Bridging the Gap: Addressing the Unhoused Crisis in Grants Pass

In a significant shift for Grants Pass, Oregon, the city swore in a new mayor, Clint Scherf, along with four new conservative councilors on January 6th, 2025. Their election marks a political transformation that will impact the city’s approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis and providing services to support the unhoused community.  Their recent actions not only reduced essential services for the unhoused community but also hindered efforts to plan for more dense and affordable housing, ultimately making it more challenging to meet pressing housing needs within the community.

The Intersection of Fair Housing and the Unhoused Community

The Fair Housing Act was designed to ensure “fair housing for all” across the United States, offering vital protections based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. Oregon’s state fair housing laws expand these protections to include marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and source of income. Despite these protections against discrimination, other factors like the growing housing deficit and a severe lack of deeply affordable housing options have left many individuals and families without stable shelter, forcing them into homelessness.

This crisis is further exacerbated by an insufficient number of shelter services, which are unable to meet the increasing demand. Members of protected class groups, including individuals with disabilities, people of color, people who are LGBTQ+, and families with children, are disproportionately affected and overrepresented in the unhoused community. These circumstances underscore the critical need for comprehensive housing solutions that address systemic inequities and provide sustainable support for people who are unhoused and those who are at risk of losing their housing.

To learn more about the connection between the unhoused community and fair housing law, read “Imagining the Future of Housing Status as a Protected Class”.

Grants Pass vs. Johnson: A Supreme Court Decision with Far-reaching Consequences

The backdrop to the developments in Grants Pass is the Supreme Court ruling in the Grants Pass vs. Johnson case in June 2024. The federal ruling impacted the entire nation when the court favored the city of Grants Pass, allowing the enforcement of ordinances that criminalize outdoor sleeping, even when no alternative sheltering options are available. While legally upheld, the decision has sparked widespread controversy due to its far-reaching and potentially devastating impacts, particularly in a state like Oregon facing a critical housing shortage.

Oregon’s struggle with affordable housing is well-documented, with many cities, including Grants Pass, experiencing extreme rent burdens, a lack of available and accessible units, rising rental costs, and insufficient shelter services. The Supreme Court’s ruling, thus, comes as a harsh blow to those living unsheltered, as it legitimizes measures that can exacerbate their already precarious situation. Policies enforcing camping ordinances were upheld, forcing unhoused individuals who live outdoors to face criminalization. They are fined for using blankets or tents to protect themselves from the elements, which have proven deadly for the unhoused population in Oregon.

Blocking the Path to Assistance: Council Decisions Threaten Support for the Unhoused

In Grants Pass, on January 7th, a day after the new mayor and councilors were sworn in, a special meeting was convened with minimal public notice. In a surprising yet decisive move, the council sought to dismantle years of efforts made by local agencies, nonprofits and city staff to assist the unhoused community and promote the development of affordable and low-income housing. Central to this meeting was the decision to revoke promised grant funding earmarked for a homeless navigation center and severe weather shelter.

The existing shelter programs in Grants Pass are either very high barrier or not offering enough beds to house the estimated 1,200 unhoused people living in the area. Foundry Village has 17 tiny homes operated by Mid Rogue Foundation. Hearts with a Mission offers housing for four young adults aged 18 to 21, provided they comply with program requirements, including adhering to a curfew. The Women’s Crisis Support Team provides a safe shelter for up to 13 individuals who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking. Gospel Rescue Mission requires 100% sobriety and has a long list of rules that create major barriers to unhoused people. Guests “must dress and behave according to their birth gender, attend religious services and, if they stay for more than 30 days, pay $100 a month per adult and $50 per child for food, among other stipulations”.

In a five-to-two vote, the council rescinded funding from the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT), an organization made up of doctors, nurses and other community members who planned to open a severe weather shelter, low barrier shelter and a navigation center — vitally needed services in the region. The council members used the inspection report on the building as their reason for withdrawing the funds. “Still, 27 of the 30 residents who spoke during public comment on Tuesday were against revoking the grant agreement.” “Julie Thomas, president of the homeless services organization PATH, said during public comment. “This isn’t perfect, it’s not a perfect building, but it’s way better than we ever were,” “Please look at the big picture and don’t get caught up in that this is not perfect today.”

The council then moved to shut down the larger designated safe camping site in the city, leaving a smaller site with restrictive sleeping hours, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The city offered no alternative options for safe camping.

Further undermining the city’s support infrastructure for low-income residents, the council voted to sunset the Housing Advisory Committee, a body instrumental in advocating for and facilitating the development of affordable housing options and lowering barriers to housing development in Grants Pass.

Advocating for Equity: Building Tangible Solutions for the Unhoused

In light of these abrupt policy changes, now is the time for community involvement. Despite the lack of notice to the public, many Grants Pass community members and service providers showed up at the afore-mentioned council meeting on January 7^th to provide public testimony, speaking out against the council’s resolutions. You can hear all of the statements in the video below.

Residents of Grants Pass, and indeed all Oregonians, must rally to support organizations committed to aiding the unhoused. Local groups like Partners Assisting the Homeless and MINT in Josephine County are integral to navigating this increasingly challenging dilemma – preserving the health, safety, and lives of our unhoused community and providing resources for their upward mobility. These organizations need support — whether through volunteering, donations, or advocacy — to continue providing essential services and resources.

There’s an urgent need for citizens to engage with their city council members, imploring them to fund vital infrastructure such as low-income housing and shelter services. We must call upon local lawmakers to be open and transparent with the public and to utilize the specialists they have at their disposal to make informed and educated decisions that benefit everyone. Encouraging policy changes that reflect compassion and responsibility are crucial in safeguarding the rights and well-being of unhoused community members.

Across Oregon, we must advocate for housing solutions that accommodate all, recognizing that the ambition and ability to reduce homelessness lies not only with agencies and organizations who are already doing this good work, but also with each of us. Let us act decisively to foster an environment where support, empathy, and tangible solutions replace criminalization and neglect.

How to Get Involved

You can reach out to Partners Assisting the Homeless of Josephine County on their website, Facebook page or by email at pathofjoco@gmail.com.   You can contact Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) at MINT_bridgethegap@outlook.com and can donate to support their services at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/99-0412991?fbclid=IwY2xjawIbCNdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHREeDw7AGmJB8SBZ-KfFyc7EMxnuX5lLB37x7HgMYIySXcRKT3XRaQ8DFw_aem_UNfjF5xNtmg8LphYKWCxRw

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