HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM: Allows low-income families who qualify for
Section 8 rental assistance to use their certificates or vouchers to pay for homeownership
costs under a mortgage.
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM: This program is authorized by title IV of the Stewart B.
McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (the McKinney Act) (42 U.S.C. 11381-11389). The
program is designed to promote the development of supportive housing and supportive
services, including innovative approaches to assist homeless people in the transition from
homelessness, and to promote the provision of supportive housing to homeless people to
enable them to live as independently as possible.
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY: Housing that is designed to meet the special
physical needs of elderly people and to accommodate the provision of supportive services
that are expected to be needed, either initially or over the useful life of the housing, by the
category or categories of elderly people that the housing is intended to serve.
87
Pane ss of 9nR
TENANT -BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE (TBRA): HUD assists low- and very low-income
families in obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary housing in private accommodations by
making up the difference between what they can afford and the approved rent for an
adequate housing unit.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: A project that has as its purpose facilitating the movement of
homeless individuals and families to permanent housingwithin a reasonable amount of
time (usually 24 months). Transitional housing includes housing primarily designed to serve
deinstitutionalized homeless individuals and other homeless individuals with mental or
physical disabilities and homeless families with children.
VERY LOW-INCOME: Households whose incomes do not exceed 50 percent of the median
area income for the area (HUD), with adjustments for smaller and larger families and for
areas with unusually high or low incomes or where needed because of facility, college, or
other training facility; prevailing levels of construction costs; or fair market rents.
For more information, see Glossary of HUD Terms:
https://archives.huduser.gov/portal/glossary/glossa_ry_all.htmt
m
Pant-R9 of 9nR
Acronyms
B
Acronym
BJA
Meaning
U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance
C
CA
Collaborative Applicant (legal entity representing the CoC)
CAPER
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (for CDBG funds)
CCO
Coordinated Care Organization
CDBG
Community Development Block Grant (HUD funds)
CE / CES
Coordinated Entry / Coordinated Entry System
CHIP
Community Health Improvement Plan
CoC
Continuum of Care
CP (Con Plan)
Consolidated Plan (required for CDBG and HOME)
D
DHS
Department of Human Services (Oregon)
DOC
Department of Corrections (Oregon)
DOE
U.S. Department of Education
DOJ
U.S. Department of Justice
DOL
U.S. Department of Labor
E
ES
Emergency Shelter
ESG
Emergency Services Grant (HUD funds)
F
FHCO
Fair Housing Council of Oregon
FMR
Fair Market Rent
FQCHC
Federally Qualified Community Health Center
H
HEARTH
Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH)
HCV
Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly called Section 8 vouchers)
HHS
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HIC
Housing Inventory Count
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HMIS
Homeless Management Information System (cross -agency database)
HOME
Home Investment Partnerships Program (HUD funds)
HTF
Housing Trust Fund
HUD
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
I
ILP
Independent Living Program (for youth aged out of foster care)
L
LIFT
Local Innovation and Fast Track (fundingfor housing development)
LIHTC
Low -Income Housing Tax Credit
M
MVA
McKinney-Vento Act
MVP
McKinney-Vento Program (School District homeless services program)
N
NAEH
National Alliance to End Homelessness
O
OAHTC
Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit
ODE
Oregon Department of Education
OHCS
Oregon Housing and Community Services
OPH
Other Permanent Housing
P
PBRA
Property -Based Rental Assistance
PH
Permanent Housing (includes RRH, PSH, and OPH)
m
Pane Qn of qnR
Acronym
PHA
Meaning
Public Housing Agency/ Public Housing Authority
PIT
Point in Time Count (required by HUD every two years)
PSH
Permanent Supportive Housing
R
RHY
Runaway and Homeless Youth
RHYA
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
RRH
Rapid Re -housing
S
SAMHSA
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (federal)
SHP
Supportive Housing Programs
SO
Street Outreach
SOAR
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery
SPM
System Performance Measure(s)
SSDI
Social Security Disability Income
SSI
Supplemental Security Income
SSO
Support Services Only
SSVF
Social Services to Veterans and Families
T
TAY
Transition -Age Youth: ages 18 — 24
TANF
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
TBRA
Tenant -Based Rental Assistance
TH
Transitional Housing
TLP
Transitional Living Program
U
USICH
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
V
VA
Veterans Affairs / Veterans Administration
VASH
Veterans Administration Supportive Housing
Y
YYA
Youth and Young Adults
all
Panp Al of 908
Additional Data
Portland State University -
Eviction Profiles
By county: Demographic and eviction data
Last 12 months (May 2023 - April 2024)
Location iAn -
Filings Per
Tenants
Landlords
Landlords
represented by a
POC as percent
Living below
Renter -occupied
ed
Location Filings Rental Units represented
its
by a represented by a
lawyer or an
of the total
poverty line
housing
lawyer
lawyer
agent
Population
Oregon 22,939 3.78
6'h
4396
58%
19"-,
13%
33%
Benton 278 1.78
T''u
28%
381%
20''�
19%
43%
Clackamas' 269 0.58
17%
62%
69%
19%
8%
29%
Clatsop 171 2.72
12%
55%
71%
17%
10%
39%
Columbia 160 3.31
9%
46%
75%
12%
10%
24%
Coos 325 3.69
13%
28%
28%
15%
16%
32%
Crook 103 3.88
9%
24%
37%
12%
10%
27%
Curry 71 2.47
18%
32%
52%
14%
13%
27%
Deschutes 531 2A5
6%
42%
52%
13%
10%
32%
Douglas' 540 3-89
5%
31%
33%
13%
13%
30%
Hood River 17 0.61
24%
53%
59%
37%
5%
32%
Jackson 1,039 3,24
5%
20%
46%
20%
14%
36%
Jefferson 71 2.67
10%
20%
27%
42%
14%
32%
Josephine 332 2.91
12%
30%
32%
14%
16%
31%
Klamath 400 3.94
6%
18%
25%
23%
20%
36%
Lake 32 2.39
0%
22%
38%
16%
17%
38%
Lane' 2.048 3.24
4%
36%
42%
19%
17%
41%
Lincoln 210 2 94
15%
26%
34%
19%
16%
33%
Linn' 530 3.27
8%
19%
22%
16%
12%
34%
Malheur' 70 1.72
10%
57%
67%
39%
21%
41%
Marion' 1,531 3.24
5%
21%
22%
36%
13%
39%
Morrow' 20 1.81
0%
20%
80%
41%
15%
27%
Multnomah 9,243 6.05
7%
55%
82%
31%
13%
46%
Polk 386 3.63
5%
25%
33%
23%
12%
35%
Tillamook' 46 1.38
15%
76%
83%
16%
12%
30%
Umatilla 313 3.36
13%
43%
73%
35%
14%
35%
Union 107 2.96
7%
21%
23%
12%
14%
34%
Wallowa 13 147
46%
38%
38%
8%
10%
28%
Wasco 76 2.06
12%
39%
46%
26%
11%
36%
Washington 3.666 4.25
2%
47%
47%
35%
9%
39%
Yamhill 341 3.05
10%
31%
46%
23%
12%
30%
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RENTING IN JACKSON COUNTY
Renter Occupied Units: 28,806 (32% of all occupied units)
Oregon: 616,569 (37% of all occupied units)
Median Rent: $1,146
Oregon: $1,282
Affordability:
49% of Jackson renters (15,586 households) are rent -burdened,
meaning they spend 30% or more of their income on rent
24% of Jackson renters (7,656 households) - nearly half of all rent
burdened households - are severely rent -burdened, meaning they
spend 50% or more of their income on rent'
Severely Rent Burdened N Rent Burdened
Jackson
Oreyor III*
Source I , q Needs Assessment Repo!, Mugss N S—fipns Lab A NVII format Center - Created wnh "tawrappe,
91
Pane q? of ?08
Traumatic Brain Injuries
[The Lancet] Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue.... Emerging
evidence suggests that the risk factors for TBI closely align with the social determinants of
health and causes of social exclusion, including poverty and marginalization. Although
good evidence shows that socially excluded groups, including people who are homeless,
are more likely to die from injury than the general population, our understanding of TBI in
these groups is poor.
By doing a meta -analysis of 22 studies identified through a systematic review, Jacob
Stubbs and colleagues generated a pooled estimate of lifetime TBI prevalence in this
population of 53.1 % (95% CI 46.4-59.7) for any TBI severity and 22.5% (95% CI 13.5-35.0)
for moderate to severe TBI.
This lifetime prevalence of TBI of any severity (among people who are homeless) is
between 2.5-times and 4-0-times higher than estimates for the general population. Of
note, the estimated lifetime prevalence of moderate to severe TBI (among people who
are homeless) is almost ten -times higher than in the general population.
[Oregon Capital Chronica_l] Oregon Health Authority officials say communities of color and
tribal communities are among the most likely to be affected by a brain injury, along with
veterans, people who are homeless, rural populations, survivors of partner violence and
people in correctional institutions.
A survey by the brain injury research center shows that, on average, brain injury survivors
need 12 kinds of services, from diagnostic testing to mental health counseling and
occupational therapy to help with things like transportation and social support.
Criminalization of Homelessness (NAEH Research Report)
On June 28, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City of Grants Pass, Oregon,
allowing them to impose fines and jail time on people violating public camping bans. Many
communities will now be weighing the different approaches to homelessness. The
National Alliance to End Homelessness released a report comparing the outcomes of
investing in homeless services versus the outcomes of criminalization. Click below to read
the full report.
NAEH report
IM
Panp 9R of 2nR
Impacts of Child/Youth Homelessness
Some of the best research on pathways into homelessness comes from Chapin Hall at the
University of Chicago. One study, which was authorized under the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act and funded in part by HUD, found that lack of a high school degree or GED is the
single greatest risk factor associated with homelessness as a young adult; the second
greatest risk factor was having a_child; and the third was having a low income (under
$24,000). One -hundred percent of young adults who participated in in-depth
interviews reported family -based instability and trauma; nearly 24% experienced
homelessness with their family priorto experiencing homelessness on their own; 35%
experienced the loss of at least one parent or primary caregiver; and 44% percent
identified removal from family and placement in foster care as the beginnings of the
instability that led to their homelessness. Racial disparities were evident in the likelihood
of becoming homeless, as well as the prolonged harmful consequences of homelessness.
Such studies reveal how child homelessness can lead to youth homelessness, and then to
adult homelessness, where children of homeless adults may start the cycle again.
Pediatricians have long suspected that housing insecurity is associated with negative
health outcomes. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics followed children from
infancy to adolescence. It found that teens who experienced housing insecurity earlier in
life reported worse mental and physical health.
QQ Researchers looked at measures of housing insecurity that included homelessness,
eviction, difficulty paying for rent or mortgages and doubling up, which involves living in an
overcrowded house or spending a night in a place that wasn't meant for residents.
QQ Kids who experienced any level of housing insecurity reported higher levels of
depression. Those who experienced high levels of housing insecurity reported higher levels
of anxiety.
0 Previous studies have looked at how housing problems impact adults. The results
of this study show that early intervention, which usually starts with screening families with
young children, is needed for kids experiencing these issues, according to pediatrician
Suzette Oyeku.
When little kids don't have stable housing, it can affect their health later: Shots Health News
NPR
93
PanP M of 908
Jackson County Continuum of Care
Home -Jackson County Continuum of Care Oacksoncountyorcoc.org)
Among other responsibilities, the CoC Program is also designed to assist individuals
(including unaccompanied youth) and families experiencing homelessness and provide the
services needed to help such individuals move into transitional and permanent housing,
with the goal of long-term stability. HUD provides funding to help support the
implementation of these goals.
Nonprofit organizations can apply for HUD Continuum of Care grant funding through the local
Jackson County CoC process.
HUD also provides extensive training and technical assistance, including featured
guidance and best practices on the publicly accessible HUD Exchange. Examples of web -
based resources:
GuidanceFeatured
Centering Lived Experience community Examples coordinated Entry Housing Problem -solving
Moving On Strategies SNAPS In Focus Messages SNAPS -Shots
Homelessness Assistance Strategic Priorities- Progems, systems Data,
94
Pane A5 of qnR
Funding
City of Ashland
The City of Ashland has a variety of funding sources to help non-profit partners address
community needs related to homelessness. These sources include:
• Social Service Grant Funding. Approximately $135,000 a biennium to support a variety of
activities and costs including operational costs.
• CDBG Funding. The City can and has devoted up to 15% of the City's allocation of CDBG
program funds to support public service (direct service) activities, and in some instances
have supported activities with the full amount of CDBG funding.
• Affordable Housing Trust Funding. The City has often utilized a portion of the City's
Affordable Housing Trust funds to support temporary shelters, rental assistance, and
operational costs of housing -focused services.
• State Funding. The City has both applied for and received State funding to help address
issues of homelessness, including a $1 M grant from the Department of Administrative
Services and a $300,000 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The City can also leverage State
grant funding to non -profits by serving as the grantee for some State grants and passing
them through to non-profit service providers.
City of Ashland Distribution of Grants
Program
Funding Sources
FY 23-25
OHRA Navigation Services
CDBG Program
$15,000
OHRA Commercial Kitchen
CDBG Program
$141,235
Maslow Project
CDBG Program
$11,936
Maslow Project
CDBG Program
$18,000
SOW
Social Service Grant Program
$11,667
CW Dunn House Shelter
Social Service Grant Program
$8,000
La Clinica
Social Service Grant Program
$13,333
OHRA
Social Service Grant Program
$34,333
Peace House
Social Service Grant Program
$12,500
OHRA Navigation Services
Affordable Housing Trust Funds
$155,000
Staff Costs: Housing Program Specialist
CDBG Program/General Fund
$80,000*
Staff Costs: All Other
City General fund
$60,000*
Total
$421,004
*Estimates only.
95
Pane 9Fi of 9flR
Governor's Emergency Order Funding
In 2023, Oregon prevented more than 9,000 households from becoming homeless, created
over 1,000 new shelter beds, and helped some 2,000 people move from homelessness to
housing. This was done in partnership with Governor Tina Kotek, the Oregon Legislature,
numerous state agencies, and many local community partners who implemented the
funding and policy developed through the Governor's homelessness state of emergency
(EO 23-02) and the Affordable Housing and Emergency Homelessness Response Package
(HB 2001 and HB 5019, 2023).
The following are lists of two new funding streams/purposes launched because of the
Governor's Emergency Order.
Contact Jackson County CoC for details on fund distribution in the region.
Long -Term Rent Assistance Program
The new Long -Term Rent Assistance Program prioritizes support for households first rehoused
through the Governor's Emergency Order funding.
LTRA Total
Admin/Planning
Program Budget
Proposed LTRA Funding Allocations
Funding 23-25
Advance Budget
23-25 biennium
Biennium
23-2S Biennium
EO 23-02 MAC Region
MACGroup
%of LTRA
$35,730,000
1s%
8596
RRH Goal #s
Funds
Jackson County
133
10.86%
$3,879,257.14
$581,888.57
$3,297,368.57
Clackamas County
170
13.88%
$4,958,448.98
$743,767.35
$4,214,681.63
Central Oregon
186
15.18%
$5,425,126.53
$813,768.98
$4,611,357.55
Lane County
247
20.16%
$7,204,334.69
$1,080,650.20
$6,123,684.49
Multnomah County
186
15.18%
$5,425,126.53
$813,768.98
$4,611,357.55
Marion -Polk County
182
14.86%
$5,308,457.14
$796,268.57
$4,512,188.57
Washington County
121
9.88%
$3,529,248.98
$529,387.35
$2,999,861.63
Statewide Estimates
1225
100%
$35,730,000
$5,359,500
$30,370,500
Pane 97 of qns
Oregon Rehousing Initiative Funds
Another new program managed through Oregon Housing and Community Services is the Oregon
Rehousing Initiative. These funds are also provided to the CoCs (and local planning groups for the
balance of the state) for local distribution.
Local Plearth Groups (IFGs)
AdmM
ploFa
TOW
Formula % of VG
Formula % of SPA
(M)
18S%4
Asoom Funds
FLm b
Benton County
$145.922.92
S826,BW52
$972,819.44
7.59%
277%
Curry County/Brookings COREResponse
$S8,6180S
$332,168.97
$390.797,02
3.05%
111%
CAPECO
$1SS,046.64
5878,597.63
$1.033,644.27
8.07%
294%
CCNO
$119.299.95
$676,033.06
$795,333.01
6,21%
2 27%
Oatsop County MAC
$149.946-13
S849,128.08
599R,974.21
7.80%
2-9S%
Columbia County and CAT
$85.473 27
5494,349.S1
SS69,821.78
4.4S%
1.62%
COmHO4123
$144.093.56
$816,530,15
$960,623,71
7,S"
2.74%
Douglas UCM
$140.279.S3
5794,9173S
5935,196.88
7.30%
2,66%
Hood River, Wasco, Sherman HB 4123
$127.503.63
$722,520.S6
5850,024.19
6.63%
2.42%
Houung Authority of Lincoln County
$75,400 SS
5427,269 81
$502.670, 36
3,92%
1 43%
Housing Authority of Malheur and Harney Counties
5125.08.29
5709,343.62
S834.521.91
6.S1%
2 38%
Juscphmc UCAN
$139.702.97
$791,650.17
$931,353,14
7,27%
2.65%
KCLAS
5143.707.13
S814,340A0
S958,047 S3
7.49%
2.73%
Linn County MAC
S151.405.97
$857,967.14
$1.009.373.10
7.88%
2.98%
Tillamook HB 4123
$52,389 64
$296,874.60
$349,264.24
2,73%
1.00%
YCAP
$107.856.78
$611,199.43
$719.04S.22
S.61%
2.OS%
TOTAL for LPG%
$1,921,72S.00
$10 775.00
S12 1 S00.00
100%
3630%
AdmtM
trosram
FormuY IN of MAC
Fommb % of S►A
EORtrtiorls
(ts%)
1"
TotalN
gle Ftwdt
Flint
OR SDO Eugcrse/Springlreld/Lane County CoC
$314,136.60
S7.780,107 40
52,094.244.00
16,35%
5.97%
OR 501 Portland/Gresham/Multnomah County CoC
5S08,965.34
$2,884,13694
53,393,102.28
26.48%
9.67%
OR-W2-Medford. Ashland/la(ksonCounty COL
$172,903,76
5979,797.96
51,157,691.71
900%
3.29%
ORS03 Central Oregon CoC
S308.449.42
$1,747,98002
$2,056.329.44
16.05%
5,86%
OR-504 - Satem/Mar on, Polk Counties COC
$305,110.70
51,729,960 65
$2,034,071.36
15,88%
5.80%
OR506 H4tsboro/Beaverton/WashingtonCounty CoC
$175.333.54
$993,556.75
51,368.890.30
9.12%
3.33%
OR-507 - Clackamas County COC
SIW825.64
5775.345.27
$922,170.91
7.12%
2.60%
TOTAL for EO ftions
$11921172S.00
$10,889,77S.00
$121811,S00.00
100.OD%
3640%
Culturally OrP(UM)
Admin
Program
Total
Fornmra%ofCOO
Foe mmle%dSPA
Ifs%)
Itsu1
Funds
Fumds
Oregon Worker Relief Coaht-on (ORWC)
$639.697.50
$3,624,952 50
$4,264,650.00
45%
12%
Urban League (U11
$611,266 50
$3,463,943 SO
$4,07S.110.00
43%
12%
tmm,giant and Refugee Community Orgaroration (IRCO)
$170.586.DO
$966,654.00
51,137,240.0D
IZ%
3%
97
Pane AR of 908
Services Inventory
Services Inventory Questionnaire
Program/Service Inventory
Name of Organization: Gov. Non-profit Faith -based Volunteer
Name of Program: (Use a separate form for each program.)
Service Address: City:
Contact Person: Title:
Contact Person's Email Address:
TYPE OF PROGRAM: (circle only one) Street Outreach Supportive Service (e.g., meal program)
Day Shetter/Drop-In Center Extreme Weather Shelter Drop -in Nightly Shelter
Duration Shelter (max. # of days? )
Transitional Housing Program (What population?
Rapid Rehousing Permanent Supportive Housing
Other Type of Program (please describe):
How many beds? How many units? Average length of stay?
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: (e.g., services included/offered, hours, days)
Date:
Max. stay? I
Pets allowed?
How many unique individuals did this program serve in a 12-month period? Dates:
What population(s) by gender, age, familytype?
General Men Women Youth >18 Young Adults18-24 Senior/55*
Parent/child Families with minor children Other (please describe):
What populations by circumstance?
Veterans Fleeing Domestic Violence Chronically Homeless Other:
NOTES ABOUT POPULATION(S) SERVED: (e.g., must be enrolled in treatment to receive housing, only serve
people on parole or probation)
Any cost to the client? Please describe:
What percentage of people who exit the program go directly to permanent housing?
PAP UG of 9OR
What is the annual operating budget for this program?
What are the sources of funding? Federal State Local Government
Foundations Individual Donors Fees Other (please specify):
FUNDING NOTES: (e.g., anticipated loss of funding/grant ending; unfunded maintenance, rehabilitation, or
renovation costs)
How many paid staff are required for this program? FTE: # of Individuals:
Does this program use volunteers? If so, how many total hours for a 12-month period?
How many unique individuals volunteered in a 12-month period? Dates:
STAFFING NOTES: (e.g., qualifications/certifications, unfilled positions, difficulty in securing or retaining staff)
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this program?
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Are inere any new or possime opporiumues or tnreats to ims program:
OPPORTUNITIES I THREATS
Additional comments:
Subcommittee Member(s) Who Collected this Information:
M
Panes ion of 9nR
Services Inventory Data — 49 Program Interviewed (yellow highlights = data not obtained)
Support Services through Transitional Housing by Type and Location
Program Name
Oryanfatlon Name
Support
Services
Street
Outreach
Resource
Center
Safo
Parking
Emergency
Sh~
Transl-
clonal
RRH
PSN
Other
Ashland
Medford
Jackson
County
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
Easter Seals
1
1
Hawthorne Park Polktck
Hawthorn Park Potluck
1
1
Health Services at OHRA
La Clnica del Vale
1
1
Laundry Love
Laundry love
1
1
Monday Meals
Monday Meals
1
1
Laundry/Shower Trailer
Opportunities for Housing. Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
1
1
Uncle Foods Diner
Peace House
1
1
Recovery Cafe
Recovery CafE
1
1
Peace Meal
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
1
1
St Vincent de Paul - Ashland Conference
St. Vincent de Paul - Ashland Conference
1
1
Street Outreach
ACCESS
1
1
Motile Crisis Unit
Jackson County Health 3 Human Services
1
1
Street Nursing Team
OHSU School of Nursing at SOU
1
1
Veteran Street Outreach
S- OR Rehabilitation Center 6 Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
1
1
Ashland Library Homeless Resources
Jackson County Library District
1
1
Resource Center
Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA)
1
1
Urban Rest Stop
St. Vincent de Paul of Medford
1
1
Car Camping
First Presbyterian Church of Ashland
1
1
Safe Parkin Pr ram
Havurah Sher Hadash
t
1
Sheller Programs (multiple sites)
ACCESS
1
Extreme Weather Shelter
ACCESS
1
1
Shelter - 2417 at 2200 Ashand St
Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA)
1
1
Severe weather Shelter
Opportunities for Housing, Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
1
1
RA Sheller
Opportunities for Housing. Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
1
1
Crossings
Rogue Retreat
1
1
Kelly Sheller
Rogue Retreat
1
1
Medical Respite @ Kelly Shelter
Rogue Retreat
1
1
Medic at Respite @ Redwood
Rogue Retreat
1
1
Hope Village
Rogue Retreat
1
1
The Haven Houses
Rogue Reheat
1
1
Veteran Shelter
S OR Rehabilitation Center 3 Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
1
1
Famfy Emergency Sheffer
St. Vincent de Paul of Medford
1
1
Shelter
Unere
1
1
Parker House Shelter
Parker House
1
1
Crossings Village
Rogue Retreat
1
1
Redwood inn
Rogue Retreat
1
1
Lon -Term Emerciency House
Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1
1
eteran Transdional Housing
S OR Rehabi1it0f10n Center d CMIk3! Dept. of Veterans Affairs
1
t
100
Pang 101 of qnR
Permanent Housing and Other Services by Type and Location
Program Name
Organization Name
Support
Services
Street
Outreach
Resource
Center
Safe
Parking
Emergency
Shelter
Transl-
clonal
RRH
PSH
Other
Ashland
Medford
Jackson
County
Rapid Rehousing Programs (General and Veleran)
ACCESS
1
1
Emergency Housing Voucher Program
Housing Authority of Jackson County
1
1
RRH - Grant per Diem Program
S OR RehaNlitatlon Center & Clinks/ Dept. of Veterans Aftairs
1
1
Rogue Ridge
Colombia Care
1
1
HUD VASH
S. OR Rehabilitation Center & Clinks/ Dept. of Veterans Affairs
1
1
Night Lawn
CM of Ashland
1
1
Good NeiahDor Program
First United Methodist Church
t
1
Volunteering for homeless people
Grace Lutheran Church
1
1
Neighbors in Need
South Mountain Friends Meeting
1
1
Volunteer Service
The Story Ashland
t
1
FUndratsin /donations
ITrinity Episcopal Church
1
1
Support Services, Street Outreach, Resource Centers, and Safe Parking — Numbers Served
e Program Nam
Organization Name
N of Beds
p of Units
Max Stay
Allowed
Ave. Stay
Pets
Allowed
/ Inds.
Sid
served In
mos.
f
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
Easter Seals
50
Hawthorne Park Potluck
Hawthorn Park Potluck
2.000
Health Services at OHRA
La Clinica del Valle
177
Laundry Love
Laundry Love
805
Monday Meals
Monday Meals
2,000
Laundry/Shower Trailer
Opportunities for Housing, Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
1,601
Uncle Foods Diner
Peace House
600
6,500
125 x 52
Recovery Cafe
Recovery Cafe
Peace Meal
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
6,240
St Vincent de Paul - Ashland Conference
St_ Vincent de Paul - Ashland Conference
143
Street Outreach
ACCESS
Mobile Crisis Unit
Jackson County Health & Human Services
255
Street Nursing Team
OHSU School of Nursing at SOU
eteran Street Outreach
S OR Rehabilitation Center & Clinics/ Dept. of Veterans Affairs
100
hland Library Homeless Resources
Jackson County Library District
Resource Center
Opportunities for Housing. Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
1
1.966
Urban Rest Stop
St Vincent de Paul of Medford
Car Camping
First Presbylenan Church of Ashland
q
1
Safe Parking Program
jHavurah Shfr Hadash
3
1
101
Panes 1(lg of qnR
Shelter, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Permanent Supportive Housing - Numbers Served and
Exits to Permanent Housing
Program Name
Organization Name
f of Beds
>r of Units
Max Stay
Allowed
AVe' Stay
Pets
Allowed
R Inds.
carved in
12 mos.
.
# HHs
served in
12 mos.
% Exit to
PH
Shelter Programs (muthple sites)
ACCESS
Extreme Weather Sheller
ACCESS
Shelter - 24/7 at 2200 Ashand St.
Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA)
32
5 mos
1
73
23 %
Severe Weather Shelter
Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA)
28
1
146
OHRA Shelter
Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA)
72
52
6 m0s
1
159
39%
Crossings
Rogue Retreat
Kelly Shelter
Rogue Retreat
130
18 mos-
Medical Respite @ Kely Sheller
Rogue Retreat
18
Medical Respite @ Redwood
Rogue Retreat
21
Hope Village
Rogue Retreat
11
2 years
The Haven Houses
Rogue Retreat
11
2
Veteran Shelter
S OR Rehabilitation Center 8 Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
Family Emergency Shelter
St. Vincent de Paul of Medford
12
6300
Sheller
Unete
11,700
225 x 52
Parker House Shelter
Parker House
15
5
9 mos
15
50%
Crossings Village
Rogue Retreat
1
Redwood Inn
Rogue Retreat
46
Long -Term Emergency House
Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
2
1
2 years
1
3
100%
Veteran Transltlonal Housing
S OR Rehabilitation Center S Clinics/ Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Rapid Rehousing Programs (General and Veteran)
ACCESS
93%
Emergency Housing Voucher Program
Housing Authority of Jackson County
132
132
RRH - Grant per Diem Program
S OR Rehatilitation Center 8 Chnicst Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Rogue Rkfge
Columbla Care
30
26
28
33%
HUD VASH
S. OR Rehabilitation Center 3 Clinics/ Dept. of Veterans Affairs
313
N' ht Lawn
City of Ashland
18 1
12 hours
1
6,570
18 x 365
102
Panes i m of qnR
Support Services, Street Outreach, Resource Centers, Safe Parking, and Other Services - Budget and
Funding Sources
Program Name
Organization Name
Annual
Budget
In -Kind
�nryes)s
Cost to
Client
Federal S
("ryas)
State S
("ryas)
Local S
("ryas)
Found. S
("ryes)
Donors
("ryes)
Fees
(1-yes)
Other S (what)
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
Easter Seals
1
Hawthorne Park Potluck
Hawthorn Park Potluck
S 2.000
1
"
Health Services at OHRA
La Cllnica del Valle
S 250.000
typically not
1
1
1
1
1
1
BIM insurance
Laundry Love
Laundry Love
S 900
1
1
Monday Meals
Monday Meals
S 3.000
1
1
Laundry/Shower Trailer
Opportunities for Housing, Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
g 15.500
1
1
1
1
Uncle Foods Diner
Peace House
S 65,000
1-
Recovery Caf2
Recovery Ca*
1
1
Grants
Peace Meal
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
S 36.000
1
1
1
St Vincent de Paul - Ashland Conference
St Vincent de Paul - Ashland Con/erence
S 18 349
1 arants, thrift store
Street Outreach
ACCESS
1
1
Mobile Crisis Unit
Jackson County Health & Human Services
Street Nursing Team
OHSU School Of Nursing at SOU
1
1
Veteran Street Outreach
S- OR Rehabilitation Center A Clinics/ Dept- of Veterans Affairs
1
Ashland Library Nameless Resources IJackson
County Library District
1
Resource Center
Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA)
S 21024,850
1
1
1
1
1
Urban Rest Stop
St. Vincent de Paul of Medford
1
1
Car Camprig
First Presbyterian Church of Ashland
S 2.100
1
Safe Parking Program
Havurah Shir Hadash
S 2.2001
Benefit Concert
Good Neighbor Program
First United Methodist Church
S 4 000
1
Volunteering for homeless people
Grace Lutheran Church
S 1,500
1
1
Neighbors in Need
South Mountain Friends Meeting
S 500
1
Volunteer Service
The Story Ashland
S
1
t
FundratsiniWdonations
Trinity Episcopal Church
1
103
Pant- 104 of 208
Shelter, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Permanent Supportive Housing — Budget and Funding
Sources
Nina
Organization Narw
Annual
Budget
In -Kind
Donations
11'yas)
Cost to
Client
Federal S
("Yes)(t�ras)
state t
Loeal S
0-yes)
Found. t
(tryas)
Donors
(tryas)
FeesProgram
(1■yas)
Other s (what)
Sheller Programs (mumple sites)
ACCESS
Extreme Weather Sheller
ACCESS
Shelter - 207 at 22DO Ashand St
Opportunities for Hous", Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
1
Severe Weather Shelter
Opportunities for Housing, Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
1
1
OHRA Shelter
Opportunities for Housing. Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
S 1.123,042
1
1
1
1
1
Crossings
Rogue Retreat
Kelly Shelter
Rogue Retreat
Medical Respite @ Kelly Shelter
Rogue Retreat
Healthcare pa
Meckat Respite @ Redwood
Rogue Retreat
Healthcare rtne
Hope Village
Rogue Retreat
The Haven Houses
Rogue Retreat
Veteran Shelter
S OR Rehabilitation Center d Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
1
Family Emergency Sheller
St. Vincent de Paul of Medford
1
1
Shelter
Unete
S 450,0001
1 t
Parker House Shelter
Parker House
S 129.624
30% of income
1
1
1
Crossings Village
Rogue Retreat
RedwoodInn
Rogue Retreat
Long -Term Emergency House
Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowsh p
S 5,000
1
Veteran Transitional Housing
S. OR Rehabilitation Center 6 Clinics/ Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Rapid Rehousing Programs (General and Veteran)
ACCESS
S 20,000,000
1
1
Emergency Housing Voucher Program
Housing Authority of Jackson County
% of income
1
RRH - Grant per Diem Program
IS OR Rehabilitation Center 6 C4nks/ Oept of Veterans Affairs
1
Rogue Ridge
lColundiia Care
S 1,300.000
27% income
I
1
1
1
HUD VASH
IS OR RenaMatkM Center 3 Clinics/ DW of Veterans Affairs
% of income
1
1
104
19-7a7MILI s MIT.]
Services Inventory —Staffing and Use of Volunteers
Program Marne
Organization Name
staff FTE
a of Stan
Vols7
("as)VoL
His
s of vole
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
Easter Seals
1
1
Hawthorne Park Potluck
Hawthorn Park Potluck
1
100
130
Health Services at OHRA
La Clinics del Valle
8
9
Laundry Love
Laundry Love
1
885
19
Monday Meals
Monday Meals
1
2106
13
LaundrylShower Trailer
Opportunities for Housing. Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
2
5
1
728
2
Uncle Foods Diner
Peace House
1.75
3
1
45
Recovery Cafd
Recovery Cafe
7
1
468
1
Peace Meal
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice
0.5
1
1
5,000
St Vincent de Paul - Ashland Conference
St. Vincent de Paul - Ashland Conference
1
512
1
Street Outreach
ACCESS
10
Mobile Crisis Unit
Jackson County Health 8 Human Services
16
Street Nursing Team
OHSU School of Nursing at SOU
2
1
Veteran Street Outreach
S. OR Rehabilitation Center 8 Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
3
Ashland Library Homeless Resources
Jackson County Library District
1
Resource Center
Opportunities for Housing, Resources, and Assistance (OHRA)
125
14
Urban Rest Stop
St. Vincent de Paul of Medford
1
12
Car Camping
First Presbyterian Church of Ashland
1
100
5
Safe Parkino Pro ram
Havurah Shir Hadash
1
60
8
Shelter Programs (multiple sites)
ACCESS
Extreme Weather Shelter
ACCESS
Shelter - 207 at 2200 Ashand St.
Opportunities for Housing, Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
10
Severe Weather Sheffer
Opportunities for Housing, Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
3
1
OHRA Shelter
Opportunities for Housing, Resources. and Assistance (OHRA)
17.45
22
Crossings
Rogue Retreat
Kelly Shelter
Rogue Retreat
Medical Respite Q Kelly Shelter
Rogue Retreat
Medicat Respite @ Redwood
Rogue Retreat
Hope Village
Rogue Retreat
The Haven Houses
Rogue Retreat
Veteran Shelter
S. OR Rehabilitation Center d Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
Family Emergency Shelter
St Vincent de Paul of Medford
1
8
Shelter
Unete
9
17
1
Parker House Shelter
Parker House
1
1
1
1
5
Crossings Village
Rogue Retreat
Redwood inn
Rogue Retreat
Lon Term Emergency House
Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1
15
1
Veteran Transitional Housing
S. OR Rehabilitation Center 3 Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
shared'
Rapid Rehousing Programs (General and Veteran)
ACCESS
50
Emergency Housing Voucher Program
Housing Authority of Jackson County
1
RRH - Grant per Diem Program
S. OR Rehabilitation Center b Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
shared'
Rogue Ridge
Columbia Care
7.7
9
HUD VASH
S. OR Rehabilitation Center R Clinics/ Dept of Veterans Affairs
18'
Night Lawn
City of Ashland
1
4
Good Neighbor Program
First United Methodist Church
1
10
1
Volunteering for homeless people
Grace Lutheran Church
1
156
5
Neighbors in Need
South Mountain Friends Meeting
1
680
9
Volunteer S"ce
The Story Ashland
1
4
16
Fundralsin donations
Trinity Episcopal Church
105
Panes 1 nr. of goo
Community Survey Results
• Business Survey
• Frontline Staff Survey
• General Community Survey
Note: The survey of people experiencing homelessness was conducted by interview;
results were tallied in an Excel spreadsheet. Findings are included in the body of the report.
106
Pane 1 n7 of 90A
Business Survey Results
N=82
Q1 Where is your business
Answered:82 Skipped:I
Northend
I
Southend
Downtown
University
District
Railroad
■
District
other (please
specify)
00/6 109/0 20% 300/6 40% 50% 60%
Northend
Southend
Downtown
RESPONSES
1.22%
57.32%
18.29%
University District
2.44%
Railroad District
9.76%
Other (specify)
10.980/0
north mountain area --mountain meadows
Oak Street Ashland
Remote services
Close to downtown in a residential zone
Multiple buildings. Railroad, downtown and
Clear Creek dr.
Greensprings
Croman Mill/Mistletoe Road
Some of our advertisers have storefronts on
Main St.
Q2 Please describe the impact your business encounters with
homelessness.
RESPONSES
We find it difficult for our people to interest clients in sales or leases largely because of the
visibility of homeless, loud and drunk people. Potential clients come back to look around at the
area on their own and are not comfortable investing in the area. They say it seems 'sketchy'
They make human waste messes behind our building and lease food and camping trash along
the sides and by the fences. We have to hire people to cut our grass and first we have to go
out there and pick everything up so they can cut.
We don't see the people much but we do have trash, old clothes and drug things to clean up
weekly. They sometimes spread out their blankets in our parking lot.
I have a long-time business in the Southend. I used to be proud of this pan town and the
exciting things that were starting to happen here. Now the homeless are hanging around and
trash and weed are everywhere. I will be moving away if things don't improve in the next year
or so.
107
Pane 1 nR of qoA
People stop here and want a place to get out and walk around a little. They don't want to get
too far from the Freeway. They see homeless people hanging around and no place to get away
from them, even on the edge of our parking lot, so they just leave.
We have people from other States here all of the time. They would like to get out and enjoy a
break. We have no park, no picnic space, no dog park and homeless people everywhere. If
they look around for a restaurant, we see them get right back on the freeway and leave.
Customers trying to sit outside are asked for food and money. Always trash from the homeless
in the weeds and along the water. We are afraid of fir, as the homeless sleep and cook in the
grass and tree areas.
Guests have to walk around the trash and people screaming at them for help or money to get
to our office. Guests don't feel like their belongings in cars or cars are safe overnight.
They come here to get us to let them use our equipment for free. That keps other people from
feeling good about being here.
We have lost most of our customers because of the ugly corner at Tollman and Ashland
Street. Homeless and sick people stay every where here. People don't come here any like they
used to. We may hace to close soon.
Homeless people acting out and throwing sticks, rocks, trash at cars passing by. sleeping in
their landscaping against the building. at least once a week causing patients to enter the
building through the back door because the are put off by the people at the front door. Often
call Police. They stay until the person(s) leave. These same three people come back in an
hour or so. Police try to come back but are busy somewhere else.
Groups, small to many hang out in our parking area. At least once a day, screaming and trying
to get customer attention. We shoo them away and they usually move or we call the police.
They go behind our storefront to our garage building at night and start fires to cook. We are
closed them so we have to send someone back every night to check that fires are out. We
clean up trash every morning (open at 7:00) and the material we use to put out the fires.
My business serves food and the homeless often come here and beg or ask to work in the
kitchen for leftover food. Some customers feel sorry for the some would rather they just take
some money and move along.
My business is on a side street and a little out of the way for traffic. That makes it a good
place for homeless people to sleep. My patients are not disturbed by the but are uncomfortable
with the mumbling, screaming and rambling due to their illnesses. There is always trash.
Afraid of the mentally ill when they are acting out and screaming and threatening my patients.
Afraid they will hurt themselves or some one else. I have to calm my patients even though
they usually understand what has happened.
m.
Pane 1 nc) of gns
Panhandling, begging , staying in everyone's way on the sidewalks and being too sick or out of
it to care. Stealing and breaking outdoor equipment. The food and drinks we offer customers
are eaten by the homeless.
My staff are a little uncomfortable with the homeless and mentally ill being everywhere are the
Southend. There is more attention to the needs of the homeless than the needs of the
businesses in the Southend. Cut the weeds on the comer of Tollman and Ashland St. Good
grief.
Trash, drugs and human waste around my parking lot - nearly every day.
Our employees are often young students. They do not know how to effectively interact with
challenging populations such as the homeless or mentally ill. Our customers do not want to
walk around or thru a group of folks who are struggling to shop ..... like in downtown Ashland
where panhandling is discouraged.
Begging for food and money. Checking customer's cars for open doors and setting of alarms.
Clients are made uncomfortable by the begging and approaching them for food.
Afraid of the fires that could be started along the freeway by the fences by people camping and
trying to stay warm or cook. Nearly nightly there are people behind the buildings.
I am constantly having to move people off of my front entrance area and from the sides of my
office. Some of my patients don't feel safe and/or suggest that I move out of this end of town.
2200 was a horrible decision by the City. Now what!?!?! My business is constantly pricking up
trash and apologizing to my customers about the vagrant population. They make is hard to
help the truly needy.
I try to show and sell property and homes but people always ask about the homeless situation.
usually they find another place to look or buy.
People sleep in our door way and in front of our store. They sneak in and steal then run. They
come back that night, sleep and do it again the next day.
Customers don feel safe. Workers are afraid after dark or to be alone in the store. Trash,
needles and things like that. Bad store front look for my customers.
Theft of van parts, stolen catalytic converters, cut security fencing, broken locks.
Trash, old clothes, needles, food and human waste around the business entrance in the
mornings. Screaming people on drugs, sick or drunk.
Frequent Trespass with property damage. Trash, drug paraphernalia, garbage, etc. Often call
P. D.
Impacts customer interaction negatively. Frightening and off-putting for my tourist trade.
Distasteful for locals.
109
Panes 11 n of gas
We often have 1-2 people who camp outside our store. There's also been instances where fires
have been set very close to the building, one of the instances destroying a dumpster and
charring our alley facing wall. We also had a break in last year which was believed to be a
homeless person's doing, but no new leads as far as I know. Aside from that, I'm really not
sure. I think the bigger question is how has the homelessness in Oregon as a whole affected
our commerce community. The main thing is not all homeless people cause trouble, just a
'loud' minority of them.
They scare my customers, talk to people and beg when people try to come and go.
People stop coming that have come for many years. They don't like to walk past sick,
screaming people, they are afraid their cars will get scratched again like last time. They don't
like that I can't keep trash cleaned up.
Homeless and sick come into my business and bother my guests and use my bathroom to
wash and my lobby to hang out. Makes my guests and me uncomfortable and sometimes
scared.
Staff and customers ride bikes to my location using the Bike Path. Seems dangerous now so I
have fewer children and women able to get here. Bike have been stolen, had to move bike
storage and parking to the front entrance. Expensive! Trash everywhere in the morning and on
weekends.
1. Human waste left in buckets and also at times spread on the side of our buildings. 2. Trash
left on and around the perimeter of the property as well as large piles along the adjacent rail
tracks. 3. Constant flow of vehicles parked on our curb overnight, burning gas stoves for
cooking, internal wood stoves, major fire risk on the vacant portion of our property. 4.
Disturbance of our employees and fellow office and industrial business workers, people feel
unsafe. 5. Constant flow of individuals at night roaming our property, rummaging around our
property, digging through trash/recycling, pulling power or water from our buildings. 6. Have had
Car campers parked in our lot overnight, found in the AM unconscious, had to call APD in case
person is dead or OD'd...
Nearly none.
I have airbnb and the Homeless come and go through my trash cans looking for recycling
items ect.... They leave their trash and sometimes body fluids near my property which in turn
can have guests to our town and my airbnb uncomfortable
I've had homeless people break into my basement and try to camp there. I've had to kick
countless homeless out from covered areas. Some have been nice some haven't.
110
PnnP 111 of 9nR
They are camped out all around my building and in the neighborhoods around my office. I am
constantly picking up garbage, needles, food items etc. The lights for my office sign have
been stolen three times now and I refuse to replace them at the continued expense. I will not
go on my normal walks by the police station as that is their base camp. What does that tell
tourist in town when they dive past the police station and the lawn is trashed and filled with
"campers"
No direct impact. View on a daily basis.
People live/camp near the tracks. Come onto our property without permission when we are
closed, concerning our employees and making them feel unsafe at times.
After the -successful elimination of the homeless from their downtown home
area/Lithia Park, it appears all areas of Ashland are suffering from trash, tents, human waste,
foul language and possible dangerous situations.
Trash, general appearance of the neighborhood. Loitering. Mentally ill on the street.
Sadly, we have had multiple issues with homeless folks that need psychological help.
Screaming, sitting in front of stores, trashing garbage cans, etc...
Very little impact as the business is located off of main street. Collect bottles from recycling
bin but generally respectful. One theft from two homeless in past year but police did arrest
them as it was all caught on cameras.
I have had homeless people come into my store and be disruptive (many forms including
carving a 6 foot tree branch and cursing me out). I have had a couple smell so pungent that
other customers have left, and one time when there were not other customers it was so bad I
had to open the doors and light incense the smell lingered for over 20 minutes. They have shot
up underneath tarps on the side walk, sat bare-assed on the sidewalk 10 ft from my door,
pulled the plants out of my potters out front. They have walked by screaming or stood outside
my storefront screaming at nobody in particular, but I have noticed that there have been folks
that were going to come into my store that have seen this and got back into their cars and left.
I've had them sit outside my service door and get sick all over walls so I've had to hose things
down.
Transients coming on to our property and creating a disruptive environment for our customers
Scares away customers
Sleeping, and using our campus grounds as a public restroom .
Coming into store to get warm in winter extremes and cool off in summer extremes
low impact. neighborhood regularly sees individual homeless people camping or walking around
the railroad tracks near 8th & A (and frequently at A St. Railroad park)
They sleep at the entrance alcoves
Daily issues with litter, trash, property damage.
ill
Pane 119 of 9()R
It's gotten better, however, in the past, I have dealt with homeless people sleeping in my
stoop, leaving litter behind, urinating, and defecating and smoking. When my lease is up, I will
not renew. Too many headaches.
Our business is indirectly impacted by the complexities of unhoused people. We work directly
with the restaurants and eateries throughout Ashland.
The homeless sleep on our property at night, they sneak into our elevators, tuck themselves
into the entry ways and do not clean up after themselves. The urinate and defecate on and
around our buildings. They hassle our staff & customers walking by and do their drugs in plain
sight.
Parking/camping in cars on our street. Leaving garbage and spreading belongings out on the
side walk.
Occasionally we will have someone come into the shop displaying some behavior that is
uncomfortable to my staff and customers.
None
Unsafe Pedestrian Walkway's and individuals sleeping under Metro bus stops.
Enters buildings and uses bathrooms, tries to sleep in facilities.
They often panhandle on the side of our business where there is customer parking. They know
not to bother customers at the entrance. I think we have reached co -existence. Not ideal.
The bench outside my business and the one to the left of me (your back toward E. Main) offers
a place to sit for many locals but also, often serves as a bed for those without shelter.
None
Sleeping in parking lot and doorways. Scaring staff. Urinating and defecating in front of door
entrance. Litter on property.
None
People camp in empty lots around us. Patrons have had encounters with people who appear to
be high or aggressive. Yelling at late night.
Ashland is a tourist destination. It is desirable (off 1-5) for transients and the homeless. They
seem to congregate in the south end of town a lot more lately. Use some of our lodging or food
taxes to provide more services. It's not a good "feel" for those in need; and not a good "look"
for those visiting or living here.
I am not affected by it as much as those who have businesses around town.
None
People with Mental illness on the streets
112
Pane 11 of qnR
Higher amounts of theft, showering in our bathrooms, laying out on our lawn, and coming in to
get free food.
They camp out across the street and get into fights, yelling, making a commotion, and playing
music. They also walk up and down the street with all their belongings taking up the sidewalk.
They also come into my business. Some are respectful and others are disruptive. All of this
can impact whether people come into the store to shop, disrupt shoppers from the store
experience, and on occasion cause police to the area.
Occasionally walk into motel to drink our coffee. Have been to hop over the fence to sleep in
cabanas or use our outdoor shower.
Tourism affected by aggressive panhandling drug alcohol abuse affecting mental health and
trash disposal.
Our office operates M-F, 9a to 5p. From time to time we have had the unhoused sleeping
around our building, and during more inclement weather they have slept against the door so
they can be under the awning. We have had to ask them to leave when we arrive in the
morning. We have had to remove the hose tap at our location because of water usage to bathe
or drink. We also keep our doors locked at all times because we have had too many strangers
wander in looking for a restroom. As such we have installed a doorbell for clients to use, which
is not ideal.
We have a lot of homeless that hang out most of the day and night. Some leave trash, some
leave feces, others store their stuff against the back side of the building. It makes patrons feel
less safe and welcome at our place.
None
Mainly folks trolling the neighborhood for valuable garbage and recyclables.
Littering, dumping, camping and theft.
Q3 What recommendations do you have for improvements?
RESPONSES
Clean things up and keep them clean.
More shooing people away and coming around to get them to move on.
Help them get away from having to live like they do. Get them someplace to stay where they
get straightened out.
113
Panes 114 of qns
Clean the Southend up, give the businesses and the streets some thing that looks appealing
and move the homeless along rather than concentrating their shelters here!
After the homeless and sick and drunk people are helped or gone somewhere else, make a
nice little park on each side of the Freeway - North and South. Welcome the people
Give the homeless people who scream and threaten and beg somewhere else to be. Clean
them out so they can be safe but not dangerous or disruptive.
Cut down the tall grass, clean up the trash and patrol the spaces where they hide. Make the
Southend as nice as downtown. We can't survive here. We are too small and can't afford the
rents in town.
Clean things up. Everything. People too.
More policing. Less loitering allowed.
Too late for us now probably. Make things look ice and clean again. Plant flowers. Cut weeds.
Have the homeless people go away and get them jobs.
ORHA attracts people who need help but can't help them all so the people wander with nothing
to do but cause harm to themselves and property and scare other people away. Don't continue
to attract people with these challenges to the Southend.
We know they are sick or on something but it costs us time and money. Keep them away
better with police or someone helpint the police.
Don't know.
Nothing to offer. Seems hopeless for them and us.
Give the ill and poor a place to be and help them get to those places. In Ashland or Medford or
wherever there is help, until they have whet they need,
Make folks move along - out of town - if they won't accept help.
Needs to be better services for people who are ill. Accountability for those on drugs. Count
them, get them together and survey what they need to succeed - then get it for them or make
them move on.
More police and someplace away from the South end. It isn't as bad downtown. Why?
Give the sick and homeless help somewhere that they can get clean and sober or get mental
help. Give them a ride to someplace better for them and us who work hard.
More money for proper police depart staff. A way to take offenders away.
A place for people to go even if they don't want to go. A way to go away. Transport.
114
Pane 11.5 of ?nR
The need for law enforcement, cops that walk where the homeless are and move them along.
Help with what they need and get them transportation away.
Clean up the trash and get the homeless into shelters where they get what they need and will
have to stay until they are better.
More City paid daily trash clean up. Why should my business bear this expense? I pay taxes
and my people work hard and don't need to clean up after those who don't work.
Not supposed to answer regarding ANY recommendations . Corporate Office frowns on making
any improvements or discouraging them.
Police presence increased and more personal interaction with business owners and workers.
Get open fields and greenway and freeway right - of - way jursidictions figured out and
propoerly maintainined and 'policed'
Don't know what to say. I feel like I shouldn't speak out. There may be even worse homeless
activity if they find out.
Low barrier housing, wrap around services with low expectations, especially in the beginning.
No ideas ... I am sure this is a problem that has many sides to it .... I wish their could be a
warehouse or something where Homeless peeps could stay while they get a job or ??
EDUCATION, Mental Health and DRUG rehab. 1 am all for creating housing but there has to be
a strict drug or alcohol program. With that teach them a skill. I have personally asked many of
they why they live on the streets and this is the answer I get " Why not everything I need is
free. Why have bills? I don't want to work for the man" Meanwhile I pay taxes for "housing the
unhoused" doesn`t seem right. Stop making it so easy for them to live rent and expenses free!
There would be less of them in Ashland. Like a stray cat if you make food scarce they will not
be here. If they are truly choosing to live this way it should not be my responsibility to pay
higher taxes to house them. If they want to live on the streets do it where we don't have to see
it. My property taxes are too high for my building to be next to a homeless camp. Open a state
funded non profit or whatever you want to call it or the mentally unstable. While walking past
Morning Gloy yesterday a mental unstable man was screaming and flailing around at my
boyfriend and I. This could have been a very bad situation for said character if he actually did
any thing to us.
Day services. Mental health outreach. Low barrier shelters and day services. Places to park
safely with rest rooms with these monitored for safety. Heavier patrols during fire season as we
often see campers in the field next door (Oak Knoll fire start location).
Find help/housing/therapy for these people.
I wish there was an answer --the Supreme Court may decide for you in Grants Pass v.
Johnson!
Find a location for homeless services away from residential housing and businesses. Make it
less appealing for our streets to be the gathering place.
115
Pane 116 of qns
The biggest issue is offering people who have given up on life a chance regain themselves.
They don't believe it can happen and just will keep continuing how they are even when help is
offered. Not all the time, but for a lot of them, they feel like they can't live a normal life. Mental
heath foundations and housing have to be one of the biggest factors that aren't addressed. We
aren't offering enough care to these people who need it. Sure you can *give* them food. Sure
you can *give* them shelter. But there's more to it than that. There's hospitality, care, belief,
encouragement, mental health care. If they aren't supplemented with that stuff they
desperately need, then change can't come. Rehabilitation is not just a word.
More Police and help for sick people so they go somewhere good for them. Clean up their
trash and messes.
Make places for them and take them there or lose my business. I have been here many years
but I can't keep loosing my guests. Police come and are nice to sick people but can't take
them away.
More Police. No overnight parking to sleep at the curbs on my street. I need Police to come in
and say Hello and be seen. All the time.
Police bike patrol constantly on the bike path as their 'job' - 'get out of the car' like downtown
sometimes only make it ALL of the time. Pick up the trash - not me and the other people who
work here!
More enforcement. More patrol for Police. Trash pick up by the City - not my employees.
More police presence. More often patrols on foot and in cars. A way to take homeless, drunk
or mentally ill away to safe places - right away.
Change the current public understanding up and down the 15 that Ashland is the place to go if
you want free stuff, give more power to APD to enforce existing rules without leniency. APD is
good to work with, yet are hamstrung in their ability to enforce and demand better behavior,
decency and decorum from the homeless. There appears to be very little respect from the
homeless for other citizen's ways of life, other citizen's personal property, other citizen's
personal safety, other citizens use of Parks, sidewalks, etc. —Our small community cannot
sustain taking in every homeless person around the valley or coming up the 15.
Medical services. Affordable living...
In Ashland it's hard because the freeway is right there with a constant supply of drifters.
24/7 Licensed Social Safety Disrupters/Monitors.
Stiffer rules and enforcement.
What could you possibly do other than kick it down the road to another town? Make our town
more strict. It's a national epidemic and they go where it's easiest to exist. The real solution is
in education, healthcare, fair wages, and strong communities all helping to raise children and
create strong, happy adults.
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Panes 117 of ?ns
Keep working on creating spaces, indoors and outdoors, where homeless can feel safe without
infringing on the rights of others. As well as working on the most difficult part, the mental
health needs of the majority of these people.
Enforce the no smoking ban in all areas of downtown where it is in effect. If enforced on Main
Street only it pushes to other areas of downtown.
Not sure - they're humans I understand they have certain freedoms, it's just hard knowing I'm
losing business when they're creating disturbances
More city ordinances regarding camping (car and tent) and pan handling.
Fine them for encroaching in sidewalks
Most people are in need of mental assistance. They need housing in a mental facility with
mental health assustance.
Warming and cooling center(s) on E Main St by Police station
Clean up A St. Railroad park (less shrubs, bushes for them to sleep / camp under)
Keep the shelter on the south end of town. Less impact on the tourist & businesses that keep
the economy going.
1 have had homeless people come here because it is less restrictive than Medford and that
OHRA actively encourages it. While homelessness will unfortunately never be completely
solved, cities need to regulate what is proper population for available resources.
I like years ago how there was kind of an exclusion zone downtown. Some people felt that it
was heavy-handed, but I feel like there needs to be some sort of agreed -upon code of conduct.
If you choose to be in the city and are enjoying the services that all of our taxes are providing
for you, then we expect a certain code of contact from you while being in the city (Downtown or
otherwise). This includes keeping your dog on a leash, not blocking sidewalks, not threatening,
or making people feel uncomfortable.
Being unhoused is generally just one piece of a large pie of challenges and issues facing
people that don't have a home address. Disallowing them access solves nothing except a
momentary sigh of relief for people who prefer to not see one of the realities of this
international problem. Affordable housing would offer significant help but it's not the whole pie.
Mental health support is a piece. Opportunities for meaningful employment is another piece.
Shelter in severe weather/smoke situations is a piece. Compassion for this part of our
community is another slice. Without a holistic approach to this, little will change. Sadly, there
is nothing unique about Ashland's challenge. Our inability as a society to embrace this is a
LARGE part of the problem. Criminalizing poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, lack of health
care except the emergency room, mental health challenges and very high rents are
contributing factors.
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Pane 11 R of 208
This is such a complicated issue. It feels hopeless. Any recommendation I would have would
be a bandaid. What I do know is that it is a societal issue that needs to addressed by our
whole community and culture.
A real building/facility that offers shelter to those without. City and park benches aren't an
answer or solution. In the city I lived prior, they made use of an abandoned apartment building.
Refurbished it and made it available for many without homes. Granted there was a limit to the
length to the stays, but it was more than just for the night. Unless that's all an individual felt
they wanted or needed.
Keep them in one area
Cracking down on drug usage, we find that a lot of our theft comes from homeless people who
look under the influence. Providing information where they can take showers instead of using
our bathrooms.
The encampment area away from businesses was a huge improvement. We really miss the
police presence downtown like we used to have, seeing them walking the streets.
I don't
Stop the panhandling by making it illegal. Bring back our Police to do street patrols every
day/evening in the downtown and Lithia Park area. Stop enabling the homeless by doing
everything for them. They need to start by learning how to clean up after themselves. If they
cleaned up we could live with those who do not want to live under a roof. The obvious trash
cans, needle/drug disposable bins and dog poop bins with bags. There is no easy answer
sadly.
More homeless services, oversight by an agency for the "Night Lawn". Across the board,
homeless individuals state that the night lawn is a very dangerous place.
Invest in mental health and addiction resources. Create affordable/low-income housing.
More places for them to be that is safe and has shelter from the weather.
Keep up the good work!!! Police have done a very good job of having any multi day stayers
move on. They have encouraged us to call right away. We all do not want our dead end street
to become a know camping area.
Not sure. It's a tough issue. Kind of beyond Ashland's responsibility as a town. Tax the rich.
Stop sending $$$$$ to Israel and put it towards our country's people. Mental health services.
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Pnna 11 A of ?nR
More frequent sightings of law enforcement in the area, just more reminders that law
enforcement is around in general.
I think this is one of the hardest issues we currently have to deal with and I have no idea how
to solve it
Portapotties available downtown. Build affordable housing.
Don't push them around. They have enough problems. The only route to changing anything is
through helping them, whatever shape that takes.
Understand and take heart the impact this is having on small businesses. Forcing mant to
consider leaving Ashley.
More common police patrols, or other people of authority. Better policing of empty lots to make
sure they are safe and not camping or fire hazards.
More housing! More shelters (not just seasonal)! More opportunity to shower, wash clothes,
store belongings! More places for community meals! (Bring back the Community Center &
Pioneer Hall.)
It is complicated.
Help for people with mental health issues
Q4 What other comments would you like to offer?
RESPONSES
Seems hopeless that anyone will get on this and fix things very soon.
I guess other businesses feel like us. Not much of a chance to build a business like there is in
town - though businesses are closing there too.
Our end of Ashland is pretty junky looking. Not appealing
It's frustrating to see the unhoused all around town. It doesnt create a welcoming environment
for residents or tourists. The unhoused situation has created a political divide not only across
the country, but here locally and it's very frustrating.
I like the designated sleeping areas with law enforcement nearby.
We moved to the Ashland area because we perceived it to be a kind and thoughtful place.
Whatever actions are taken, I encourage you to make them kind and thoughtful.
If there were more options for housing/meals for those in need, there would be fewer people
camping in the parks, on the greenway, or at the Police Station.
Thank you for addressing this issue
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Pane 1 go of 9n8
You want to bring in family housing. I would not buy a house or rent in this part of town. Even
the bike path isn't safe or pretty.
Something has to get better. We are drowning under expenses to operate and no way to build
up business with drive-thru people.
We try to be kind and move people who are sick or drunk or high out of our store and business
but they cause problems more often than not and have no place to go. By then our customers
have walked out.
Why can't people who need help from the old motel go somewhere else when the motel is full.
They just hang around this part of town waiting for a vacancy.
Fewer and fewer of my guests are returning here now. They say they don't like how this part of
town looks or feels anymore.
None
Too bad this has happened.
The attraction and concentration of people who are poor, sick, addicted and homeless is
ruining our attempts to make the Southend as business healthy as it can be.
Need a Southend business group to hire security and split the cost with the City?
More people come here because Ashland has help right off the Freeway - then they stay or
move on.
City trash pickup more often with not increase in cost to businesses.
Need to make the Southend of Ashland pretty like downtown. Trees, cut the weeds, plant
flowers and such.
Clean up the area. OHRA attracts people who don't qualify for services there. Dead animals
left here from time to time. Need the police to come and then come back if needed and take
the people away - not just talk to them.
Police presence is badly needed and more attention to the Southend where people first come
into Oregon. It Looks awful!
More trash pick up and more police to patrol when businesses are closed.
More foot police presence. Very glad that there will be a kiosk police presence. Have cops in
the stores and walking the sidewalks.
The Southend of town is not an "Entryway" to Ashland. Tt's a place to get through as fast as
possible. Too bad.
People should NOT be allowed to panhandle like downtown Ahland. Southend is ignored.
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Panes 191 of qns
Please get folks to agree to get help or leave Ashland. Don't think that's legal but they are
destroying my livelihood and our beautiful town.
The voters keep spending money to 'help' and it's getting worse - not better. Fis it City
Council!!!!!
1 doubt this survey will make a difference but I appreciate that the City acknowledges there is
unmet need and unhappy Ashlander's will be leaving if nothing gets better.
We need to be a safe, clean place to have or business, our kids and our schools. Not gargage
from the homeless and their dogs.
This survey is a nice try but when will we see change? It is taking so long that we can't hold
on.
This is wrecking Ashland. Not safe for kids, ugly encounters with sick people, losing
customers and costing small business money so they go out of business.
They need help and then work if they can. They can't help it sometimes but their presence is
dangerous and ruining Ashland's South end.
The city of Ashland is doing its best, but it can do a lot better. The problem isn't "get rid of the
homeless/unhoused", the problem is how do we *actually* help these people? Genuinely, it's a
lot, and kind of a loaded question. We have to acknowledge we can't help everyone, but we
should strive to try anyways. This city is important to the homeless in the same way it's
important to the people taking this survey; it's their home.
Business person refused to answer any further questions. Said they were afraid they would
loose customers if they speak out against the Homeless.
City needs to pick up trash. Cut weeds on empty lots so they can't hide in the grass and leave
trash. Get Police to walk around behind buildings and see the messes and make the people
who make messes move.
This problem is bad for the Homeless people of course. This problem is ruining Ashland and
my business. I am loosing money because people don't come back
Homeless people need help but they are ruining Ashland. Help them and Ashland soon!
Do Something! This is my livelyhood and the Southentrance to our town!
Trash, old clothes, garbage removal - every where - more often. Ashland entrance looks ugly
and forsaken.
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Panes 199 of 9nR
Stop talking and take action on the ground. Action is not solely in the form of just hiring more
city staff and providing facilities, beds, tons of free services, etc at the cost of millions of
dollars and taking properties off the tax rolls especially without accountability for the people
receiving these services. This model just isn't working to reduce the numbers, it just allows
more and more to move here and be served. These failed solutions invite others to come to
Ashland to to partake in the benefits, but few are truly interested in improving their situation.
They're said as much to the City Council that they "want to disrupt our way of life". I am not
lacking compassion for the situation across America and in this valley, but it has gone too far,
in that there is not equality for the hard working citizens who just want to enjoy the quality of
life they are paying for and are working for. We need a regional solution, the Valley needs to
solve this as a whole, combining resources into one full service facility with resources, shelter
beds, mental health, addiction recovery, and transitional housing is the best option. If someone
isn't housed and are unable to care for themselves we need to move them into a place they
can get help. Having each city stand up the likes of OHRA or its own shelter is wasting
resources, we all have a common goal of ending homelessness/transiency we should work as
one to solve the problem, not expect each city to stand up its own solution its just too
expensive and not sustainable.
none
Put this on them!! If they don't want to start educating themselves and getting rehab, then they
need to leave Ashland! Period!!! Ashland should want to help NOT hinder the situation. The
community needs to help the struggling small business and tax paying citizens first!!!
It always pays to begin with kindness. Trauma Informed Care training offered to staff,
volunteers and police.
Isolating the homeless to one area of town is not fair for all! It always appears you are catering
to the wealthy homeowners in Ashland and only the plaza businesses when the city does
move the homeless-- little focus on businesses outside the plaza or the other residents.
Ashland's current policies are attracting transients to our town. Allowing them to sit at corners
for hours is like a big welcome sign.
This is not an easy subject. Thank you for your efforts to help them and us.
As a business owner, I would love to be educated on what are my options/what should be
protocol when dealing with someone that is homeless that is being disruptive to my business,
or the community.
A lot of the homeless in our area want to be homeless. They do not want to follow any rules,
just the freedom to live life the way they want ... but they still want to beg for money for their
alcohol , drugs and cigarettes .
Work on the shelter purchase and its operation being functional again. Maybe fix that by
paying attention to the details this time.
It's ok for the city to define solid metrics (number of beds, etc) and stick to them and say we
are unable to accommodate any additional individuals over our resourced max.
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Pane 1 x3 of 9nR
There are so many different reasons why people are or become homeless it's impossible to
"solve" it. The people that truly cannot afford housing could be helped by Affordable Housing.
The people who have substance abuse/addiction issues could be helped by better/more robust
mental health services and care/treatment options. The people who just want to live off grid
and not contribute to society could go live in the wilderness like the ancient people did. What
do the unhoused say? There should be a survey to them of what would motivate and enable
them to secure a place to live that's off the streets? It's my understanding that some choose
that lifestyle and nothing would convince them to live within 4 walls.
A city self -directed 411 for ambulatory persons experiencing Homelessness, i.e. Pacific Coast
Trail Hikers.
I know it is easy to stereotype the homeless. But they are very diverse. It will be interesting to
see how the Supreme Court rules on the Grants Pass case.
While I understand the average community member may have feelings such as, "not in my
neighborhood" and may be concerned about their own safety, as a community I feel we all
have some skin in this game of homelessness for adults and children. If we don't wish to step
over them or criminalize them then we best come up with a more than one solution to address
the many sides of this reality.
I think that the homeless population affects me as a consumer in Ashland as well. Makes me
not want to frequent places downtown, in Lithia Park, or even the Food Coop. I have even
called for wellness checks on a homeless person who is often on the street where I park my
car.
" Pay as you go" toilet on or off the Plaza somewhere for our visitors. Going round the back of
the Creek is always quite terrifying when the homeless are there for some folk.
Losing 30 shelter beds in the city of Ashland creates a huge negative impact on this
community. Fortunately, with the hard work of the OHRA team, not one single individual was
turned out to the street on April 1st.
It seems like we're making steps in the right direction. However, the unhoused population
seems to have a very large vocal representation, whereas those of us who live in town are not
speaking up about our concerns. Thank you, the survey is a step in the right direction.
Ashland could learn a lot from looking at successes in similar sized rural communities in the
U.S. and around the world. We don't need to re -invent the wheel. We can glean what's worked
elsewhere and modify it for our community. Our resistance has changed little. OHRA can't pick
up ALL the pieces. Thanks for asking these important questions.
Perhaps provide support for the homeless but do not be soft on the laws they should be
upholding.
There have been homeless here since I moved here in 1989. There were only about 6 and they
were part of our community. They had nick names and were all suffering from mental illness. I
am okay with these folks being here and on the streets if thats what they choose. I want the
criminals and hard drug users behind bars!!!
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Perna 194 of 9ns
Q5 To help us understand who we have reached
through this survey,
please answer the following questions.
Under18
18-24
25-34 ■
35-44 ■
45-54 -
55-64
65+
Prefer not ■
answerer
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50 % 60 %
Q6 What best describes your ra
Answered:81 Skipped 2
White
Black, African ,
American, or...
Hispanic/Latina
/e/o
Asian or Asian
American
American
Indian, Alas...
Native
Hawaiian or...
Middle Eastern I
or North...
Prefer not to
-e�
answerer
Other (please ■
specify)
00% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
What age group best describes you?
RESPONSES
Under 18
0•00%
18-24
0.00%
25-34
7.32%
35-44
25.61%
45-54
24.39%
55-64
24.390/o
65+
10.98%
No answer
7.32%
ANSWER CHOICES
White
Black, African American, or African
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
Asian or Asian American
American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Middle Eastern or North African
Prefer not to answer
Other (please specify) Two or more
TOTAL
124
Pane 19S of 9OR
Frontline Staff Survey Results
N=8
Q1 What type of work do you do and where do you do it?
THROUGHOUT
IN
IN
OTHER
N/A
TOTAL
JACKSON COUNTY
ASHLAND
MEDFORD
AREAS
Street Outreach
14.29%
0.00%
14.29%
0.00%
71.43%
1
0
1
0
5
7
Support Services (resource navigation,
50.000/6
25.00%
12.50%
0,00%
12.50%
educatioNemployment, healthcare, etc.)
4
2
1
0
1
8
Peer Support (walking alongside / whatever it
28.57%
28.57%
14.29%
0.00%
28.57%
takes)
2
2
1
0
2
7
Supplemental Services (providing meals,
37.50%
50.00%
12.50%
0.00%
0.00%
clothing, bus passes, etc.)
3
4
1
0
0
8
Program intake and/or CE assessments
28.57%
14.29%
0.00%
0.00%
57.14%
2
1
0
0
4
7
Emergency Shelter
14.29%
14.29%
0.00%
0.00%
71.43%
1
1
0
0
5
7
Transitional Housing
28.57%
14.29%
0.00%
0.00%
57.14%
2
1
0
0
4
7
Rapid Rehousing
14.299b
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
85.71%
1
0
0
0
6
7
Permanent Supportive Housing
28.57%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
71.43%
2
0
0
0
5
7
Affordable Housing
25.00%
12.50%
0.00%
0.00%
62.50%
2
1
0
0
5
8
OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
We help people stay safely housed.
Jail visit and service support/navigation
Behavioral health supports (therapy addiction counseling, connection to needed services)
Q2 What would make your work more successful?
ANSWER CHOICES
RESPONSES
More resources, such as:
5
62.50%
System integration or coordination with agencies, such as:
6
75.00%
Information about things, such as:
5
62.50%
Skills to do a better job at things, such as:
1
12.50%
Ways to manage demands/heavy workload, such as:
1
12.50%
Other:
3
37.50%
Other:
1
12.50%
125
Panes 196 of qnR
MORE RESOURCES, SUCH AS:
More grant funds
child care resources, car repair, and car financial help
housing, getting money allocated flowing to clients, therapists
mental health supports including emergency shelter for folks with MH concerns, Co-occurring
treatment centers, secure, safe, mental health housing
Low barrier shelters, access to treatment beds, co-occurring residential for higher acuity
presentations, same day MAT and pcp
SYSTEM INTEGRATION OR COORDINATION WITH AGENCIES, SUCH AS:
ACCESS, HUD, and other forms of state and federal funds
permanent housing, child care,
this is happening barrier is getting staff invested to stay or understanding how to work with
vulnerable populations
MH providers, MH treatment facilities (local and remote), MH housing (local and remote)
more collaboration with partners
Full transparencies and access to services across the city
INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS, SUCH AS:
available funds for housing and utilities assistance
permanent housing, child care,
how to engage clients, trainings DBT/CBT
Pathways for systems change around MH needs
Who has funding and how to access it
SKILLS TO DO A BETTER JOB AT THINGS, SUCH AS:
meeting clients where they are, staff actively seeking new ways to motivate clients
WAYS TO MANAGE DEMANDSIHEAVY WORKLOAD, SUCH AS:
staff work/life balance, recruitment, secure money for cost of living wages
126
Pane 197 of qns
OTHER:
A year-round shelter with resource navigation in addition to OHRA.
A safe place for housing the homeless during the day, providing an urban rest stop where the
homeless can take showers, launder clothing, eat, rest, meet with representatives from social
service organizations like ours.
Improved awareness and subsequent collaboration between service providers
OTHER:
Removing barriers that prevent organizations from engaging (funding that only allows specific
things prevents integration and collaboration)
Q3 If you had more resources, coordination, information, skills, etc., what
would the tangible outcome be?
FOR CLIENTS:
More housing and utility assistance; more funds for rental deposits
easier transition back into self supportive, healthy lives.
more engagement, lack of consistent staff clients get discouraged
A continuum of MH housing would offer dignity and provide support for folks when they are not
able to make healthy, safe decisions on their own
less hoop jumping
Better access to the available resources in Jackson county
More stability
FOR YOUR AGENCY:
more success
better work flow of coordination of care
Reduced recidivism which would ultimately lighten the burden clients cant' and make stable,
safe, healthy living easier (fewer fines, and other financial burdens)
no change
Cleaner reputation, relationships with our patrons
Help support more people in moving toward their goals
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Panes 19R of 9nR
FOR THE SERVICE SYSTEM:
A better -functioning system for helping the homeless
resources to be used to help those who want to better their lives
able to see the bigger picture for success
Right opportunity, right place, right time will make services appropriate and effective
better communication
Stronger support for our most vulnerable citizens
Less impact on emergency services like ED and Law enforcement
FOR YOU, PERSONALLY:
I want to see the women and children thrive in life.
true focus on program development vs training new staff routinely
I'd work myself out of a job ;)
Less burnout
FOR THE COMMUNITY:
More affordable housing and a place other than the public library for the homeless to go during
the day where they can shower, eat, and wash their laundry.
unity
witness bigger impact agencies are having on clients lives
Our community - individuals, families, businesses - would enjoy the benefits of a robust
economy, safe, family -friendly recreation spaces, and we could recruit the workforce we need
people in need would be better served.
OTHER OUTCOMES:
A better lodging system than the night camping scenario.
Less grabbing of existing funding and more sharing/collaborating to serve our community
effectively and efficiently
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Panes 1 9A of qnR
Q4 What are the top 1-2 things that get in your way?
RESPONSES
Lack of affordable housing of all types. Fragmented approach to helping the unhoused.
A lack of safe, affordable housing, a safe place for the homeless to gather during the day
where they can shower, launder their clothing, eat, rest, and meet with social service
organization representatives. and approximately $100 worth of fees attached to city utility bills
before a single tap is turned on or a light switch is flipped!
staff retention, recruiting quality applicants
1. Long waitlist for treatment; 2. Lack of MH emergency shelter
staff turnover at agency partners
Siloing of resources
Sheltering and immediate access to treatment
Q5 To what degree has the City of Ashland (city government) gotten in your
way?
Not at all
Somewhat
Significantly
0°% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 900/0 100%
PLEASE EXPLAIN.
The building @ 2200 Ashland Street would be better used if it were a year-round shelter in
addition to being a severe weather shelter. It started in that direction but stopped when time
crunch didn't allow for a proper cost appraisal review of needed improvements.
Utility bills for renters that include $100 in fees before renters have turned on the tap or any
electricity is a real obstacle. Landlords have little incentive to weatherize their properties, and
renters wind up paying these fees without any opportunity to economize! The fees are on the
bill before they have turned on any utility in their space!
Always very supportive
The lack of consistent treatment of our unhoused makes navigation very difficult
129
Pan- 1.m of 9nA
Q6 To what degree has the City of Ashland (city government) been helpful?
Not at all
Somewhat
Significantly
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
PLEASE EXPLAIN.
The city is trying to address the homeless population on several fronts, but is hampered by
funding and available staff.
The Social Services grants from the City of Ashland were sorely missed during the pandemic.
While we would welcome a return to more robust funding of the Social Services grant program,
we are grateful to receive the funds we do.
law enforcement has worked hard to keep clients safe and discuss ways to improve
coordination
The Dusk to Dawn shelter meets needs of folks that sometimes are ineligible for other shelter
options
this is the first year, we've applied for a community grant and it may be awarded. it's not
completed yet.
No low barrier emergency sheltering
Q7 Who or what has been most helpful in your work?
RESPONSES
Having a partner like OHRA to navigate with the homeless population.
We welcome the opportunity to share with the Housing Committee the ways in which we use
the funds awarded.
The person who allows us to use our facility
How agencies in Ashland have worked together through mistakes and retakes on referrals and
all continuing to improve. It hasn't been just one person, a collective community
The best, most helpful thing in this work is relationships with service providers :) These
relationships truly make magic happen for people we are serving.
My longterm relationship with community partners
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pane 131 of 2ns
Q8 What action could the City of Ashland (city government) take to be
more helpful to your work?
RESPONSES
Work to provide a year-round, safe place for shelter and navigation for the homeless.
Provide space for an urban rest stop during the day where homeless people can gather, meet
with social service agency members, wash clothes, shower, and eat. The City needs to extend
the ALIEAP utility assistance program to operate year-round for low-income persons and
families of any age or condition (not just seniors or the disabled). Household income limits
need to be lowered to allow more working families to qualify for assistance. Also low-income
families need to be exempt from the approximately $100 in fees that appear on each bill before
a tap is turned on or a light switch is flipped.
not charge for utilities :>)
Continue with what you are doing. I am comfortable addressing needs as they arise
Zoning changes to facilitate innovation around service provision
refine the applications to ask information only that you will use to determine funding.
Provide consistent places and rules for unhoused individuals to perform daily tasks of living.
Eating, sleeping, using restrooms.
Sheltering options with targeted case management and access to a continuum of housing
services and treatment
Q9 What else would you like to offer?
RESPONSES
I think it best not to locate too many resources for the homeless population at the library as we
will wind up having problems similar to what the Medford library experienced. We don't want to
drive patrons away from the library who come for it's intended purpose.
The City could do more to let local non-profit agencies know of state and federal funds that are
available to help low-income residents.
Help with afterschool / weekend child care/ money for car maintenance.
Thank you for the survey
Thank you
Lack of consistent rules and their execition cause disruption in the lives of our unhoused
population. The continual lack of consistent treatment causes added unnecessary trauma for
every unhoused person in Ashland
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Pane 132 of ms
General Population Survey Results
N=282
Q1 Have you personally experienced homelessness?
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes, I am currently homeless. 2 0.72%
Yes, I have experienced homelessness in the past 5 years. 14 5.05%
Yes, I experienced homelessness more than 5 years ago 33 11.91%
No, I have not experienced homelessness 228 82.31%
TOTAL 277
Q2 Do you personally know anyone who is living in any of the following
circumstances? (Select all that apply.)
ANSWER CHOICES
RESPONSES
Temporarily living with friends/family
100
36.50%
Living in a vehicle
71
25.91%
Living in a tent
48
17.52%
Living in an emergency or transitional shelter
44
16.06%
None of the above
140
51.09%
Total Respondents: 274
Q3 In the past two years, have you experienced
any of the following
difficulties related to finding or purchasing
housing for yourself or your
family? (Select all that apply.)
ANSWER CHOICES
RESPONSES
None of the above
172
62.09%
Shortage of affordable rental housing
80
28.88%
Limited number of affordable homes for sale
64
23.100/o
Don't have enough money for fees/deposit/down payment
54
19.49%
Cant qualify for a mortgage/home financing
37
13.36%
Other (please specify)
21
7.58%
Total Respondents: 277
132
Pane 133 of 9OR
OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
Unclear guidance from City of Ashland re: zoning & permits for creating affordable housing
I inherited my mom's home, having been her caregiver for many years. Otherwise I wouldn't be
able to afford one
Can't afford the high cost of land
Loss of income which risked housing
tried to sell to move to less expensive, smaller house. No buyer emerged
1 have been denied housing multiple times for not making 3 times the rent.
Inflated real estate prices post-Almeda fire
I feel incredibly fortunate that my family has long-term, stable housing so I haven't experienced
the above difficulties, but I have many friends, colleagues, and acquaintances that have
straggled with all of the listed difficulties.
Mortgage interest rates
Inhabitable rental space conditions that owner won't resolve
Unable to get a job that offers a stable income
earlier in my life but not in the past 2 years.
Rent too high
Limitation of urban boundary prevents affordable housing subdivision choices
Utilities. Cost of living here compared to wages is so unbalanced we want to leave.
I already own a home but Ashland is not an affordable place to live. The vast majority of
individuals working downtown can't afford rent in Ashland let alone be able to buy.
We are constantly afraid of no cause eviction
don't meet application requirements for income and rental history
Can't afford to purchase a home in Ashland or Talent.
discrimination
limited places allowing pets and smoking
133
Panes 134 of 9nR
Q4 In your view, how important is it to address the following aspects of
homelessness in Ashland?
NOT
SLIGHTLY
IMPORTANT
VERY
TOTAL
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT
Costs to taxpayers
7.27%
21.82%
26.55%
44.36%
20
60
73
122
275
Impact on local businesses
6.50%
14.44%
26.71%
52.35%
18
40
74
145
277
Impact on tourism
10.43%
17.99%
22.30%
49.28%
29
50
62
137
278
Access to public restrooms
3.62%
10.51%
27.17%
58.70%
10
29
75
162
276
Health and well-being of people experiencing
5.45%
13.45%
21.45%
59.64%
homelessness
15
37
59
164
275
Public safety
0.73%
5.47%
25.91%
67.88%
2
15
71
186
274
COMMENTS:
The public safety concern I have seen most is fire in Lithia Park
treat them with respect. Each one of them have a right to exist and thrive. Do unto others!
When I have to say I'd rather have "accessible toilets" rather than the safety of my unhoused
neighbors, it says a LOT about the societal infrastructure of this town.
"public safety" includes people living unsheltered
Homeless are the "public", too. They need "safety" as well
It's bad enough that I, and others I know, fear walking in certain public areas because odds are
they will be approached and/or accosted in some way by aggressive homeless people. Also,
the blight on our city is palpable. It's right out there; the disparity, filth, unsafe conditions.
Several times I have taken my young child into a restroom only to find someone smoking, or
sitting on their sleeping bag using it as a bedroom.
There has to be a limit. Were a town of 23k people how many shelter beds, affordable housing
options, etc does the city need to provide. I would say great than 100 and less than 23k.
Public safety for everyone, including our unhoused neighbors.
We can do better. Also why aren't individuals that are homeless asked these questions where
they have the ability to speak and advocate for themselves?
Some homeless people don't want permanent housing. They like to travel, but often run out of
funds.
The city needed to do it's homework before buying a building that is fatally inadequate. It' crazy
that pioneer hall has been shut down.
134
Panp 115 of 908
The categories above are hard to answer --because of their inherent bias against houseless
people and because of one simple fact: If time, effort and money were spent on assuring the
health and well being of people experiencing homelessness, impacts on things like tourism and
local businesses wouldn't be an issue. The category "Public Safety"....we are ALL 'the Public'.
It seems to me that the people suffering the most from lack of safety are the houseless people
in Ashland.
Despite biases some may have against the homeless they are still human beings and they
should be treated as such and their safety and well-being are just as important.
Public safety is important and the unhoused community is part of the public.
1 live off of Ashland Street. There are homeless all around. The City has chosen to make this
part of town the place to stuff all of the homeless. Crime is up. Businesses are impacted.
Three of my neighbors have moved citing the homeless issue as the driving factor. Ashland
needs to find solutions that are equitable and spread across the whole town, not just in south
Ashland. It has to stop.
I worry that people without adequate shelter and heating and sanitary facilities will not only
have prrsonal issues but might ignite a wildfire or somehow pass on contagious diseases to
the public
It's a complex problem that will require a complex and multi -faceted solution.
Homelessness is a crisis across the US. Housing is the #1 cure coupled with services to treat
mental health and substance abuse, and lack of enforcement when necessary to keep our
community clean and safe . The hidden costs of not addressing it need also to be calculated.
As a woman, I am uncomfortable with homeless men hanging around my streets and
neighborhood
We need to provide services and housing without the perception of possible conflict or threats
to residents and tourists
I'm not sure what the bathroom question is about.
People need help, not pushed out of sight.
The homeless ARE the public and should be safe.
I object to the treatment of the homeless as an entity that needs to be removed from our
community.lsee them being regarded as less than.
Need more local support for chronic mental illness located here and not in Medford.
shland is driving me out of here. We ae moving and it is because of this and the city's
approach. Welcoming all of them to Ashland. Sick of it!!
I would like to see importance of rehabilitation programs to help homeless people get the help
they need.
Need facilities fir homeless families the mental ill and drug addicts.
135
Pane 118 of 90R
People who are unhoused are way more often victims rather than perpetrators of crimes
am all for the health of people experiencing homelessness, but it cannot be at the expense of
everyone else and the businesses in town, or even the general vibe in town, which is a big part
of what makes some places "A great place to live" or " a really fun town to visit."
Ashland is too attractive to the "travellers".
We need lockdown treatment centers. Addiction can't be cured with words.
We need to do a better job in providing safe locations and services for the unhoused
This is hugely important!
I think there are some other aspects that aren't listed here, including impact on residents of
Ashland who are housed. It's really important to center the needs of people who experience
homelessness and I understand that they are a marginalized group who need support, but
failing to recognize the impacts on other residents has the potential to undermine goodwill that
folks have toward these efforts. It's great to be concerned about the impact on tourism for
example, but people who aren't tourists but live here also want to be able to feel comfortable
using the parks and walking downtown and visiting businesses. Ideally, addressing root causes
for homelessness and providing homeless services will improve the quality of life for everyone,
housed and unhoused.
Your definition of homeless failed to include those with substance abuse issues. Please do not
conflat the two issue. You need to treat those with substance abuse BEFORE you place them
into any shelter or housing or you will not solve the problem. Street people with addiction are
not the true homeless who are not drug addled. Prioritize: Single women with kids, families,
single women/men all of whom are not drug/drink addled need help now. Addiction need
detox/rehab/recovery + guided recovery housing.
We need housing first and then a collision of social and medical needs.
Move them along unless they want help. Most of them are drug addicts that don't want help or
rehabilitation.
don't frequently get out anymore, due to the fact that I don't feel safe around aggressive
homeless individuals , which are increasing.
Health & well being needs to be vested interest of the homeless people as much as us taking
this survey
There is a difference between bums who feel entitled to camp and delicate anywhere and
people who are homeless and need assistance to get a roof over their heads. It has become
unsafe to walk the parks like I use to. It is awful to have vagrants crap in our neighbors yard.
Been here since 1968 and for the first time feel we need fencing and security cameras. Drug
addicts need lock down services and the mentally ill.
136
Panes 1.17 of gns
I work for an employer located adjacent to the recently closed shelter. It was an absolute
nightmare in dealing with the continual influx of both the legitimately homeless and the many
who have opted for that lifestyle. Theft, disturbances in one form or another, were ever-present.
Since the closure of the shelter„ the amount and frequency of the above, while still an issue,
has diminished.
Providing food, clothing and shelter needs to be provided in exchange for working/contributing
to society. If they are incapable or not willing to engage in a functioning society, they need to
leave the area or have a higher level of care.
More time, eneregy and resources need to be directed to enforcing the laws, supporting
Ashland businesses and keeping them safe, and having a chief of police that will enforce the
law and not turn a blind eye to any breaking of the law, however minor it may seem. Also, stop
pouring money, resources and time into catering to the homeless. The more services that the
city provides the more homeless the city will attract. If you offer it they will come.
3 facet approach: 11homeless due to circumstances, 2} homeless due to mental illness 31
homeless due to personal choice
Daughter was just harassed by a homeless tweaker. We don't feel safe here. Sick of seeing
tents and car camping everywhere
dont put them all in the same nbad
Public Safety for houseless persons as well as other residents and visitors to Ashland
As a mother and business owner in Ashland, my top priorities are my family's safety and
protecting my business from vandalism and drug use/trash. I would like more public safety.
big facility required with rooms, common rooms, laundry and other services. HELP THOSE AT
THE NIGHT LAWN NOW!!!! Get them help .... stop ticketing them all the time. Find places
vehicles can park. stop punitiveness.. but get them into care they need... mandatory not
voluntary if mentally ill etc
We need to build more transitional and affordable apartments
I think the biggest thing to focus on is the wellbeing of our fellow people and community. This
includes unhoused people to a huge degree.
Stop sweeping people who live outside
i dont understand why public safety is on here. are you implying that houseless people are a
public safety issue? cause that would be �up.
The city is not a charity and The Homeless' are not all Ashland residents. Ashland should help
its own, but it has insufficient resources to help all comers.
Those aren't aspects of homelessness, they're aspects of the dehumanizing aspects of your
ersponse to homelessness.
137
Pane 13s of Pn8
It's not safe for children nor adults on our bike path
Need night lawn supervision and homeless coordinator
Poorly worded question! Access to restrooms... for who? I would like to see less homeless
people able to camp out and ruin the public restrooms for the rest of us, many of whom have
kids and would rather not be confronted with blood and needles in the bathrooms, dilapidated
as they may be.
Homelessness leads to sex trafficking of children. Any attempts to make houselessness
criminalization increase makes you a pedophile's best friend. The city council know seem like
yhey want homeless people dead, or sold tp sex slavery somewhere else so we don't have to
think about them. _ this city council and mayor.
These are confusing
The city needs to expand long-term housing alternatives for different household sizes on
publicly owned land, operated by a non-profit, so that profits do not drive management
decisions.
The city job is to make sure our city works. Social service agencies are appropriate vehicles to
deliver service. Everything the city touches it screws. UpAFN ski area shelter maybe they
should just do what we elected them to so. Keep our city working and citizen safe that's why
we paynhuge taxes for. In November we will vote a new slate of hopefuls in.
Coost to taxpayers should be limied to wealthy and corporate laandlords not low income ones.
make drugs illegal again
The homeless problem is dragging our entire city into a downward spiral. We know several
friends who are moving out of Ashland because of all the focus and money put into the
homeless issue specifically for those who have been in and out of the justice system and don't
choose to be helped. Some homeless residents here don't want to abide by the rules of
shelters or transitional housing. Those are the people we have on the streets here in Ashland,
the ones who chose not to access services for whatever reason.
More indepth coordination between the folk experiencing this lifestyle, purposefully or not, and
local resources/ businessesis vital
Homelessness is now a huge problem in Ashland that is causing me to reconsider living here.
Moving is not a solution to the problem I realize but it's getting to the point where I am not
always comfortable living here/being in this town.
Criminalizing homelessness does not solve it, or make anyone safer, it just provides fuel for
your jails.
while the health & wellbeing of all beings is very important, in my view, we need to not attract
people who do not already live in the valley to live here. Perhaps all homeless register in order
to receive benefits, such as food, shelter, etc, but no one new can come into the area unless
we have enough resources, housing etc, for them. Take care of who truly is from this valley
and is homeless, YES
138
Pane 1 R9 of MR
Q5 In Ashland, how frequently do you do the following?
DAILY
WEEKLY
2-3 TIMES
MONTHLY
MULTIPLE
NOT
TOTAL
PER
TIMES
AT
MONTH
PER YEAR
ALL
Notice persons who appear to be homeless
94.89%
11.51%
1.44%
0.36%
1.44%
0.36%
236
32
4
1
4
1
278
Acknowledge the presence of unhoused
36.10%
37.91%
9.39%
0.72%
5.42%
10.47%
persons (make eye contact, nod, say hello,
100
105
26
2
15
29
277
etc.)
Talk to persons experiencing homelessness
12.73%
18.55%
12.00%
9.82%
17.45%
29.45%
35
51
33
27
48
81
275
Give or buy food for a homeless person
3.97%
8.30%
7.94%
10.47%
34.66%
34.66%
11
23
22
29
96
96
277
Give money directly to someone who appears
2.53%
6.50%
5.05%
7.94%
23.47%
54.51%
to be homeless
7
18
- 14
22
65
151
277
Donate items to groups that support
4.68%
4.32%
9.35%
20.86%
40.29%
20.50%
homeless persons
13
12
26
58
112
57
278
Volunteer your time to organizations that
3.99%
5.43%
5.07%
3.99%
15.58%
65.94%
provide services to homeless persons
it
15
14
11
43
182
276
Q6 Where do you see or encounter people experiencing homelessness in
Ashland?
RESPONSES
around the co-op; the plaza (I live near there), in Lithia Park, especially in the evening during
summer, in parks sporadically. In front of the Police Dept, etc. on E. Main. Much less of a
problem than large west coast cities experience.
Downtown
outside the co-op, also Main St where the tents are, or just walking with their few belongings
In every area of town.
Literally everywhere. Main areas are close to the junction of ashland street and sisqiou (near
the 711), and downtown.
At the severe weather shelter, waiting to access the Night Lawn, walking along sidewalks,
outside of grocery stores, at the south 1-5 exit into Ashland
On my street, downtown, at Shop & Kart, BiMart, Alberton's
Near Albertsons and on the way to town, city hall, on 1-5 going to Medford
In front of my home, also on my property illegally and pretty much everywhere in Ashland
Around the plaza on Main St., in front of the Chamber of Commerce, and on the slopes of
Lithia Park
City wide
Food Co-op, downtown, parks
Work, streets, on walks off street
139
Pane 140 of qnR
On the Plaza, in front of the police station, begging on comers and intersections, courthouse
on Main St, along Ashland Street, in Lithia Park, and parked on public streets and parking lots.
All over
Ashland City Hall, a complete eyesore I drive by multiple times a day. Also downtown near the
Plaza and in front of basically every grocery store besides Market of Choice.
On drugs sleeping on sidewalks and at library.
On the bus, by the Co-op, near Bi-mart, by the police station, at the library, by Safeway
Everywhere
Railroad Park, in front of City Hall, alley behind our house
Food coop, police station, plaza
Plaza/Park area and obviously the police station.
All over town.
Everywhere- walking, sitting on curb, parks, shelter, grocery store, in their cars on the street
where I live
Near south freeway inter and downtown
On the streets, in the parks, in front of the city hall building.
Main Street, Lithia Park, downtown, N. Mountain Park and all over the Bear Creek pathway,
bike trail.
On street corners and outside of grocery stores.
at church, on sidewalks, in front of stores
Everywhere
BiMart/ShopnCart, library, downtown, Lithia Park, Food Co-op, Umpqua bank lot, Police
station, Goodwill area, Rite Aid area, Hwy exits
I see them on the street and I see them at the Peace Meals. I cooked for those meals for a
year and I still donate supplies regularly.
Around schools, parks, police station, greenway
I prepare meals and help serve meals 3 days per week in Lithia Park with Uncle Foods Diner
and with Peace Meals. I also volunteer at the Ashland Community Food Bank 1day a week.
week with Uncle Foods Diner and with Peace Meals in Lithiaith
All over.
I see them on a daily basis walking up and down Siskiyou Boulevard in from of our house,
partying in Garden Way Park, sleeping on our property, going through our garbage cans and
hanging out around Henry's Laundromat.
140
Panes 141 of 9OR
the entire south end of Ashland around Siskiyou and the parks
Bi mart area, Grove parking lot area, others
Off the Bear Creek Greenway, the grocery stores, parks and many living in cars.
BiMart parking lot, in front of police station
Everywhere in south ashland, particularly near parks or the cop shop
Throughout the town as I go about my regular activities.
Co-op and Shop-n-Kart
In front of the police station.
Ashland Municipal Court area, all areas downtown, Ashland Co-op, Shop n' Kart, The Grove
area, Lithia Park.
South end of town
Near my home on North Mountain and downtown.
abertsons, shop n kart, library, plaza
Downtown, in neighborhoods, south end of town.
Traffic intersections, on sidewalks near businesses, along the greenway, parking lots
especially near grocery stores
Nearly everywhere. South exit area. City hall. Plaza. Lithia Park.
Everywhere on flat ground from Lithia Park all the way to both exit 14 & 19
Shopping plazas (BiMart, Albertsons), Exit 14 interchange & gas stations; Main St by police
station
At Laundry Love where I volunteer once a month.
East Main Street, Safeway, 1-5 exits, shelters, YMCA, downtwon
Downtown by the Mix. At the entrance to Albertsons, Rite Aid, and the Dollar store. At 15 south
entrance.
Greenway and trails, Downtown
Hwy 99, E Main St, near Lithuanian Park, Ashland St, near Shop'n Kart
All about town. Often at grocery shops. I volunteer monthly for laundry love
Around parks and in front of public offices
Some of the many intersections in town, especially at 15 exit 14 and Highway 99 at Valley
View as well as outside the various grocery stores
141
Panes 149 of 9OR
Ashland Community Food Bank
Greenway, Downtown and City Hall on East Main
Night lawn, outside grocery stores, walking around town
Plaza, parks, near library, east main, downtown
All over town
At every shopping area and outside my job.
Police department
By my house regularly.
Everywhere
Just about everywhere
South Ashland
Under the Ashland St. overpass at Clay Street.
Downtown near Lithia Park and off Hwy 5 on south end of town
On sidewalks, parks, shelters, greenways
In all areas of the city
All over the city but concentrated in the southern end
Southern Ashland
Ashland Street and council chambers
Everywhere I look. Our street, nearby park, on the way to school.
At the Laundry/Shower Trailer, which is now at OHRA again
All over town!
Under Clay St Bridge along the greenway toward and at Hunter Park.
Everywhere
I work on Oak & B streets, and there are many homeless people there. They are constantly
there.
Downtown, near Market of Choice and Shop N Kart
South part of Ashland
Exit 14
I'm front of the police station, downtown, along the bike path.
142
Pane 14.1 of qna
Ashland St between exit 19 and Walker
Downtown, police station, Albertsons
Around the police station, sometimes in parks
Shopping center, passing the Police station
On the streets, sleeping in cars/buses at Lithia Park
Everywhere. Most of them aren't homeless by lack of choice. We have created a haven for
people to live ferally. Actual homeless people are the ones seeking the help that is already
available.
Mostly south Ashland
In front of the police department mostly.
parking lots, public spaces, lawns, the GRove
The parks where my children play and outside of every grocery store
entrances to the BiMart/ShopNKart parking lot, Albertson's, walking along Siskiyou Blvd,
around the DHS office and laundromat, near Taco Bell and Wendy's
The Plaza, all grocery stores, around SOU most everywhere.
Wandering the streets
on Main Street; on Lithia Way; in front of, at or behind the library; at the plaza; in front of the
co-op; in the Safeway parking lot
Mostly south Ashland especially in the bike path under the over pass near Clay Street,
cemetery and in and around Hunter park.
EVERYWHERE. One of Ashland's finest threatened to fight me. I am an old woman and I was
at the laundromat doing my laundry in the day time. That is when it all changed for me. And it
has steadily deteriorated alot since then sadly.
Every where
In thw plaza, getting on and off the freeway.
In front of city/municipal building, public parks
Outside the civic center, at street corners. At the food bank.
South Ashland and in the parks
The south end of town near freeway, albertsons, shop n kart ,good will, and also the police
station near east main and ashland st.
143
Pana 144 of 208
I live on the south side of town and have seen a big increase in the number of unhoused
people on this end of town as they've been somewhat pushed out of the downtown area. When
I am driving, I see folks every day near the south 1-5 on/off ramp, and I see folks daily when I
drive by the dusk to dawn night lawn. I don't got to Albertson's/Rite-Aid every day, but every
time I go to that complex I encounter people experiencing homelessness and I see people
often at the intersection of Ashland St and Tolman and along Tolman. I don't find the south end
of Ashland to be very walkable at this point so usually I see folks rather than encounter them
on the street so there's not much opportunity for direct interaction (eye contact, saying hello,
etc.). When I do see people when I'm not driving I try to acknowledge them. I also know a
couple of guys who congregate near my place of employment and sometimes sleep near the
building. We always chat and have a good rapport and I've given them food/snacks when
appropriate. Sometimes they are under the influence and I give them space at those times.
Downtown, south of town, police station
City hall, the Grove I am not out much because I am handicapped
On the sidewalk outside Stop & Shop. They hangout on the sidewalk to smoke, drink, and
demand money from tourists and anyone else trying to walk on the sidewalk.
Everywhere. Especially downtown, south Ashland & by the police station.
Ashland hospital, Main Street, downtown, near Umpqua Bank by food coop, library, East Main
St., in cemetery, in parks,by railroad tracks, near university, near Market of Choice, near Shop
n Kart, near Albertsons, near RiteAid
Everywhere!
Police station, plaza, along main by cemetery, etc..
Ashland Police center. Plaza. Railroad Park. 7-11 near SOU. Library (!)
parks, benches, sidewalks, plaza, civic center, grocery stores, parking lots, pretty much
everywhere
Police station In the mountain trails and along the freeway Ashland exit.
South Ashland only, they were all put here because of OHRA and the new shelter
Parking lots
Bear Creek Greenway, downtown Ashland, Tolman Creek Rd area
South Ashland, police station, case coffee, co-op, Safeway, cemetery
South Ashland
Bi-Mart, Shop N Kart, Ashland Food Co-op, parks, in front of the police station,
downtown... along Bear Creek. And every other week on our street going through recycling bins.
The shopping centers, car wash, almost anywhere now. Don't give food after having hot soup
and food thrown at me. Won't give dog food after being told their dog only eats premium foods.
Yeah. Sad for the truely homeless who would live help. Ashland has been so huggy that they
have the bums coming by droves.
144
Panes 145 of 9nA
Main street, south Ashland, Ashland street, co-op, downtown, etc
South Ashland
Under the bridge at Clay St, I have seen people smoking crack right in front of my children i we
rode by on our bikes in daylight. Near the freeway, near the emergency shelter, Ashland police
station.
everywhere
In south ashland in ashland street
I work for the Ashland school district and we have more families experiencing homelessness
than is visible on the streets. I appreciate the effort of the Ashland Library, however, as a
women with an infant child, the have been several instances I didn't feel safe when houseless
people at the library were in a mental health crisis.
all over town, but in particular, on the "south end of town, since our local government has seen
fit to locate most of these people on that end of town.
library and parks
All over the city
Along 1-5, walking the streets, tents around town
Ashland Food Co-op
Mainly on the South side walking my dog
Library, Parks, Grocery Stored
Parks, downtown, E. Main St.
Parking lots on the south side of town (shop n kart, Albertsons.) near the police station. By the
freeway off ramps, down on the north side by the wellsprings and sometimes downtown
Parks, downtown, in my job
Railroad park, near Ashland police hq
Downtown plaza, street corners, parks
downtown, grocery stores, parks, in front of Police Dept
On the street; on bike paths; in the parks.
Freeway on /off ramp
E. Main St. sidewalk, downtown, freeway exits/entrances, Co-op, parks
All of the parks, downtown Ashland, all grocery stores, freeway on/off ramps, N Main St,
Ashland Street, Railroad tracks, Tolman Creek area, Ashland library, Ashland police station
yard and in front of The Grove on E Main St, the field behind Albertsons, all culverts, creeks
crossing under roads.
145
Panes 148 of qnR
Along roadways
Downtown and at my work
Freeway entrances and exits, parks, in and around local business, the undrepass/bikepath in
South Ashland. In and around ORHA and 2200 Ashland Street.
South Ashland
pretty much everywhere. Fewer in the downtown/tourist oriented plaza.
Ashland Street, Tolman crk
Triangle Park, Downtown
every grocery store in Ashland
Night Lawn and street, freeway off ramps,
South Ashland, downtown, police dept area, bike path.... Freeway, highways
Near Shopping Kart, by City Hall, parked in neighborhoods, near railroad tracks. Mostly South
Ashland.
in front of my house /on main streetIsis-q, etc
Near or around Exit 14
South Ashland, around OHRA, Shop n Kart, Bi Mart, the Overpass and the railroad tracks
Lately there is a concentration of folks moving from the Nightlawn to in front of the Police
station, near the Co+op, at Shop N. Kart and at the two 1-5 Exits. There doesnt seem to be
many who are on the Plaza as it was before the ordinance was passed.
Outside the police station, walking on the street
Downtown and at grocery stores
parking lots of most grocery stores, plus downtown area of Ashland
We mostly seen them loitering around the exits, all over South Ashland, and around the
businesses near Southern Oregon University
Plaza, library, Garfield park, in front of the police station, the shopping center where Wendy's
is, the parking lots of Bi-Mart and Albertsons, at bus stops.
7/11, triangle park
grocery stores or by the night lawn
Public Library, food co-op, plaza, parks
All over
By grocery stores
146
Pane 147 of 90A
Along siskiyou and 99 near sou
Unhoused folks should be allowed to exist everywhere, unfortunately this is not the case.
There are select spots where the most unhoused folks feel as safe as possible in Ashland.
The last big camp I saw was actually right in front of the Police Station. I pray it is still there,
intact.
All over
Largely the area around SE Ashland. Tolman Creek/Ashland Street.
Everywhere
The homeless are everywhere just like every other city.
Police station, parks, walking downtown
In Lithia Park, outside city hall and in high traffic areas downtown
APD, downtown, ShopNKart parking lot
At the bi Mart and Taco Bell and the on -ramp towards Yreka
Everywhere
South Ashland
Everywhere
At the stores and by the police station
all over town
On the south side near Taco Bell mostly but also down town
Everywhere, downtown, Ashland St, Exit by 15
In my neighborhood , multiple people passed out in the sidewalk, not safe for the exposed to
the elements or my kids trying to walk to school
E. Main St.
Everywhere. Hard to find a place where they are not.
sidewalks, parks, encampments, Greenway, streets, yards
Outside
Pretty much anywhere in town. And I see their tents/spaces wherever they can hide them until
they're kicked out of that area too.
Brought in by APD or AFR to the emergency department.
downtown, parks, walking trails
downtown, coop parking lot, grass area near the grove
147
Pane 148 of 208
Downtown, plaza, Safeway, bus -stops, library, Triangle Park, City Govt offices
Eveywhere
All over everywhere. Mostly on the south side.
Walking North on the south bound 1-5. Very dangerous!!
City Hall eyesore, bike paths, plaza, Bi-Mart, etc.
Bimart, Shop N Kart, Green Way path in south Ashland
The Grove night lawn, OHRA Resource Center
Outside the police station
I live on the south side, so see many daily.
Everywhere! Walking by my house even on Morton Street, where they never used to venture.
Parks, streets, everywhere. I bet if Tighe did a count, it would have to be hundreds.
Everywhere. - for trying to hurt homeless people.
South end of town, Co-op, Police Station
Exit 14 off/on ramp -Shop n kart -rite aid
On -ramps, courthouse, the plaza
streets, parks, outside stores and in parking lots
Everywhere
Everywhere throughout the city limits (parks, streets, store parking lots, near 1-5 exits,
greeenway, while driving)
Mostly in front of the police station, near grocery stores (all), at the library, and at the plaza.
Downtown streets, on the Plaza, at the library, Lithia Park, along the city-wide bike path, at
Triangle Park, Railroad Park, outside of grocery stores, Bear Creek Greenway, outside of
Wendy's and the Dollar Tree ... might be easier to ask where I don't encounter them.
On the street, in Bi mart parking lot
I am a local community minister and clergy
Everywhere
On Pioneer, downtown streets, E Main, Tolman Creek, Clover St,
Every where in town
By plaza. Food coop rvs on streets. Lithia park. Police dept Main St
Everywhere, but especially surrounding SOU and bu the 7/11
148
Pane 14A of 908
On A Street.
we housed and paid phone and y membership and helped with food, a heater for his tent etc.
one for 7 months in a tent and let hm live in our back yard until his drunkenness became a
problem for us and our neighors. even helped him get into OSHA low income housing. However
he managed to get himself kicked out of there in three weeks. So, we're done!!
Near city hall / police station, local grocery stores
everywhere
Lithia park, by the police station
Downtown, Shop & kart,
Most of the main streets
In front of the police station/on the plaza
police station, library, food co-op, downtown, parks
Bi-Mart/Shoppn'kart lot, near Albertson's and Rite Aid and down town
All over Ashland. Especially in South Ashland.
At the Vallley View Road access to 15. Along Siskyou St.
Griffith park, bear creek trail
Downtown
Downtown, walking from downtown on Main Street toward the police station, in front of Shop
and Kart, on Ashland Street in the Albertson's shopping center or on the sidewalks
Mostly by the police station
From south to north end, in all 10 of the fire zones across these 7 odd miles of city limit
Where I shop. On the street where I live. In public places (like the library) where I am now
sometimes uncomfortable going. In front of our very own police station - what an unsightly
mess! In our parks. Sometimes even in my yard (confused or high up n something)
Downtown, on E Main St near the Grove, grocery store parking lots, walking on Siskiyou Blvd
and Main Street
downtown and on siskiyou blvd
Everywhere
149
Panes i sn of ?nR
Q7 How much do you agree with the following statements?
STRONGLY
DISAGREE
Services to homeless people in Ashland 32.36%
are adequate to meet the need 89
Services to homeless people in Ashland 47.25%
should be reduced 129
Services to homeless people in Ashland 16.25%
should be expanded 45
COMMENTS:
DISAGREE
NEITHER AGREE
AGREE
STRONGLY
TOTAL
OR DISAGREE
AGREE
28.73%
18.91%
8.73%
11.27%
79
52
24
31
275
14.65%
17.22%
8.79%
12.09%
40
47
24
33
273
11.19%
14.44%
21.66%
36.46%
31
40
60
101
277
The fact that we have to BEG for anything, and this poll allows people to full stop say they
think that what meager scraps have been handed out aren't enough.
There is a spectrum of needs, but all services should meet people where they are at and be
focused on the next step to stable permanent housing.
Don't know for sure
Better solutions are needed and camping / loitering/ soliciting and intimidating residents is too
common and needs to be addressed
I honestly haven't studied enough to know if the services in our city are adequate enough. I do
see a lot of them but also a lot of homelessness. Is it because we do offer services that
homeless feel comfortable being here and out in the open and publicly approaching and
sometimes accosting folks just out doing their own business OR it's like this because we are
not addressing it adequately.
This is a systemic societal problem based on the network of support fraying often due to
addiction and mental health issues. Wherever there is money, homeless will come to
panhandle and seek out resources. Businesses need to collectively unite around anti
panhandling laws and require busking licenses. Further, they should all have public statements
encouraging tourists to donate to a vetted local charity rather than give cash to the homeless.
If those experiencing homelessness aren't willing to submit to the charity requirements they
will need to move on.
See previous comment about limits. We can't house everyone in the country.
We need more shelter.
Come on- human decency- we can do much better
Those who want it, should be able to live in adequate housing, be emplyed, and join the rest of
us.
this isn't going away without increased low cost housing
MCI
Pane 191 of gas
This is a systemic societal problem based on the network of support fraying often due to
addiction and mental health issues. Wherever there is money, homeless will come to
panhandle and seek out resources. Businesses need to collectively unite around anti
panhandling laws and require busking licenses. Further, they should all have public statements
encouraging tourists to donate to a vetted local charity rather than give cash to the homeless.
If those experiencing homelessness aren't willing to submit to the charity requirements they
will need to move on.
See previous comment about limits. We can't house everyone in the country.
We need more shelter.
Come on- human decency- we can do much better
Those who want it, should be able to live in adequate housing, be emplyed, and join the rest of
us.
this isn't going away without increased low cost housing
The city has been unremittingly callous in its treatment of houseless people. It's been one poor
choice after another. (Spending millions on that building without dealing with the fire insurance
issue???, lying about access to Pioneer Hall. Offering NO PLACE for the Peace Meals.
Offering next to no place for people to camp, sleep unaccosted, sit down for a break, eat a
meal (a meal, I might add, that costs the city nothing). Houseless people are constantly
harassed and blamed for circumstances and events that are either beyond their control, or
actually fomented by the city's cruel treatment of them.
It takes a village and no one person is any better than the other. Housing,food, clothing are all
human rights and we,as a community, should do what we can to help those in need.
Ashland has become a magnet for non residents
It sounds callous but it seems like the more that is provided, the more homeless there are.
Many homeless have mental health issues which somehow become the problem of the police.
Some have been the victim of circumstances. Others just dont want to work or be part of
society. Those are the ones that are frustrating and dragging everyone else down with them.
We need more regulated camp sites like the one by the police station. And the motels
purchased for temporary living. But not in areas meant for public use.
If people get too many services for free it will increase the need as new folks are attracted to
the services here.
HOUSING is the answer to homelessness.
Mental health services are important. What about enlisting homeless persons to perform some
service ( ie trash pickup, bathroom cleaning, help at the food bank etc) in exchange for some
benefit they receive. This would help some benefit their self esteem, +/or sense of purpose
If you build it they will come (to Ashland).
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Pane 159 of ?()A
Forcing people sleep outside during the cold rainy or icy season is inhumane. I have donated
many meals over the years to the various spots where shelters have opened and later closed.
My church donates a lot already. We can do better, and that means all of us, including
homeless people who are healthy enough to pitch in at Food Bank and similar places. This
approach worked well in a small community I moved from.
It's a basic need to homed
I recognize there are $$$ limitations to how much can be done
This is a national problem, not just a local or Oregon problem.
You've created a significant hazard at the night lawn by taking no responsibility. =has
succumbed to his injuries from the January altercation there.
The more services the more homeless will come. It seems to be a minimal impact on our town
at this point. More services only bring more homeless
A day shelter. Place to stay inside in the day
I think that they should be given the respect and dignity that any human being deserves. the
reasons for homelessness can happen to any one of us.
There is food opportunity but there should be some more housing available
Not being homeless myself I don't feel qualified to answer this. What I feel strongly about is
the sidewalks/parks/bathrooms can't become taken over by the homeless.
Must increase beds and services available to take unhoused off the streets
The more services we provide, the more people will come
The city is merely placing a bandaid. Spending money on extremely temporary solutions and
welcoming transients to rifle through our cars, loitering our business and trash our parks.
I can't understand how we can have homeless seniors and children. In England they have
something called "sheltered housing" where such people are placed. No clue how it's funded
though.
Seems like we keep doing more and more, is it working? We don't want to create an
ecosystem of NGOs that really on function to support themselves
I don't know if services are adequate to r the homeless just don't utilize the offered services
because there are way too many homeless people on the streets.
I see two distinct groups (of course there are outliers): unhoused families, who should
immediately be housed for safety, and individuals with acute mental health needs. Of course
all deserve homes, but families, for safety and well-being, need housing & support in job
placement and quality child care. Those with acute mental health needs should be provided
counseling support first and foremost, along with transitional housing, such as Osha, with
support through tracking & check -ins.
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Panp 153 of 2ns
Homelessness is a national issue and trying to solve it at the local level will not work
these statements are too vague for me to rate them. When you say adequate, do you mean
that I think the current services are being adequately administered? Or that the fact that they
are offered is adequate? For example, I think it is important for people to have a location to
sleep and also don't think people who are protest camping should be pitching tents in the parks
and on the plaza. I think having the night lawn is an adequate service to ensure there is a
place for people to sleep AS A CONCEPT. But I don't think the night lawn is adequately
managed or supported. That's just one example of why I don't feel I can agree/disagree with
these statements. There is a ton of nuance that is not captured in them.
Put yourself in their shoes
Housing first
What is meant by services?: Healthcare? Food? Lodging?
The pallet homes in storage on B/mountain MUST be used for the homeless! They have just
sat there for four winters while people froze.
These are not the right ranked questions. This is a national and state issue. Ashland can never
solve this problem, and there are not enough local resources. To think otherwise is a mistake
on the park of the Mayor and council. We know you want to do right think however in this
instance it is nearly impossible.
the more services Ashland provides the more homeless persons come to Ashland
Stop attracting more people here offering them more stuff. This is a small town!
I just don't know
Services to the homeless should NOT be offered as a cookie cutter approach because every
homeless person is unique and has a different experience
Individuals need to be invested in improving their lives as much as those providing them
services.
Give a hand up, not a hand out. zero tolerance for home free on public land. If mentally ill or
drug addicted, require social services and raise taxes to provide funds for these social
services
read my earlier comment, that says it all. These questionairres don't really fit how I see things.
I'm completely compassionate but don't want to attract hoards of people from out of state etc.
You cannot tell the truly homeless (and ill) people from those that prefer that lifestyle, yet will
take everything that society/government offers them. Homeless people are stationed all over
the Bi-Mart/Shop N Kart parking lot. At one time, all of those businesses were hiring (Taco
Bell, BiMart, Shop N Kart, Miller Paint, and the Oil Stop. When I inquired of several of the
homeless why they wouldn't take the opportunity to seek help and present themselves for
employment, I was told that they weren't interested, or I was told to "Go =off." Whatever
empathy I may have had for many of these people, is quickly dispersing into the ether. lot
153
Panes 1.4 of 9nR
It's a tough call.. As long as we continue to provide food, shelter, and clothing homelessness
in Ashland will never go away. In fact this will be the place to come. Sad to say, even if they
all got jobs it would be almost impossible to live here due to the cost of living.
rotating shower trailers around town, more access to bathrooms and hand washing
Every community in the US and the US government needs to start providing services of all
kinds and we need to house people.
It's a hard question. More services seem to draw more homeless
"expnded"??? Services could be be better organized, better thought out
Services should not be expanded for those who choose to be unhoused.
The more that is free 11 The more will come . Get to Root of issue. Do some math , on
population vs homeless?
Free housing and food gives the homeless no incentive to improve their lives. They simply
become complacent and do not strive to improve their lives.
Not sure about expanded but better thought out and managed
A few hundred dollars for rat traps around the "Night Lawn" would be a huge improvement at
minimal cost.
see comment re: 3 facet approach
Providing more services will attract more homeless
Needs to be distributed so it's not all in south Ashland. I regret buying a home here so much.
We want to move. It's a bigger problem than just homeless people I realize
Not sure what the solution is. I know OHRA does a good job. Maybe another similar situation
on the North end of town.
i live between 2 shelters and the value of my home has decreased
The expansion, however should be funded by a regional/national/ state collaboration
It's a very complicated population to help, with many different backstories and ability levels.
Underlying drug use and mental health issues make some of wary of interacting.
"Build it and they will come" as the saying goes
getting them services will help us all .... start with the Nlght Lawn and anyone who seems
mentally or physically disabled. Find places for folks to park their vehicles and store their gear.
Lets define "services." I think access to daily community meals should be prioritized over
access to high -cost shelter options. A functional camping area should also be prioritized over
cost prohibitive shelter options.
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Panes 155 of 9nR
Unhoused people are people. Regardless of their relationship with drugs, the law, and/or mental
health they deserve access to services that help keep them alive and safe. There are kids,
families, pregnant people, disabled people and other minorities included heavily in unhoused
populations who all need access to services. Until I stop hearing about unhoused friends dying
from the cold, the heat, brutality, or any other easily avoidable circumstance, the services
provided are not enough.
There needs to be a multi -layered strategy with multiple shelter options and camping allowed,
but with services and accountability and support.
The term "homeless" is a weighted and will skew the responses. The term "unhoused" should
have been use for the purposes of this survey.
Housing first approach, people will not make it out of the street of they're ticketed, forced to
remove most of their belongings and beloved pets to stay in a shelter, and not have to worry
about paying rent while dealing with mental health or drug dependence.
The more services we provide, the more homeless people will gravitate to Ashland
The city is so far off track in this regard
More services means more homeless without drug treatment
There are not enough services to help people, all the shelters require sobriety and that is
extremely hard and unrealistic for people living on the streets especially when there is no place
for them to go and detox. No one is going to be able to get sober on the streets. There needs
to be detox centers and separation between the women/family shelters and places for people
who are not sober to be.
We need a Cahoots type program to deal with the welfare checks and wellbeing so it doesn't
tie up our law enforcement and 991 services for medical emergencies
I think a dedicated camping site, with porta potties and security, is needed.
A badly worded question. If you are speaking of city provided services, my answers would
change. However, we also have a fairly robust private safety net that also enables continuing
homelessness.
Shut down the night lawn and let people sleep at night without being hunted in the night for
sleeping. They don't need fines NOR do they need a concentration camp.
As long as housing is costly and inadequately available we should have more services.
temporary shelter is a bandaid, need a real solution not only in Ashland, everywhere, federal
government should do more
It was cruel what happened to the shelter
Services only draw more bums here.
Need supervision of night lawn and homeless coordinator
Enablement is NOT the solution.
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PanP 158 of 9nA
OHRA proves that their utility function is actually negative every day they kick someone out.
Before we had rampant homelessness, we had the gumption to put the mentally ill in
institutions. OHRA is a sad excuse for an institution. These people need hardcore care, not
opt-in/opt out care. Concentrating these (mostly) drug users only exacerbates the problem, the
data is clear.
This should not be an issue, you shiuld care about people with no homes. = ashland and
it's racist hate for poor people, no wonder young people hate it here and you can't find workers.
If we keep putting more money into this they will just keep coming from other places. We are a
small town and can't handle anymore influx of people. Serve the people who actually live here
or are resident.
Need to help people who are willing to change and also help those who are mentally ill and
aren't able to take care of themselves
I don't feel that I know enough about what services are offered to make an informed decision
on whether there is enough of not. Working for the library system, I know that we offer a lot,
but I'm not sure what else is provided, and if it's easily accessible for people to actually use.
I don't know how many homeless people are in Ashland. Homeless advocates say all the
homeless are long-time residents, but when I speak to them they are almost always from other
places. We seem to be becoming a destination for homeless people in the Rogue Valley and
outside of it.
Very clear questions thank you
Regional efforts to address the problem cannot be successful without the assistance of state
and federal partners.
We are a community of 20,000 we can't support the world. We are over taxed and most of us
tired of watching our tax money wasted like shelter a nd cleaning up after druggies.
Addiction and mental illness however is much of the problem that needs to be treated.
homeless people are generally not from here. It isn't Ashland's job to house out of town bumso
Ashland is a very giving city but the more we give, the more people come here and expect
more... I'm not talking about the women with children/people who are having trouble finding
housing, I'm talking about the chronically homeless. We cannot help them if they don't want to
step in that direction too. No one rides for free --none of us.
Making people move from one side of the police station to the other is mean spirited and cruel.
These are people too. Ashland council members who approved it should be ashamed of
themselves, and replaced by people with compassion.
The outreach and advocacy needs to be readjusted, not made larger or smaller
I sound like the privileged white person who doesn't want homeless "in my backyard". In some
ways I am because I truly don't know what the answer/solution is. I just know it's become a
huge eyesore, a public safety issue, a detriment to our tourism and a complicated issue that
the city has spent a ridiculous amount of money on recently, to no avail.
156
Pan- 1 S7 of 9nR
Q8 Where do you think funding for homeless services should come from?
1
2
3
4
5
6
TOTAL
SCORE
Federal government programs/grants
48.86%
17.80%
15.91%
14.02%
0.00%
3.41%
129
47
42
37
0
9
264
4.91
State government programs/grants
21.59%
47.35%
14.02%
13.26%
3.03%
0.76%
57
125
37
35
8
2
264
4.69
County budget (taxes/general fund)
2.27%
9.47%
42.800/6
16.29%
25.76%
3.41%
6
25
113
43
68
9
264
3.36
City budget (taxes/general fund)
7.58%
4.17%
9.85%
31.44%
10.61%
36.36%
20
11
26
83
28
96
264
2.58
Charitable foundations/grants/giving programs
12.12%
9.85%
12.50%
15.53%
45.45%
4.55%
32
26
33
41
120
12
264
3.14
Community giving/philanthropists/donations
7.58%
11.36%
4.92%
9.47%
15.15%
51.52%
20
30
13
25
40
136
264
2.32
Q9 How many organizations do you know about that are working to
provide homeless services or working to end homelessness in Ashland?
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
1-3 161 59.41%
4-6 85 31.37%
7-9 16 5.90%
10 or more
TOTAL
g 3.32%
271
COMMENTS:
funding from whatever sources have programs that can provide funds and are sources of
sustainable funding
Night Lawn, OHRA, and the COA shelter which NO LONGER IS OPEN!!!!!!
Volunteer and private donations and charitable organizations are all I'm aware of at this time.
Didn't you guys just buy a giant building near the Waldorf school to how is all the homeless
people with our tax dollars?
directly and indirect services- I work for a mental health org
I've attended seminars on this subject to see if I could get help for my daughter who was
homeless for ten years.
OHRA is doing an amazing job
SOJWJ, OHRA, Sunrise Village Sanctuary, Ashland Food Bank
Not enough
157
Pang 158 of 9OR
OhRa. -. Various food distribution points, including the library and some churches.
not enough
We live in a generous and caring community
We need mental health facilities, detox centers and otherwise a work for housing program (on
farms, in construction)
Mental health services are very much needed as well as drug and alcohol treatment.
None
Way too many. All they do is entitle these people. They do not help or eliminate the problem.
Huge money maker.
Better coordination would help.
I can think of at least 3; 1 suspect there are more that I am just not aware of.
Asante hospital charitable care, Asante Foundation, Ashland Community Health Foundation,
City of Ashland, State of Oregon, U.S. Government, HUD, Oregon Health Plan, AIICare Health
CCO, Ashland Food Bank, OHRA, SOJWJ, UnitedWay, Maslow, Ashland Schools Foundation,
Access, Rogue Food Unites, Community Works, BASE, Ashland Growers Market, Goodwill,
SOU
there doesn't seem to be a central oversight organizations of all the providers
Nonprofit organizations would do more for the community, if they considered working with the
homeless population to change their behavior; provide help needed. Been there, done that!
Like said above, I appreciate the services the library is providing, however wonder about the
safety of having these around children.
This is a national issue and the Federal Govt needs to at least participate in the solution. Non
profit organizations need to be supported as they are grassroots and understand the issues. E
eryone needs to chip in to solve this problem.
please stop attracting homeless people to our little city of 21,000
Probably more. OHRA being the most out front. Number of religious organizations
overwhelmed through CoVid have not recovered
need more coordination and more funding for all
Ashland should support local non -profits versus trying to to take over the services themselves.
None, they're coming from medford
Question 8 is terrible. Don't you test these things?
Housing is a human right, support habitat for humanity.
OHRA,ACCESS,AI[Care,LaClinica,many grants, FoodProjectPeaceMeal
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Pan,- 159 of gnR
Barely any services. I met my girlfriend to years ago when she was living at the only shelter in
town. The manager her because they knew they could put her on the
streets if she spoke up. On the streets she faced rape and assault. Ashland people who don't
care are monsters killing this country.
All I know about is Jackson County Libraries, Maslow (are the in Ashland?), and OHRA.
NOt counting the City
The funding should be put forward in part by the unhoused community itself
Q10 What roles) do you think Ashland city government should play in
addressing homelessness? (Select all that apply.)
ANSWER CHOICES
RESPONSES
None of the above
21
7.55%
Deliver services with City staff and funding
90
32.37%
Fund services provided by non-profit organizations
128
46.04%
Secure grant funding
198
71.22%
Convene or lead plans to address or end homelessness in Ashland
174
62.59%
Collect datatmonitor efforts to address or end homelessness in Ashland
182
65.47%
Participate in plans to address or end homelessness in the region (Jackson County)
196
70.50%
Other (please specify)
53
19.06%
Total Respondents: 278
OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
Literally all of this, and it should have been happening DECADES ago.
Provide and require housing for homeless people
It should be a collaborative process between city, state, federal government entities and
charitable and volunteer groups, as well as homeless representatives themselves.
It should be an issue that is discussed but not one that puts the needs of often seasonal
residents and travelers over those of low income working class families.
Why can they camp anywhere in town with no repercussions but me and my family who pay
taxes cannot camp anywhere we want?
I think salaries for serving would need to be considered if council is to do more.
Educate our city council on how to act with more decency
159
Pane 16n of goR
I think developing a "speaker's bureau" consisting of houseless people and advocates would
be a good start. Then organize ways for them to be invited to speak and meet and greet
community members. The city needs to take this on not as a "Problem that needs to be
policed" , but an indicator of an ailing community (and nation, really). It seems to me that
providing ways for creating a series of events intending to introduce houseless people to
housed people would be great.
Assist the local charitable organizations in their efforts to provide services to the homeless
and not obstruct our efforts by placing roadblocks by denying our group access to community
facilities.
Pay attention! Frankly, I am embarrassed by our zeal to add bike trails and the grand plans for
the water treatment pla. I'm seriously considering moving to Talent or Phoenix because, as a
retiree on a fixed income, I will be unable to afford the already -high fees. I used to recommend
moving to Ashland. I no longer do.
Hurry up and do something.
Allow grant money to be utilized for it, Those who are "homeless" or nomadic has always been
a part of ashland. There is a wide range and there should be housing available even if it's not
free and has some payment involved or work trade - just trying to eliminate those who live off
the land is like eliminating an element of Ashland culture. It's been around for a while and it
won't affect tourism - those who live off the land are respectful and actually afraid of getting
booted- they are not tweaking on drugs or being aggressive so let them be.
Follow what Grant's Pass did
I am concerned that funding more services in Ashland but not the broader area will lead to
more homeless people coming to Ashland for those services. I think all homeless services and
providing housing needs to be done on a large scale so one area is not "better than" another in
terms of services and housing)
Lockdown facilities with addiction treatment,not jail.
Get rid of it. Stop inviting them here which is what Ashland does. Sick of it.
On the street counseling & LSWs whose role it is is to collect data to inform planning with local
& government agencies, provide basic needs (such as blankets, shoes, socks, immediate
food vouchers & water, etc), connect unhoused with appropriate services
Work to provide better housing options for all.
Ashland should coordinate with the county, county should coordinate with state and the state
with federal government. Again, local resources cannot solve the problem and will only divide
the community if scare resources are spent and no resolution results. Just watch.
Truthfully, the community needs the awareness that not all homeless individuals are bad, or at
fault. Ashland is racist towards the homeless population and the low income, which add to their
woes.
address homelessness of those who truly come from this city and county; don't bring in others.
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Deal with drug problem. No weed shops , no mushroom shops . Etc
Consider implementing the MHSA program that has helped homeless in California.
Pay attention to cost. What was the average cost per homeless person that the city spent last
year? How does this compare to the cost, e.g, of a motel room?
Lower taxes for home owners and businesses affected (south Ashland) our property value
goes down yet our taxes go up. I pay crazy taxes for the schools yet my child is afraid to walk
to school
they are not adequately trained to address the problem. 2200 was a $2 M failure. please stop
The City has been leading efforts already. Other regional and state agencies need to step up to
th crisis. The City has a lot of other priorities to take care of
Stop making it illegal for homeless people to exist. Offer them the help they need to survive.
Public rest rooms are paid for by the city, correct?
The Ashland city government should prioritize the well-being of its citizens/community
members. Yes, the city should address the issues of the unhoused. The city should not do this
by continuously pushing unhoused people out and making the city of Ashland unsafe for them.
The way to end houselessness is to provide stable, affordable housing for everyone.
Open the 2200 Ashland emergency shelter / stop overpaying for commercial property.
City staff SHOULD NOT include police
Discourage homeless people from descending on Ashland!
Create/build housing for low/no income individuals/families
Get the hell out of the way of the people actually doing the work. Find space for meals! Stop
being jerks.
If
I'm not sure what the city should do, but the problem is only getting worse:(
Stop the fining and arresting people for living here without housing. People are living in every
city without housing and you're not going to make a homeless mecca by letting them sleep at
night and ticketing away their money. Those ticket funds don't get spent at local businesses,
and the obvious anathema to counterculture keeps a lot of other money from being spent here
too.
Get supervision for night lawn, hire homeless coordinator
Vote out
Resist/do not support efforts to criminalize homelessness
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Change laws to require families take responsibility for homeless members, disallow
panhandling
Provide space for volunteers to feed thr needy (such as Pioneer Hall.)
listen to the experiences of people navigating shortages of housing
See comment to #4 above
Coordinate the construction of permanent housing (i.e. land trust) and acquire assets to
effectively address the underlying problems that contribute to the problem.
Stay out of way please don't help we can't afford it. Tax payers are maxed out
make city camping illegal
Enforce city regulations on homeless access to city parks and public spaces
Have a shelter!!!!
Encourage working with other cities, for example, if Medford has available beds, bus fair to
send people there. I don't think there is inherently a right for those who come to Ashland to
require Ashland provide them all services (ie housing). Depleting all our resources.
Challenge yourselves to live this life, one day, one week, however long it takes to get the
fullest experience
provide people housing
Q11 What other actions should the Ashland city government take to
address or end homelessness?
RESPONSES
need to be coordinated effort within the community & the County
Not sure yet. Just moved here one year ago but feel something needs to be done to at least
get them temporary housing and work so they can improve their lives
2020 & 2021 Federal Child Tax Credits/COVID relief: Big checks were mailed to parent
automatically that had filed taxes recently. $300/mo for children 4 yo. $350 for children under
4yo. Homeless parents were the least likley to have filed. Potentially, thousands are still
available if they receive help from a tax professional to file back taxes. 2020 refundable tax
credits may bot be available anymore, 2021 probably will be???
Ashland should have a drop -in center open all day and a large congregate shelter open every
night with a separate wing for families with children.
Create community outreach and support; in a town where the majority are rich, entitled
"hippies" who only think Peace and Love is deserved if you have 401K and property taxes. A
lot of the issue is that the attitude towards houselessness in the community is toxic at BEST.
We cannot see good change until our houseless companions aren't regarded as trash.
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Ongoing analysis of the effectiveness of the homeless services SYSTEM, as a system.
Engage with state agencies and legislators to make progress. Only secure grant funding when
not in competition with service providers. Work cooperatively with service providers throughout
the region.
Create affordable housing
Protect residents, visitors and property from safety and sanitation concerns associated with
homelessness
We are sympathetic to the plight of homeless people, as we have a close family member who
is homeless. However, as small business owners, and as residents of downtown Ashland, we
understand first-hand the very negative impact homeless people have on businesses, tourism,
parks, public health and safety — all things vital to Ashland. Panhandling should NOT be
allowed anywhere in downtown Ashland, nor should loitering. Homeless housing should be
created and required for those wishing to remain in Ashland.
Mental health counseling, retraining and job application procedures. Garbage collection sites
are necessary.
Create concrete plans for creating affordable housing -rent or own -without taking land also
needed for public access, like parks.
Perhaps a focused centralized location where it is clear homeless individuals and families can
go for basic supports, job training and opportunities, transitional housing, medical care, food
assistance, showers, veterinary care, etc. ONE place, like they have/had in Salem, and like St
Vincent's offers in Medford only organized and supported by all interested parties and with
transparency and public involvement.
Work with businesses to end loitering and panhandling. Make the library a place where I can
take my four young children without walking by sleeping homeless people who absolutely
wreak.
The majority of the homeless people in Ashland or not from Ashland they have decided to
come here because of all of the services and benefits we provide them. It's not like a bunch of
people we grew up with became homeless and now we need to lovingly support them these are
strangers from other cities here to sap off our resources.
Pallet shelters and campground
It's not the city's problem to provide services to homeless people. They should be housed
outside city limits and supported by state funding
We should do everything possible within the confines of our city size and budget. We should
set a goal to house X number of people, where X is a percentage of the city population
deemed appropriate by a committee. I personally think that's somewhere between 1% and 5%
of 23k people. Once we achieve that goal we re-evaluate .
Make it easier to get help of this sort. Many people are afraid of the beaurocratic mess they
will get into, and hesitate to try to get help. My daughter preferred living in her car and getting
chashed by the police to going through the paper work. She called this "freedom."
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Provide social services and make them go to drug rehab or get the psychological services
they need.
Use current city owned land and buildings for shelter buildings, tiny houses, - such as the one
in Medford. Do the necessary upgrades to re -open Pioneer hall.
Create affordable housing
Use building that was purchased to provide shelter and other services to help the unhoused get
back on feet
Houseless people need to be embraced as part of our community. The city could sponsor art
days, swim -picnics, self defense classes, dances, a theatre company, writers groups... all
kinds of events that are aimed toward housed and unhoused people hanging out together and
getting to know each other as humans. Many community members and organizations could be
enlisted and supported to do this, and some training for that would be useful. The Hardesty
property could be easily developed into a wonderful center for houseless people to live. I don't
understand what the reason is for it not being used in this way. The zoning issue could easily
be addressed. There are knowledgeable people able and willing to run it and the city could
procure grants or other funding for salaries. Tent platforms along with those pop up houses that
were purchased a couple of yearsw ago and have been sitting in storage (while people are
unsheltered) could be set up there. It has an infrastructure (water, electric, etc.). It's perfect,
but someone(s?) are just stonewalling any discussion or efforts to make it happen. Villages
have proven to be very successful in other cities. In Portland houseless people produce and
sell a newspaper called "Street Roots"that serves to connect housed and unhoused via
interviews as well as small moments of connection with people who purchase the paper from
houseless friends. It provides creative outlets and teaches usable skills, and introduces
houseless people as PEOPLE! As members of the community. Ashland focuses too much on
policing houselessnes as if it is a crime. It is NOT a crime! It's a public health emergency. The
city has relied for too long on a few people who provide all kinds of services for houseless
folks and receive little to nothing in payment. These people are burning out. It's grossly unfair,
and perhaps more importantly, it's unsustainable to rely on them, yet give them nothing to work
with.
Assist housing, human services, & homeless /nonprofits with an appropriate plan for Ashland
& the size of our town. The focus should be on local citizens first (lived here for 2 or more
years). Ashland government & staff are not equipped to solve this problem & should get help
from nonprofits. Ashland government & staff Should stop pretending they know what they are
doing in this space. Ashland government & staff should be managing the city & its
infrastructure while assisting others with solutions.
Recognize the efforts and all that the charitable organizations do for our unhoused citizens and
the many in our community suffering from food insecurity. We feed hundreds of people every
week . .
Do like the 90s and drop them at city or county line.
The solution will be a process. Not sure the city can end it. As the issue gets bigger and
resources are allocated to address homelessness, the city has to anticipate and plan for
additional support for the permanent community. Specifically, excessive garbage, loitering in
public and addressing behavioral problems (drugs, public excretion, sexual acts, and hostile
pet behavior)
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That is a good question, especially with what's going on in the World as the old economic
structures crumble. It might take a few years for the Transparency Ledger technology and the
Token Economy to get established as the corruption gets dealt with more and more! This issue
is inevitable until we abolish the old Worlds "Debt Slavery Systems." Decentralized Finance,
Transperancy Ledger technology, Smart contracts, Hedera Hashgraph Networks, Bridged
Blockchains for specific purposes, like Cardano for Farming, etc. is where we are heading as
the co creators of a civil and humanitarian society build more Open Source and transparency
into everythinq we do! Blessinqs and consider lookinq into alternatives for the very nearest
future will be difficult for us all. (Temporary housing and more Public Gardens for sure!) - _
Provide paid temp jobs that put cash in needy peoples' pocket while providing them with
purpose and providing residents with small services ( e. g. Picking up trash from the creek but not from residents' trash cans, or trimming weeds and over- growth from public areas)
More places for bathing and restrooms.
If services are rendered the person that accepts the services should be required to give back
to the community in some way. Maybe one this is clean up trash. Sweep sidewalks is another.
Create and aggressively enforce laws/ordinances banning illegal camping, scattering rubbish,
pan handling, littering, public intoxication, illegal drug use, and theft.
Partner with agencies, county, state, and make a sincere effort to provide shelter/camping
areas with sanitation in the meantime. Enforcement of current laws to address mental health,
blocking sidewalks, drug use in public, littering, and aggression needs to also happen. We
must have both.
Make better fiscal and planning decisions around property acquired or already owned and then
underused. Rely on the experts in the city whose mission is to address homelessness issues
by funding their missions to meet city needs.
Not sure
The City government should research and consult the public for purchases and not turn away
or have to return any state funding.
Create more affordable housing. Otherwise the issues leading to homelessness is multifaceted
and beyond the realm of control of the City. I don't think the city should do anything more that
will attract and accomodate more homeless in this city.
There are Ashlanders who are priced out of the city. For these people, take steps to make
Ashland more affordable to live; including cutting utility costs. There are also the transient
homeless. Ashland cannot solve this problem alone; we need to work with Medford and other I-
5 cities to assist these people who are passing through.
Take ownership of the mess known as the winter shelter. It's easy to blame the former city
manager, but supposedly you are in charge.
Convene neighborhood discussions about community issues of concern to residents.
Provide more resources to OHRA for support and transition, provide far more resources for
temporary shelter. We must also strongly support the severe weather shelter operation
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Don't allow city to support them
Provide shelter. The whole debacle at 2200 Ashland Street was avoidable. Provide space for
meals to be served. You discriminated against the homeless when you prohibited them from
using Pioneer Hall but allowed the Boy Scouts to utilize it. Have some compassion!
somehow addressing the mental health side and seeing about getting people in proper care.
Also help with shelter and showering/ self care
Not their responsibility
Forced treatment for addicts and people experiencing mental health issues they won't treat
See if the state will allow for forced care with regards to mental health.
There will never be an end to homelessness. Offering services in a productive, fair and
complete way is all that you can do to manage it. The programs like ORHA need to be funded
and overseen. That's it.
Remind people that the constitution of the United States guarantees the life liberty and pursuit
of happiness, not there property values. property owners moral values are a war crime. Cruel
and unusual punishment.
Homelessness is an enormous and complex problem nationwide. There are no easy solutions,
but I believe every city/community should strive to find solutions for their area. When many
people put their minds to solve a problem, together, ideas can lead to solutions.
Safety and protection. Health care.
The city police and the mayor and city council need to give up their adversarial role in dealing
with the homeless issue and work with those of us who are volunteering our time and money to
help alleviate the issues of the homeless.
Provide designated camping areas much like the one in Medford. (? _name)
Provide temporary housing funded by grants - work programs available for them to earn
1. Build more low income housing within city limits 2. Hire health and mental health workers
and social services providers to work alongside our police in assisting unhoused people. 3.
Stop punishing unhoused people with fines.
I think it's going to be a never ending battle. If most of the homelessness was by misfortune,
or circumstance, I would support more efforts to help. But - in my nearly 40 years of public
safety career experience, I found that most of these folks are homeless by choice and refuse
to take advantage of programs, shelters, counseling, etc., because that choice involves
responsibility and accountability!
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End all Airbnb rentals, offer financial incentives to offset high rents, change zoning laws to
allow more affordable housing to be built, to convert existing structures to rentals, and create
an urban campground for people living in vans, busses, campers, and vehicles. Put a cap on
rent increases, and incentives or some program to create affordable housing for locals.
Provide detention centers with mandatory substance abuse and mental health treatment for
repeated criminal behavior.
Outreach to homeless people to help them find resources for mental health treatment and
addiction treatment
Continue to convene and look to address root causes of homelessness. Why is there an
increase? Work with the State to address affordability of housing.
There can be a designated place for them to camp outside of town with port a potties and
portable showers and a bus service to take them to any form of work. I see a lot of these folks
who have tattoos (which are really expensive) and are not willing to work. My biggest fear is
more fires that are caused by the homeless will only get worse. Additionally, there are cheaper
towns nearby where these folks can seek work/rent. They can be in White City vs Ashland for
example. They travel here to hit up the tourists, which are a big part of the lifeblood of the
Ashland economy. We can't scare those tourists who spend money at our businesses away.
Let the police and not social workers
Mental health treatment and drug and alcohol treatment are needed. Transportation to these
services and residential facilities are needed.
Stop groups like the that is the Stabbin Wagon that are only
perpetuating the problem. We live in Ashland to have a safe community for our children. Not to
live like the Bay Area.
Why aren't we using the pallet houses we bought several years ago? Is it too expensive to pay
someone to monitor a homeless camp of pallet houses somewhere? I'd like to see a "safe
parking" area like Havurah has, but larger - and monitored for bad behavior. I'm definitely in
favor of more manufactured home parks as long as they are actually cheaper than stick -built
housing, to provide more affordable housing. Also, if the housing built by Columbia Care behind
Rogue Credit Union is working out well, I'd like to see more of that, with the wraparound
services so many of the homeless seem to need.
The homeless that are not addicts or mentally ill are not really a problem.there are services for
them to get a leg up. Sometimes it means moving to a more affordable place.
Eliminate air bnb, assure affordable housing, prevent corporations from buying family homes,
quit enabling homeless individuals with handouts. Additional taxes on vacation homes to
encourage selling of vacation homes. Encourage state and fed governments to continue
easeing zoning regulations.
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I strongly believe that all efforts and monies focused on addressing and ending homelessness
be balanced between services for the homeless and public safety and city sanitation! Our
entire city needs to remain garbage free and police need to be able to keep our sidewalks,
parks, bike paths etc, free from camping, litter, loitering, drug use, etc. South Ashland has
become overwrought with garbage, vagrancy, panhandling and indecent behavior such that
walking on the bike path doesn't feel safe.
END it.
Create tiers of support. Families first and foremost need to be housed with transitional support
& job placement training! Perhaps jobs can be created to help the greater unhoused needs by
people within the program. Giving options for meaningful purpose and employment while
allieviating some of the unhoused could benefit all & increase buy -in. I am a teacher of 20
years- elementary & special needs, with a background in trauma informed practices and social
emotional development. While I am busy throughout the year, I would welcome venues in the
summer to volunteer my time & expertise, but don't know where to best offer this.
Stop being an obstacle.
Work with state to petition the federal government to work on this issue
I am really conflicted on this. I obviously want actions to be taken to address or end
homelessness. I question what the city's role ought to be. It is a massive problem that can't be
solved at a city level. I believe the best possible course of action is to try to prevent people
from becoming homeless and that is where I think the city could have the greatest impact.
Address housing shortages and exorbitant rental fees, reduce the barriers to building more
housing, tax second homes and air b&b's and investment properties. I think the cost of utilities
in Ashland are an awful, regressive burden on lower income households and that is an area
where the city has the ability to make a difference as well. 1 am not sure it is the city's role to
provide direct services to end homelessness; it's a huge, never-ending challenge that is a
tremendous drain on staff time when the city already seems to have insufficient staffing to
efficiently manage basic services. It's also a super specialized area of work and I don'tthink
the city has the expertise to be in the role of leading this work, and I don't think the city has a
very good track record in this area. I think the city could throw every bit of its resources toward
ending homelessness and homelessness would still exist. Addressing root causes seems like
a more achievable and appropriate role for the city.
Don't spend millions without better analysis and including the people of Ashland. Open the
community center and Pioneer hall for meals for unhoused
Most of the homeless I have interacted with are able bodied & capable of working &
participating in society. They are choosing to live their life homeless, they think we are
fools/suckered for holding jobs and paying rent/mortgage & taxes. If it is their choice to live
homeless I don't think they should receive help. We should reserve resources for those unable
to care for themselves & those that had unfortunate circumstances & just need a helping hand
to get back on their feet. I was homeless at one point. I worked 2 jobs and found a room to
rent. Eventually I was able to get my own place. If people are too comfortable getting all of
their needs met by others they will never make an effort to take care of themselves.
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I think the city needs to address establishing transitional shelters, accessible
rest room s/hygiene stations and venues to serve daily meals. Also, stop building everything at
the south end of the city. If you want to continue to have Ashland be desirable to tourists, this
approach seems bizarre. The main entry into Ashland should be inviting to tourists. It currently
appears as if nobody even cares. This is not saying that homeless people create this. They do
contribute because there is nowhere for them to be.
Incentivize, encourage, motivate, support homeless individuals to work and become active
contributors to society. Perhaps work in community gardens, pick up trash in parks... Time
Place Manner
Create more truly affordable housing for seniors with modest income struggling to remain
housed.
Open the community center in the park to community meals, food, please don't let anyone and
their children in such an affluent town go hungry. Create low income housing for people having
a hard time. Social safety net assistance for lower income and homeless. Drug and alcohol
centers and mental health care that are affordable for care for people with drug and mental
health problems.
City MUST distinguish addiction from true homelessness. To believe ALL those on street are
homeless is a fatal flaw in addressing this issue. In urban areas fully two-thirds suffer from
addiction. On Ashland street perhaps half are into a drug or drink lifestyle. Please, use your
eyes, walk and observe for at least several hours each day. I have lived in an area with
extensive street people and what I see in Ashland strongly resembles the same scene. You
can choose not to believe my words...unfortnately we will see who is right in the end, and in
this instance i hate to be right. Fenty is a game changer and it is only a matter of time before
those on the street OD and die right here in Ashland.
Stop providing services and start enforcing citations for negative behaviors e.g. drinking
alcohol in public, smoking pot in public spaces, leaving trash, defacing public property, lighting
fires ... why is it OK for homeless persons to engage in negative behaviors and not have
consequences?
Daily food delivery. Weekly health interactions at specific places.
Move people along that will not accept active help, rehab including drug rehab.
The local business and neighborhoods must be protected
Connect with and actively listen to the personal testimonials from local citizens who have
experienced and overcome homelessness - including those who were helped by the local
nonprofit organizations; follow up.
Consolidate the possessions of homeless individuals to a specific area. Collections of items
that are not manageable by those that are homeless should be removed from public areas
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They need somewhere to go, multiple options depending on the reason they are homeless
(drugs, mental illness or just flat out of luck). It's expensive to live here - I'm not sure how
anyone with low income can make a go of it. Maybe the entire county could work together to
come up with multiple places? Funding is a big concern but federal/state grants plus we have
some really wealthy people in our communities that give big to the arts and other foundations.
Could Ashland form some kind of foundation for homeless? I have no idea but once it was
normal to see people busking around in the plaza but after the recession in 2008, I've noticed
so many more people ... it's overwhelming. Plus the intoxication with drugs and alcohol is
scary at times. My children and I have been intimidated by people saying horrifying stuff (while
drunk or high) in parks. I'm not a "pearl clutcher' but I don't like walking downtown at night
anymore, especially alone. I know this isn't the spot to mention these things but it's changed
how I view my hometown. We had friends visit over Spring Break, and they were shocked to
see people shooting up drugs - I barely blinked. There has to be a structured, lasting system
that treats the whole problem. We need more help that a city government should have to
provide.
Make it less comfortable to squat on private and public property. Trespassing. Keep drug
offenders and criminals jailed.
city council members could personally financially fund them if they are bringing them in from
out of the city/county
Rehabilitation services, help with drug abuse and people doing drugs near parks, schools, and
other places where children are. Help facilitate job placement to over jobs that benefit the
community. Affordable housing and showers to keep clean.
Provide shelter that is safe and healthy (no rats, crime) and that are available 24 hours a day
(no making people move every day).
Work with state government and neighboring cities to determine how to address the homeless
issues.
I do worry that more services here will just draw more house less people from the region.
As a newcomer, I appreciate the respect the city is giving the homeless. I feel safer living with
the homeless in Ashland than other cities.
I think ashland is doing more than many cities in our county, I don't know what the real solution
is.
Promote a variety of affordable housing options including ADUs and sublets
Reduce police citations, manage expectations of city's well-connected,
I am not confident that the Ashland city govt (in it's current configuration) has what it takes to
address the issue in any meaningful or positive way.
Stop criminalization of unhoused. Plan for land and funding for more shelter and tiny village
projects
Which council member should be homeless for a week do the reconnaissance - and then plan
accordingly.
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leave lawn camping behind police station open 24/7 or find another place for such that is less
in the public eye(sore) cite those camping in city parks cite those soliciting on city property
(downtown/Co-op)
Stop offering services to those who contribute nothing to Ashland but instead burden law
enforcement, park personnel, business owners and tax paying residents.
Continue to participate and monitor state programs
Not sure this city government has shown the capacity to tackle such a complex issue
Stop passing laws and ordinances that make homelessness a protected class. Stop funding
organiztions that simply exist to direct homeless people to all the free resources and services
that already exist. Increase the size of the local police force. Arrest people for theft, vagrancy,
public drug use, defacing public property, disturbing the peace. Listen to your local business
owners and citizens who own or rent homes and pay taxes and direct your time, energy and
resources to keeping their places of business and neighborhoods safe. Restore Ashland to the
vibrant and safe community that it was 20 years ago. Make it a place where people want to
come and visit or live here because it is a safe and vibrant community. End the stigma that
Ashland has a homeless problem. It is not the job of the city of Ashland to feed, cloth, provide
housing, showers, washers and dryers, transportation for anyone that can not provide those
services for themselves. That is the job of the local churches, indivduals or non-govermental
charitable organizations. I recall about 20 years ago the "homeless idividuals" that sat begging
at the usual locations held signs that read "will work for food". I have not seen a sign like that
in the last 10 years. My observation is that a large portion of the homeless population today
are people with skills and the ability to take of themselves if they were not enabled to continue
with their current unproductive lifestyle. Most are able to organize their stuff into a stolen
shopping cart, know where to go and be for all the free stuff, know the specific rules and
ordinances that keep them from being arrested and know even if they are arrested they will be
back out on the street in very little time. I know that a certain percentage of the homeless
population have serious substance abuse problems and some are mentally ill. I do believe their
is a large percentage of the homeless population that have simply "checked out of being
responible, contributing members of the society because it is easier to game the system.
Recently I had a conversation with a homeless individual and he shared that homelessness
has been "institutionalized" just like the prison system. You break the rules and are not a
contributing memeber of society and you end up being taken care of: food shelter traspotration,
medical care whether you are an incarcerated criminal or a homeless person. Why work or
contribute to society if that same society will take care of you if you don't.
itit's a hard question! But we do all we can to keep them from camping on our commercial
property, it's a big job. The police are doing a good job I believe.
THe only permanent solution to homelessness problems is affordable housing. Shelters, aid,
etc are merely band -aids.
develop a plant based on other country -wide models from various cities: keep the public
informed: made difficult choices that take tax -paying citizens into account first.
None. And we definitely should NOT add a full-time position to monitor homeless efforts to our
City staff
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Lower propert taxes and utility rates so we can afford to live here
Work with those whose efforts are working, whether it be government, private sector, or non
profits.
They need to hire trained folks to deal with this problem. Ashland city government has enough
on their plate
This is a tremendously complex issue. The City is moving in the right direction in taking the
lead, but cannot be expected to be able to fund it all. Working with the Housing Production
Strategy and funding those efforts should be front qnd center. Providing All Social Services
necessary to keep folks in their homes and find homes for everyone who needs one cannot be
met by the City.
It would be helpful to know the numbers of unhoused people who need psychiatric services,
who need substance abuse services, or who have fallen on hard times and need a hand up. Its
important to hear from homeless people what THEY want and need rather than deciding for
them.
None. We need to stop becoming a "hotspot" for transient, drug users, and mentally unstable
people who are harming our community. This also brings predatory drug dealing to our area.
I wish the city could be more strict on letting the homeless just loiter around. I have stopped
going to Garfield park with my young children because of what the homeless have done. I feel
like we are catering too much to the homeless. They get all these benefits. What about the
family's who work 2 full time jobs and struggle everyday to get by ... we play by the rules and
don't get help. So it's frustrating to me to see the "homeless" who refuse help to just get to do
what they want.
Re -open the emergency shelter
supervised camp grounds prepare for summer NOW with inside places, food, storage of gear,
showers, laundry etc.
A regulated campground could be much more cost effective than indoor shelter options.
Grant funding for small sleeping pods with doors and a bed placed in medium size groups.
We can't do it alone this is a nation wide issue we need federal and state funding and support
Literally just provide affordable housing. Work with the community you are going to be
affecting, listen to them. Listen to us. Make sure there are heating and cooling shelters, that
are open and accessible. Keep public bathrooms open so people can actually use them. Make
affordable housing options. Look into opening safe use sites for PWUD. Work to make mental
health resources of all kinds more accessible. You cannot fully address houselessness if you
refuse to look at the systematic reasons for it existing as it does.
Research successful programs in the world and country and try to emulate one. Our city's
efforts are disconnected and ineffective.
172
Panes 171 of qns
It is a fool's errand to think that Ashland will end homelessness this is a national issue.
Services should be provided to the unhoused such as shelter, food, restrooms/showers,
medical and job assistance. Not every unhoused person will want to enter back into "society"
but efforts should be made to help those who want to.
Provide bathroom and laundry services
Take a housing first approach, don't make housing dependent on being able to hold down a job.
You quite literally cannot recover from drug dependence or severe mental health while trying to
hold down a job or pay rent, which tends to be some of the main characteristics of those living
on the street. Stop trying to appeal to tourists, make Ashland affordable for the residents and
people living there so you're not creating more homeless people, 1k a month and anything
close to it is an insane number, it's unaffordable to locals who have been living here for their
entire lives. Any job here should be able to cover the cost of living, the solution isn't raising the
minimum wage, small business will suffer and corporations will just raise prices to make the
change null, it's putting caps on the amount landlords, utility companies, food chains, and
more are allowed to upcharge residents.
Make it unpleasant for homeless people to beg on the streets, litter the town, camp in our
parks and potentially burn the place down. Almeda fire was an obvious warning...
Provide services like work force training , helping individuals find jobs and housing, rehab
facilities, free mental health services
Less police involvement. More autonomy and self governance for unhoused individuals
Your doing enough at this point. The services you offer are overwhelmingly generous. If you
continue to offer so much then you will get homeless people who take advantage. Do more to
offer residential drug rehab transportation services to Medford programs.
1. Attitude change! 2. Work to establish credibility! (I lost ALL faith in city govt when the mayor
—who I don't even know —resigned. Since then I and most people I know think of local govt as
a collection of That perception affects ALL local government activities
and decisions.)
studying ways that other cities have adressed supporting unhoused community members that
are centered on their voices and experiences. explore lots of different ways to approach the
ways we offer support, understanding that there is no one way to approach this.
People living on the streets are primarily a drug addiction problem.
Decriminalizing substances without adequate resources to help people was one of the biggest
disservice's ever done to our community, keep your promises when proposing bills. We were
lead to believe that if we voted to decriminalize it would help the community because
infrastructure to help people with addiction would be put in place but instead, nothing
happened, and there was no follow through. We need from centers I, free rehab, more shelters
Sidewalks and street corners should be clear of dwellings and beggars. Criminalize it.
173
Panp 174 of gns
Consider funding a cahoots style program if response. Having homeless folks who are also
struggling with drug and alcohol use is very unsafe :( I worry about my kids safety ( needles,
paraphernalia, disease) as well as the safety of people who are unconscious in public/ in
vehicles and exposed to the elements. These issues are not unique to our city of course. Also
very concerned about drug trafficking and substance abuse ( as attached to transient
population).
Make it easier for developers (and be more supportive of) to build low-cost housing. Also,
develop a tiny -house village.
See #10
Designate permanent campground with restrooms. Subsidize basic low cost housing.
Community kitchen, decriminalize having blankets, etc. while sleeping at night, find competent
replacements for yourselves, and/or learn what your job is and how to do it.
Include experts on the subject and people experienced in the matter in the discussions. And
stop actions that expect homelessness to just disappear from view.
more rent control rules. Build truly affordable homes for rent & /or purchase. Lots of them!
Increase the number of units in every PUD that must be affordable. Strengthen what those
rules are. They are a joke right now
encourage higher level government to get to the root cause of homelessness and fix the
problem, no more bandaids like temporary shelter.
None
Re -open Pioneer Hall for feeding people. Push back on the - instead of letting them
buy you off. Better communication with the whole community. Stop lying. Stop covering things
up. Listen to the advocates who are already working with this community. Stop, absolutely
stop, allowing our police force to abuse these individuals. We see the crappy job they are
doing... and you are just letting them get away with it. Most importantly, EDUCATE our
population about HOW people become unhoused, and then when they do lose housing how
completely impossible it is to get back on track.
Enforce ordinances against vagrancy, loitering, littering, harassment, public intoxication, public
defecation, public disturbance, etc.
Immediately hire people to supervise night lawn and hire a City Homeless Coordinator
Increase police investigations of drug dealing among the homeless. Incarcerate or send to
rehab.
NOT - ARREST PEOPLE FOR BEING HOMELESS YOU MONSTERS.
It Is very important that we establish someway to help for people that are about to lose their
home or Apartment due to an emergency in the household. I feel very strongly that there
should be a fund established so they are able to continue to live in their housing. And prevent
them from coming Homeless Once they have become homeless and also think they should
have place to store belongings close to the area designated for their tents
174
Panes 175 of 9OR
Keep the safe camping area but everyone else should be moved along. It's out of control and
we need to stop babying some of them. Case by case basis, and the ones that don't qualify or
take help should be moved along.
Have a strategic plan to get the homeless to where they can get actual help. Drug rehab,
mental institutions, family responsibilities, work with shelters
1 don't know.
Need to provide mental health facilities as well as help with drug/alcohol addictions.
I appreciate that a decision was made to move the encampments from the parks. I did not feel
comfortable bringing my kids to the parks when that was happening, and although I don't feel
totally great saying this, the optics weren't good for the tourism. We need tourism to survive as
a thriving economy, and it is an important part of our town. I think having a dedicated
campground for people to stay would be nice, so that they don't have to be in front of the
police station. I also a lot of concerns about children living on the street. I see some families
that have multiple children living in tents, and I really am worried for them.
Strictly enforce drug laws. Providing more public bathrooms (not just for homeless.) Work with
nonprofits to find a place for the pallet houses.
Find some way to involve the faith community more
The emergency shelter should be open year round
Not city government role so stay out of non profits way city job is to run city not become a
social,service agency we have plenty of those. City has no idea how to run shelters or deliver
services. That should be pretty obvious by now
You won't end it. Some folks refuse the help offered. Help those that can be helped. Prioritize
persons easier to help.
Increase the number of affordable housing units. Provide more transitional housing and and
services.
make city camping illegal!!! Make drugs illegal!! Problem solved
Follow the US Supreme Court decisions on homeless access to public property (Grants Pass
case)
Build a shelter that homeless can actually use. Stop criminalizing homelessness
More affordable housing, rental caps, collect data on landlords who are discriminating
Secure permanent funding Homeless Manager and staff at city level
Take the steps to meet, converse, and agree upon a long term unhoused resident/ group for
advices from all aspects.
175
Pnnp 176 of 208
Stop spending so much time and money trying to fix the problem! The police station was a
decent idea for folks to stay in front of but it is now a total mess. These are people who are
chronically homeless and have been ticketed/arrested numerous times for illegal camping and
other things. Very much opposed to the purchase of the transitional housing shelter that is now
no longer. There is no way our city is going to end chronic homelessness (as in those with
criminal records/alcohol/mental health issues usually all wrapped in one). I don't believe that as
a city, it is our responsibility to try to meet the needs of those who don't want help and don't
want to participate in their own climb up. Please, city government, don't make this the top of
your agenda all the time. We have enough other things to focus on.
give homeless people housing. the proven way to reduce homelessness. Reduce the price of
housing currently so it is less than 30% the median salary so people can afford to live.
none
Q12 To help us know who we reached with this survey, please answer the
following questions. What age group best describes you?
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Under 18 2 0.72%
18-24 7 2.52%
25-34 15 5.40%
35-44 41 14.75%
45-54 50 17.99%
55-64 41 14.75%
65+ 103 37.05%
Prefer not to answer 19 6.83%
TOTAL 278
176
Panes 177 of MR
Q13 What bests describes your race or ethnicity?
ANSWER CHOICES
RESPONSES
White
199
71.58%
Black, African American, or African
6
2.16%
Hispanic/Latina/e/o
11
3.96%
Asian or Asian American
4
1.44%
American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous
10
3.60%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
1
0.36%
Middle Eastern or North African
3
1.08%
Prefer not to answer
52
18.71%
Other (please specify)
12
4.32%
Total Respondents: 278
OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)
Mix
Irish, German, French, American Indian
Mixed European.
Not listed
Mixed race
Swedish/German.
Where is the "Multi-racial/multi-ethnic" option?
Human
Not relevant
Forest creature of variable skin tone
Irrelevant: stop dividing us by "race"
Jewish, one you are trying to kill with a second Holocaust when you hate homeless people
177
Pane 178 of qnR
Q14 What is your relationship to Ashland?
ANSWER CHOICES
I live or work in Ashland
268
1 visit Ashland multiple times a week
4
1 visit Ashland weekly
1
1 visit Ashland 2-3 times per month
2
1 visit Ashland monthly
0
1 visit Ashland a few times a year
0
None of the above
4
TOTAL
279
Q15 Do you have children in your household?
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes, under age 5 (infant/preschool) 12
Yes, ages 5-18 (K-12 school age) 62
No 201
TOTAL 275
RESPONSES
96.06'
1.43°'o
0.36%
0.72%
0.00%
0.000/0
1.43%
RESPONSES
4.36%
22.55%
73.09%
178
Pane 179 of 908
Process Notes
Process to Recruit and Appoint Subcommittee Members
From mid -December through January 15, 2024, the City advertised the establishment of
the ad hoc Homeless Services Masterplan Subcommittee on the City's website, and the
Ashland News online newspaper ran a story on the establishment of the Subcommittee
and the request for applicants. Some Housing and Human Services Advisory Council
(HHSAC) members advertised on social media and did direct outreach to individuals who
had presented at an HHSAC public forum, and/or who had expressed an interest in this
topic at one of the many public engagement events the City held on the topic of the 2200
Ashland Street project. The City received 15 applications from interested candidates.
At their regular meeting in January 2024, the HHSAC reviewed the applications and made
the following appointments to the ad hoc Homeless Services Masterplan Subcommittee:
Subcommittee Members
• Jan Calvin*
• Alexandra Reid
• Echo Fields*
• Rich Rhode
• Ro Henigson-Kann*
• Dennis Slattery
• Debra Neisewander
• Avram Sacks
• Deb Price
• Helena Turner
*Subcommittee Leadership Team
• Lawrence VanEgdom
Liaisons and City Staff
Dylan Bloom, City Council Liaison
Bob Kaplan, City Council Liaison
Sgt. Robert Leonard, Ashland Police Department Liaison
Linda Reid, City Staff, Housing Program Specialist
Veronica Allen, City Staff, Associate Planner
Subcommittee Operations
The Subcommittee met twice a month for a total of 12 meetings from January 30 through
July 2, 2024. Each meeting was at least two hours in length and open to the public.
Decisions were made by consensus of the Subcommittee members.
The Subcommittee elected a chair and two vice -chairs to manage the workflow and
meeting agendas.
Two City Council members served as liaisons between the Council and the Subcommittee.
A police sergeant served as liaison from the Police Department. Two Community
Development Department staff members provided meeting logistics, record keeping, and
information in support of the Subcommittee charge.
179
Pane 1 sn of gnR
Learnings
Subcommittee Charge
There were lengthy discussions during the first two meetings about how to interpret the City
Council charge, how to weigh different words, information that was lacking, and how much
could be done within the limited resources and timeframe. After the group agreed on its
approach, there remained some concern that the end product wouldn't meet some City
Council members' expectations. Council liaisons reported that they did not have adequate
time (or perhaps the venue) to share information from the Subcommittee with the Council.
Services Inventory
The list of homeless services the Subcommittee was able to generate is not
comprehensive of all services within the county. However, the Subcommittee felt relatively
confident about the list of services in Ashland.
The process to gather information from service providers was inconsistent. Eight
Subcommittee members volunteered to do this task. Not all service providers responded
to (sometimes multiple) inquiries. Service providers were not prepared (and sometime
unwilling) to provide all the requested information. And the timeline did not allow for
follow-up. In addition, written instructions were not as helpful as anticipated, and
Subcommittee members did not opt to participate in either of the two Zoom sessions
scheduled to prepare for the process.
Data
Desired data points were suggested by just a few of the Subcommittee members, and
follow-up on data collection was tracked by the leadership team.
Gathering data required the assistance of City staff who either gathered or identified the
sources for much of the data. Members of the leadership team reached out to various
sources and gathered data available online.
The limited capacity of the Jackson County CoC to engage in data sharing impacted the
ability to gather more local, population- and service -specific data.
Community Input
Stakeholder groups were identified by the full Subcommittee, then members formed
small groups to develop the questionnaires for each population.
An extensive effort was made by a few Subcommittee members to engage with
businesses in South Ashland and with people experiencing homelessness in Ashland,
without which, the results would not have been as robust.
180
Pane 181 of 9nR
MA
9
a�eth��
CIO
• r }�� .:.GAF * l,'+. ,..t$y�"�.t - `
17' `
n
Homeless Service
Masterplan Subcommittee
Report
City Council, Study Session
August 5, 2024
Subcommittee .-
• Jan Calvin* • Alexandra Reid
• Echo Fields*
• Rich Rhode
• Ro Henigson-Kann*
• Dennis Slattery
• Debra Neisewander
• Avram Sacks
• Deb Price
• Helena Turner
*Subcommittee Leadership Team • Lawrence Van Egdom
Liaisons and City Staff
Dylan Bloom, City Council Liaison
Bob Kaplan, City Council Liaison
Sgt. Robert Leonard, Ashland Police Department Liaison
Linda Reid, Community Development, Housing Program Manager
Veronica Allen, Community Development, Associate Planner
• Special Thanks to the OHSU School of Nursing / Street Nursing Team
Acknowledgements
The combined efforts of the 11 Subcommittee
members, two Council liaisons, and the OHSU
Street Nursing Team to gather information,
analyze the data, and create this report totaled
more than 1,230 volunteer hours, with an
estimated value of more than $41,200.
Hourly Volunteer Rate Source: Independent Sector
Pane 181 of 208
Preface
• The City of Ashland does
not have a comprehensive
strategy for how it will
provide for the health and
safety needs of Ashland's
homeless population
• Nor does the City have a
comprehensive strategy to
address homelessness
• Cities can and do play
different roles
Panes 184 of 208
Introduction
The Charge: to develop a plan
that outlines the City's role in
providing and supportingg
resources and services tliat
address the issues of
homelessness in the Ashland
community
The Approach: inventory local
services, gather data, outline
funding sources, conduct a
SWOT analysis, gather a
cross-section of community
ers ectives, identify areas o
Af
rea perspectives,
concern and
potential opportunities
Pane 1 AS of 90S
Homeless Master Plan Subcommittee Roadmap
Five Months to Provide the Foundation for Informed Decision -Making
February: March: April:
• Understand the • Understand Role of CoC • CoC SWOT Analysis
Players • Inventory Programs & • Collect Community
• Adopt Roadmap Services Input
• Assign Tasks • Gather Archival Data • Review Archival Data
01 02 03
May:
• Service Inventory
SWOT Analysis
• Compile & Analyze
Community Input
June:
2024
• Review Findings
• Finalize Phase 1
Report
05
June
Complete
Feb Mar
Start Information
April
System Analysis /
May
Program Analysis /
Phase 1 Gathering
Community Input
Community Findings
Phase 1
61
Pant- 1 RR of qns
i
Ta ke -Aways -Funding Streams
• The majority of funding comes
from government sources, and
most of that goes to the largest
organizations
• Non-profit organizations depend
on fundraising
• Some cities coordinate donor
contributions
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Percent of Programs Receiving Each Type of Funding
C�,o
Me
71%
25%
8%
8%
8%
�aa Qo
o�
F
O0�
tir
�c
oa
■ Receive this Type of Funding ■ Do Not Receive this Type of Funding
*Other includes fundraising events and store proceeds.
Pang 188 of MR
Ta ke- Aways- Services Inventory
• There is a great opportunity/ need
for additional supportive services
20
• Street outreach can provide
much -needed triage for health
and safety concerns, connections
to resources
• An estimated 230-320 people are
experiencing homelessness in
Ashland, and only 117 beds,
revealing a huge need along the
housing continuum
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Distribution of Street Outreach and Housing -Related Services
Homeless Services in Ashland
Permanent
Transitional Housing (1)
Ho
Emergency
Shelter (3)
Street
Outreach (2
Street Outreach Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Rapid Rehousing
■ In Ashland ■ Outside of Ashland
supportive
Services,
including a
resource
center and
safe parking
(14)
Permanent Supportive
Housing
A
Pane 1 RG of ?nR
Take-Aways-Dato
Percent of Students Homeless
• A higher percent of Jackson County eviction cases
70%
6.3%
6.2%
result in eviction compared to cases statewide
6.0%
5.0% 4.796
4.7%
• Females represent a growing percentage of the
3.9%
4.0%
4.1 % 3.9%
3.6% 3.3%
3.2%
people experiencing homelessness in the county
3.0%
2.0%
• Homelessness is growing at a faster rate in
Jackson County than in Oregon overall
0.0%
0%
2018-19
2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
Gender Distribution
■ Oregon Students ■ Ashland Students
100%
90%
80%
70%
60 %
50%
40%
30 %
20%
10%
0%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
■ Female ■ Male ■ Other
296 OlderAdl
ages 55+(26
600 Adults, ages
25-54(52%)
247 Children.
—Rh, and Young
s. <25(2M
• Ashland has a higher
percent of homeless
students than Oregon and a
higher percentage of
homeless students living on
their own than Jackson
County or Oregon
9
Panes 1qn of 908
Ta ke- Aways -Business Community Perspectives
• Businesspeople have a wide range of concerns - about their business,
the community, and the people experiencing homelessness.
More menXd*'.,
Fund services
Camping& �era(unre 1�8�Illness - mental Theft & Weed alth and Public restrooms Increased patrols wrath food &
Public health & &shower accesspublio slBepi un" & or physical safety vandalism abatement rnenia and fines b ge tax
y police bevere
loitering A A
• Camping and public sleeping • Access to bathrooms • Weed abatement • Public restrooms & shower access
• General unrest and feeling unsafe • Public health and safety (for all) • More mental health services • More drug treatment services
• Trash and loitering • Theft and vandalism • More shelter • Affordable housing
• Illness -mental and/or physical • Obstructing sidewalks • Increased police patrols and fines • Job training & employment opportunities
• Panhandling for money and/or food • Entering businesses to get out of the weather • Fund services w/food & beverage tax
E
Pane 1A1 of 208
Take-Aways-Staff & People Experiencing Homelessness
• People experiencing What would be most valuable?
20
homelessness need resources ;6
,4
to meet basic needs, as well as 10
8
case managers and street 4
2
outreach to navigate 0
gaoc, �tie� oc Gay `�.� eo` e e., `\o�
D�e�re e�P C What would make your work more successful? SrGse ��cee e`�gc� `�ea� G��o�� Gaye
�ea�r cis Paa`
c
6 mar
5
4
3
2 Frontline staff called for more
coordination, resources, and training
More System More Skill Building workload Other
Resources Integration / Information Management
Coordination
11
Panes 1A? of ?nR
Take-Aways-General
Community Perspectives
How important is it to address the following aspects of homelessness in
Ashland?
a00*
709,0
60%
52
50%
44%
40%
30%
27"' 27m
20%
10%
■ ■ ■
Cost to taxpayers Impact on local
businsesses
59%
60ro
49%
27
22
210
11111
.■
■■ ll
Impact on
Access to public
Health and well -
tourism
restrooms
being of people
experiencing
homelessness
■ Not Important ■ Slightly Important ■ Important ■ Very Important
69%
26
-■
Public safety
• Differing viewpoints on who to help and what, if
anything will be effective
• Want City involved in regional and local planning
and coordination
• Want City to secure grant funds
• Funding should come from Federal, State and
County resources more than City funding
• Concerned about Public Safety -for all
• Concerned about health & well-being for people
experiencing homelessness
• Need for additional services to help people
experiencing homelessness get out of
homelessness (help, not handouts)
• Call for accountability -effective services, data,
outcomes
12
Pane 1 qI of 908
46%
32%
71%
63%
66%
71 %
6%
None of these Deliver services with Fund services Secure grant funding Convene or lead Collect data / monitor Participate in plans tc
City staff and funding provided by plans to address / end efforts to address / address / end
nonprofits homelessness in end homelessness in homelessness in
Ashland Ashland Jackson County
None Deliver Fund Secure Ashland Data/ County
Services Services Grants Plan Monitoring Plan
Pans 1q4 of ?OR
Take-Aways-Regiona/ Coordination
• Service coordination is lacking
• The Coordinated Entry System is not being well -utilized.
• HMIS is underutilized and data quality is not monitored or
maintained.
• Recent CoC reorganization is helping to address shortfalls in the
system.
• A needs Assessment/gaps analysis is being completed, which is
intended to be used in strategic planning.
CONTINUUM of CARE
Working toKetl r to utd homelessness
JACKSON COUNTY
OREGON
tx::
4
14
Pane 19.ri of 208
Selecting the best action
depends on the objective
46.
Triage and Manage Homelessness
.01 Respond to community livability concerns, particularly in south Ashland; clean up unsightly areas, provide
more trash receptacles and weed abatement.
Strengthen partnerships between law enforcement, social service agencies, and volunteers to connect
people with help and support.
Provide multiple locations for electronics charging and Wi-Fi access.
Increase the number of public restrooms and access to drinking water.
Expand access to showers and laundry facilities.
Develop a daytime lockable storage program where unhoused people can store their belongings while
navigating other resources, employment, etc.
Create a day center/respite from outdoors, with access to water, bathrooms, and resources.
.01 Establish a winter shelter for seniors and other vulnerable populations that is open 24/7 from mid -November
through mid -April; explore healthcare partnerships to address chronic, acute, and emergent needs.
Pane 1 W of 208
Support Pathways from Homelessness to Housing
Develop priorities for funding effective housing -focused homeless services;
monitor housing placements and retention outcomes.
PI Expand street outreach services; ensure seamless connections to resources.
Provide educational/skill-building programs and meaningful employment
opportunities.
10, Establish a housing -focused transitional shelter with case management and
access to health services, employment resources, ready -to -rent courses, and
other assistance.
.01 Expand local access to countywide Rapid Rehousing programs.
Pane 1q8 of 208
Create Long-term Change
,01 Approach issues of homelessness from a public health, mental health, and
social service perspective. Advocate for quality, effective, and evaluated
services.
Improve neighborhood livability through infrastructure development and
community -building strategies (both structural and social avenues).
Participate in the development of a countywide strategic plan to address /
end homelessness. Ensure research -based strategies and promising
practices.
.01 Develop a strategic plan to address / end homelessness in Ashland; identify
community goals and metrics for success.
.01 Implement the Ashland Housing Production Strategy.
Pa(1P. 1 qq of ?nR
Maximize Resources
Develop federal and state Legislative Agendas related to issues of
homelessness, ranging from eviction prevention to homeless response to
affordable housing and development.
Educate and advocate for federal and state funding to address
homelessness in Ashland and the greater region/county.
.01 Increase financial resources through grant writing.
.01 Provide grant -writing assistance to homeless service providers.
Monitor the capacity and use of homeless service programs in an effort to
maximize use.
19
Panes 9nn of gos
Foster Public Engagement
Strengthen methods for community engagement and information sharing
about issues of homelessness in Ashland.
Promote volunteer opportunities available with homeless services programs.
Establish a "community donations portal" for donor -directed contributions to
a wide range of homeless services.
,01 Host focus groups to gather feedback, explore new ideas, and identify hidden
resources.
20
Pane M1 of ?OR
Farm Strategic Alliances
Strengthen City of Ashland participation in the Jackson County Continuum of
Care.
Leverage existing relationships (intergovernmental, economic, social, etc.) to
increase communication, coordination, and collaboration around issues of
homelessness.
.01 Facilitate coordination of current health service providers (e.g. Max's Mission,
ACCESS, JCMH, La Clinica, HIV Alliance, Pathfinders/other peer support); host
mini summits.
Convene an interdepartmental team to keep pace with and address issues of
homelessness in Ashland.
Panes ?n? of ?os
Continue to learn & Educate
Keep pace with federal and state priorities.
Subscribe to news from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, National
Alliance to End Homelessness, HUD Exchange, and Oregon Housing and Community
Services (OHCS)
Monitor the work of the Oregon Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Senate
Interim Committee on Housing and Development, the House Interim Committee on
Housing and Homelessness, and the OHCS Housing Stability Council
Convene, sponsor, and otherwise expand access to professional development courses
for frontline staff, such as Motivational Interviewing techniques, trauma informed
practices, equity, and cultural responsiveness.
Provide and collect relevant data, analyze trends, and monitor the performance of the
homeless services system, as well as individual programs.
Continuously learn about what works and what doesn't - and seek to understand why.
22
Panes 2(1'i of g ns
Questions or Comments?*
23
Pane 904 of qnR
HHSAC
Recommendation:
The City Council Accept
and approve the Report
PanP qn5 of gnR
ImiltsHousing And Human Services Committee
Draft Minutes
Community Development Building
51 Winburn Way
July 18, 2024
Draft Minutes
Commissioners Present:
Council Liaison:
Echo Fields
Bob Kaplan
Brittney Bass
Dylan Bloom
Tiana Gilliland
Staff Present:
Deb Price
Brandon Goldman; Comm. Dev. Director
Rich Rohde
Linda Reid; Housing Program Specialist
Jonah Liden
Commissioners Absent:
Absent:
Montana Hauser
Linda Reid; Housing Program Specialist
Jason Mendoz
Crystal Munoz
I. CALL TO ORDER: 4:00 p.m.
11. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of June 27, 2024, Minutes
Rich Rohde/Deb Price, m/s, approval of minutes as presented. Voice Vote: All AYES The
minutes from June 27, 2024, have been approved.
IV. PUBLIC FORUM (4:05-4:10 p.m.)
A. Public Forum.
Six guests were in attendance, two of whom have applied to be considered for
appointment to the commission. No one spoke to any item on the agenda or any topics
not on the agenda.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Homeless Services Masterplan Report Presentation: Jan Calvin, and Echo Fields,
presented an overview of the process, take aways, and action items identified in the
Homeless Services Masterplan report.
B. Homeless Services Masterplan Report Review and Recommendation: Committee
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members asked several clarifying questions regarding various aspects of the report,
including questions about how data was obtained, which populations the City did
not hear from, rapid rehousing follow up, and issues of access to resources. Lastly, a
discussion of how the report relates to the recent Supreme court ruling was briefly
discussed. Tiana Gilliand/Brittney Bass, m/s, to forward a recommendation to the
City Council to accept and approve the report. Motion passed unanimously.
Committee member Rohde expressed a desire to forward a recommendation to
identify the HHSAC as a clearing house and designated intermediary to validate and
finalize recommendations to the City Council for programs that address the 2024
Homeless Services Masterplan Report. Motion failed for lack of support.
C. Education and Community Engagement Planning Discussion Continued: Due to
time constraints, the Committee had an abbreviated discussion of the planning for
the education and community engagement event. It was generally expressed that a
walkable, central location was preferable, and that a more socially oriented venue, or
an event that allowed for social interactions, was preferable to a more formal
presentation style educational event. It was decided to continue the discussion at
the next regular meeting in August.
D. Housing Production Strategy Project Timeline Check -in: Community Development
Director Brandon Goldman, provided a brief overview of the various Housing
production strategies that are currently moving forward.
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. None
VII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. Liaison Reports
• N/A
B. General Announcements
VIII. AGENDA BUILDING - Future Meetings
• Education and Community Engagement Planning (cont.).
IX. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
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Next Meeting Date: August 22, 2024
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please
email linda.reid(@ashland.or.us. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable
arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).
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