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Description
Bend City Councilor Megan Perkins gives an update on Temporary Housing Strategies.
A
We
have
so
much
progress
to
announce
on
our
various
efforts
to
serve
our
community.
First,
I'm
excited
to
announce
we're
voting
on
the
navigation
center
contract.
Tonight
councillors
will
consider
a
three-year
agreement
with
shepard's
house
ministries
to
develop
and
operate
a
navigation
center
at
the
city-owned,
2nd
street
shelter.
A
The
navigation
center
represents
an
innovative
and
responsive
approach
to
the
challenges
facing
our
community.
In
simple
terms,
it's
a
service
center
for
our
houseless.
Our
houseless
community
will
be
able
to
access
things
like
case
management
assistance
with
benefits,
meals,
job
skills,
development
and
housing.
Support
daytime
services
will
not
compromise
existing
overnight
shelter
beds,
but
will
augment
services
and
will
create
an
opportunity
for
coordinated
services.
A
The
first
phase
of
the
agreement
includes
program,
development
and
planning,
including
community
outreach.
Second,
we
have
a
new
safe
parking
site.
It
will
allow
up
to
two
vehicles
to
use
the
overnight
camping
program
on
private
property.
This
is
an
addition
to
two
existing
sites:
safe
parking
programs
enable
property
owners
or
lessees
in
bend
to
allow
limited
overnight
parking
for
people
experiencing
homelessness.
A
They
provide
additional
shelter
options
for
individuals
and
families
without
access
to
permanent,
safe
shelter
and
who
are
not
able
to
obtain
other
low-income
housing.
These
programs
are
intended
to
be
used
on
a
seasonal
emergency
or
transitional
basis.
The
safe
parking
program
still
needs
additional
sites.
Please
visit
the
city's
website,
www.bendoregon.gov
houselessness
for
more
information.
A
A
In
february,
city
manager,
eric
king
designated
2nd
street
as
an
unsafe
campsite
after
bend,
police
completed
an
assessment,
reviewing
safety
conditions,
environmental
impacts
and
a
variety
of
other
concerns
between
february
16th.
When
the
designation
was
made
and
march
14th.
When
clean-up
and
closure
efforts
began,
staff
and
service
providers
met
three
times.
The
city
gave
service
providers
two
weeks
notice,
so
they
could
help
the
campers
on
the
site
before
the
area
was
closed.
A
Staff
posted
notice
to
vacate
with
campers
on
the
site
and
per
our
policy
gave
a
final
72-hour
notice
to
move
last
week,
the
city
collaborates
with
service
providers
to
coordinate
and
ensure
support
for
our
houseless
community
members.
Over
the
course
of
the
past
year,
city
staff
has
built
relationships
with
local
non-profit
service
providers,
including
deschutes
county
homeless,
outreach,
shepherd's
house
reach
central
oregon
veterans,
outreach,
the
helpers,
central
oregon
villages,
j
bar
j,
family
kitchen
and
mosaic
medical.
A
Numerous
meetings
have
centered
on
extreme
weather-related
emergencies,
closures
of
unsafe
campsites
needed
resources
and
coordination
of
service
delivery.
Staff
from
these
organizations,
plus
local
mutual
aid
volunteers,
have
been
engaged
with
and
providing
resources
for
community
members
camping
in
the
2nd
street
area.
A
Crews
then
began
their
work,
storing
personal
items
and
discarding
clearly
identifiable
debris
and
trash.
The
nonprofits
provided
wheeled
wagons,
tents,
heating
units,
car,
rv,
repairs
and
gas,
and
a
long
list
of
specific
items
necessary
for
individuals,
health
and
safety,
a
special
thanks
to
each
of
those
groups
and
providers
who
helped
over
the
past
week,
including
this
past
weekend.
A
This
unsanctioned
camp
clearing,
although
necessary,
for
safety
and
for
the
affected
businesses,
is
not
a
solution.
Council
goals
state
that
we
will
help
create
500
shelter
beds.
We
have
made
so
much
progress
in
the
past
year
and
we
will
continue
to
work
tirelessly
with
our
service
provider
community
and
seek
out
support
and
partnerships
from
the
community
at
large.
In
order
to
make
this
a
reality.
A
Other
progress
you
might
be
interested
in
following
the
city
council
will
consider
proposed
development
code.
Changes
to
provide
options
for
various
types
of
shelters
to
be
built
in
most
zoning
districts
in
bend.
Shelters
can
provide
a
bridge
for
houseless
community
members
until
they
can
get
into
more
stable
or
permanent
housing.
The
proposed
shelter
code
amendments
have
moved
past
the
planning
commission
and
are
coming
next
to
the
council.
A
In
terms
of
next
steps,
there
is
a
joint
city
council
meeting
scheduled
for
april
8
to
finalize
the
strategic
plan
and
discuss
an
intergovernmental
agreement
that
would
define
the
collaborative
office
as
always.
Thank
you
to
our
service
providers
and
community
volunteers
in
the
words
of
martin
luther
king
life's
most
persistent
and
urgent
question
is:
what
are
you
doing
for
others?
You
are
doing
so
much
for
our
city.