Emergency Shelter

2200 Ashland St
Ashland , OR 97520
Phone: 541.488.6002
Contact: City of Ashland
Email: 

Ashland Emergency Homeless Shelter at 2200 Ashland St

In 2023, the City acquired the property at 2200 Ashland Street for homeless shelter services with State funding under the Governor’s declared state of emergency due to homelessness. The 24/7 emergency homeless shelter was opened on November 1, 2023.

The shelter is managed by local provider, OHRA (Opportunities for Housing, Resources and Assistance, Inc.), who provides wrap-around services to residents of the shelter. For more information on OHRA visit ohrahelps.org

View Crime Data for the City of Ashland. 
 
2200 Ashland St - Emergency Shelter
Aerial view of shelter


Background
Metropolitan areas in Oregon have experienced a 50% rise in unsheltered homelessness since 2017. Jackson County alone has witnessed a 132% rise in unsheltered homelessness. The State of Oregon is responding by providing grant funding to cities and counties to address homelessness under Governor Kotek’s state of emergency due to homelessness declaration (Executive Order) EO-23-02.

With this funding, communities across the state are working, as we are in Ashland, to provide immediate shelter beds for unhoused community members. This funding requires quick action by communities to purchase sites with buildings that can become shelters with little renovation. The City of Ashland has received funding to provide 30 emergency shelter beds (possibly up to 40 beds), while the City of Medford has received funding to provide 75 emergency shelter beds. The state funding requires that the shelters operate until January 10, 2024.
 
The Governor’s Office has indicated additional operational funding will be available to support these shelters after January 11, but Ashland is only required to provide these shelter beds through January 10. This shelter is a pilot project, and we will collaborate with the surrounding neighborhood to make the program work well. However, if what we are doing is not working, we can shift course on January 11 in terms of the homeless services offered at the site and still meet the requirements of the grant. The land purchased with these state funds must continue to be used to support homeless residents, one way or the other, into the future. UPDATE: on January 9, 2024, Governor Kotek signed EO-24-02, which will afford the City to keep the shelter operational through March 31, 2024 --- see timeline below for more information.
 
City Goals
In combination with the State’s funding initiatives to rapidly rehouse homeless individuals and families, the shelter’s acquisition and operation is a decisive response to rising homelessness by the State of Oregon. This pivotal commitment aligns with the City's dedication to support comprehensive solutions that enable individuals to receive the transitional stability they need to become more self-reliant.
  • Provide Emergency Homeless Sheltering - Like other communities in the state, we have seen here in Ashland a significant uptick in unhoused residents over the past few years. Our goal with this property is to create a place for unhoused residents to rest without fear and feel secure enough to move forward with improving their lives. This emergency shelter program will assist unhoused residents with long-term stabilization as the City will work with a local homeless services provider to ensure that clients of the shelter have access to the navigation services they need to become stable and get on the road to self-sufficiency. Navigation assistance includes a variety of services including securing permanent housing solutions and employment opportunities. The homeless shelter will foster stability and self-sufficiency for its occupants in need through essential support services and emergency housing during times of crisis.

  • Secure a Permanent Location for our Severe Weather Shelter - The Council has budgeted $200,000 over the two-year City budget (2023-2025) to support the severe weather shelter, which opens during periods of extreme cold (less than 32 degrees F), extreme heat (over 95 degrees F), and dangerous air quality due to wildfire smoke (over 150 on the Air Quality Index). The emergency inclement weather shelter has operated at various locations over time within the City, including in Pioneer Hall, in The Grove, and at donated or rented private property locations. The lack of a permanent facility for this program has been a problem for several years – one that is getting more difficult as we experience greater weather extremes and more smoke challenges. This purchase will ensure that we have a building for those occasions where weather poses a potentially deadly risk to unhoused residents.
Potential Goal
  • Leverage our Stock of Pallet Structures to Provide Next Step Housing in a Community Setting - The City of Ashland has 13 pallet structures in storage that were purchased with COVID relief funding. These simple structures can provide next level housing options for people who are able to contribute to the functioning of the facility, follow the rules, live in a structured community and continue to make progress toward self-reliance. The structures have no plumbing and therefore do not impact sewer systems. Porta-potties and handwashing stations are typically set up onsite to address sanitation.

    The City has investigated these types of villages in other communities and found that they can be operated safely without neighborhood impact. The City operated a pallet village on East Main Street, outside of City limits during COVID. The village was overseen by Rogue Retreat, who has since left Ashland.

    Development of a pallet village, using what has been learned in other communities to ensure its effectiveness, requires that the City of Ashland has land that can be used for this purpose. In the future, the City may develop another pallet village outside of city limits, or consider the property at 2200 Ashland St.

    At this time, no proposal or decision has been made. If the City of Ashland does not utilize the pallet structures, the City may transfer them to the City of Medford.

Acquisition and Timing
The shelter operation in the existing structure is expected to open on November 1, 2023, and remain operational at least until January 10, 2024, at which point Council will determine how it will continue to function. It will at least be the City’s severe weather shelter moving forward but may continue to be an overnight shelter based on how well it is operating, ongoing funding available from the state and how things are working out in the surrounding neighborhood. What is important to remember is that it, as well as any pallet house community project, is a pilot and the City of Ashland has the ability to adjust and refine how it is operating moving forward.
 
Funding
Funding to support the property acquisition includes:
  • $1.158 million of “All In” grant funding from the State
  • $1.0 million in Department of Administrative Services grant funding
  • $200 thousand of City of Ashland General Fund monies approved in the 23-25 Biennium Budget for inclement weather sheltering (or $100 thousand per year)
  • In January 2024 additional state and county funding became available - see News Release 

Emergency Homeless Shelter Operational Details
The shelter represents a vital response to the homelessness crisis, carefully planned and implemented to address the immediate needs of unsheltered individuals and families in Ashland. Grant funds for the shelter must be fully utilized and expended by January 10, 2024. Plans for the shelter's operations include its oversight by an experienced shelter operator. The City is in discussions with an experienced local shelter provider regarding their potential oversight role, including the shelter’s physical design and operational details. Successfully rehousing individuals experiencing homelessness is a primary goal of the shelter. The model used for shelter operations encompasses a multifaceted approach to help individuals transition to permanent housing.
 
Services will include:
  • Behavioral Expectations: Guests will be required to adhere to defined behavioral guidelines, ensuring a safe and respectful environment within the shelter
     
  • Housing Navigation and Resources: The shelter will provide housing navigation services and resource support, enabling residents to transition from homelessness to stable housing
     
  • Exit Planning: For individuals unable to comply with shelter rules, appropriate exit plans will be implemented, addressing both housing and ongoing support services options
     
  • Operational Hours and Support: The shelter will maintain specific operational hours to streamline services and minimize disruptions. Dedicated emergency shelter staff will be present on-site when clients are present to address any issues or concerns
     
The shelter is only to be operated as an indoor shelter and does not include tent camping on the shelter site.
 
The City of Ashland is committed to ensuring that the facility is developed and maintained in such a way that it is a good neighbor to residents and businesses already located in the surrounding neighborhood. This means ensuring that the site is clean and well-maintained – and operated in such a way that it does not become a congregate meeting place for unhoused residents.
 
The City of Ashland will regularly engage the surrounding neighborhood to understand and address any unintended consequences from the facility at this site.
 
Shelter Site Purchase Background and Timeline
The City's journey toward establishing  this facility and a long-term location to host the inclement weather shelter has been marked by diligent efforts to create a program that will work while leveraging investments by state government.  
 
Key milestones to-date include:
 
  • Spring 2022 – City secured a $1 million grant to address housing insecurity.
     
  • May 2022 – Discussion of Shelter Site Acquisition Criteria at the regular Housing and Human Services Commission meeting. Important site selection criteria include acquiring an existing build located on a bus line and within walking distance of grocery and support retail services.
     
  • December 2022 – City amended its Inclement Weather Shelter policy to accommodate increased weather-related challenges. (Resolution 2022-33).
     
  • January 10, 2023 – Governor Kotek issued EO-23-02 declaring a state of emergency due to homelessness.
     
  • April/June 2023 – The City Council approved application for the “All In” State of Oregon grant at their regular meeting on April 18 and accepted the “All-In” Grant at the Council meeting on June 6.  
     
  • August 15, 2023 – City Council approved the real estate purchase of 2200 Ashland Street at its regular business meeting

  • August 23, 2023 – City staff Siskiyou School walk to review campus access issues.
     
  • August 28, 2023 – City website initiates new shelter Q&A page for community questions and input.

  • September 6-7, 2023 – An informational letter from Mayor Graham was sent to the residential neighborhood areas near the Emergency Homeless Shelter. 

  • September 11, 2023 – City Council neighborhood walk to hear neighborhood concerns.
     
  • September 14, 2023 – Clay Street Neighborhood meeting for input on homelessness issues, including operation of the shelter (location to be determined). Discussion will include the possibility of establishing a neighborhood advisory committee to assist the City of Ashland - View the agenda - View the PowerPoint Presentation
    Neighborhood Gathering at Southern Oregon University
    September 14, 2023 - Neighborhood Meeting at Southern Oregon University 

  • September 15, 2023 – City takes possession of shelter property and begins improvements. 
  • October 2, 2023 – An update presentation on the Emergency Homeless Shelter’s operation plans and an opportunity for public input held at the City Council Study Session. The Council had the opportunity to discuss and provide guidance to City staff on future use of the emergency shelter property. The meeting included an update from OHRA (Opportunities for Housing, Resources and Assistance, Inc.), the local service provider. View the meeting
  • October 3, 2023 – The Council’s Regular Business meeting that included a non-profit contract for operation services at the Emergency Homeless Shelter. View the meeting
  • October 18, 2023 – Shelter open house.
  • November 1, 2023 – Shelter begins operations.
  • November 6, 2023 – Council Study Session: Balancing Homelessness Services with Public Space Regulations for a More Livable City (Council Communication) | Ashland Livability, homelessness caselaw recap, camping ordinance update (Staff presentation).
  • January 9, 2024 – Governor Kotek signed EO 24-02, which will maintain added capacity for the state’s shelter system, rehouse those experiencing homelessness and prevent homelessness. This order allow the City to keep the shelter open through March 31, 2024. Additional funding for the Southern Oregon region of Jackson County was also made available. Read News Release
  • January 9, 2024  – The contract with the local service provider, OHRA, was extended through March 31, 2024. 
  • March 5, 2024  – Council voted to decline State funding and end the 24/7 sheltering at the site and direct staff to work with Access on any close-out issues; with a follow-on motion to direct staff to work with Access on alternative uses of funds under the emergency order to allow for continued shelter in the community with a preference for shelter beds in Ashland. (The 24/7 shelter will close at the end of March. The site will continue to operate as a severe weather shelter for extreme cold or heat, and when the air quality is unsafe due to smoke.)
  "We are better together!"


Ask a question or submit a comment 
View Shelter feedback as of January 2024

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CRIME DATA… The City of Ashland has two designated CAP (Concentrated Area Patrol) areas; one in East Ashland and the other in West Ashland. The west is roughly downtown, while the east is roughly the Ashland St business corridor between Normal St and southbound Interstate-5. View crime data for 2018 through present day. Note: This data also includes non-CAP areas, or the rest of the city not including the east and west CAP areas. Available data sets as of March 6, 2024, include:


Released August 28, 2023 
Updated January 10, 2024; March 6, 2024 

Frequently Asked Questions

The decision-making process for the shelter's location and operation involves a variety of factors and considerations, including legal and administrative procedures. While the entire community's input is valuable and desirable, practical constraints such as the need for timely decisions, confidential real estate transactions, and property acquisition processes can limit the extent to which the entire community can directly participate in the decision. Since the City has purchased the property and is responsible for overseeing the shelter's operations, it is imperative to emphasize that ongoing public engagement will play a pivotal role in monitoring the effectiveness of the shelter programs and assessing their impact on the neighborhood. This ongoing dialogue is vital for making informed long-term decisions that best serve the community.
Individuals will apply to be housed at the shelter and a background check will be done at that time. The shelter will not operate as a drop-in shelter. Sex offenders will not be allowed to stay at the shelter. 
Under state law, emergency shelters are permitted in all zones throughout the state to address the ongoing statewide housing crisis. This law was intended to remove obstacles that could impede the establishment of emergency shelters within local jurisdictions (HB 2006 in 2021, later amended with HB 3395 in 2023). This legislation mandates that local governments must approve emergency shelters based on specific criteria, irrespective of other state or local land use laws. The focus is on providing temporary shelter to individuals and families lacking permanent housing. Given this state mandate, the establishment of an emergency shelter is permitted outright in any zone, and does not involve any land use decisions nor requirements such as notices, solicitation of comments and public hearings.

Per this law, a city must approve an emergency shelter application for operation on any property if the shelter:
  • Includes sleeping and restroom facilities.
  • Complies with relevant building codes.
  • Is situated within an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
  • Does not lead to the construction of a new building within an area designated under a statewide land use planning goal concerning natural disasters and hazards.
  • Provides adequate transportation access to commercial and medical services.
  • Does not present an unreasonable risk to public health or safety.
Additionally, the proposed emergency shelter must be operated by:
  • A local government; or an organization with a minimum of two years experience operating an emergency shelter using best practices, including entities such as housing authorities, religious corporations, public benefit corporations with charitable purposes that involve supporting homeless individuals, or nonprofit corporations collaborating with any of these entities.
The City undertook a comprehensive process to strategically pinpoint optimal locations for a site that could accommodate both the temporary emergency shelter and a long-term severe weather shelter. This method considered critical factors, including ensuring access to public transit, particularly along well-traveled bus routes, and the convenience of proximity to essential services and retail such as grocery stores. Moreover, the search focused on identifying commercially zoned properties with spacious buildings and available onsite parking to cater to staff, volunteers and occupants. Further, the City sought a location that could be used as a future centralized distribution point for emergency supplies to the community in the event of a natural disaster. Developed structures capable of immediately housing the shelter, minimizing the necessity for extensive renovations, were prioritized. These considerations were weighed against the overall cost and availability of properties currently on the market for sale.
The shelter, that is being established with state funding, is part of a state plan to assist unhoused homeless individuals and facilitate their transition to permanent housing. Without state assistance to address homelessness, including its support of the shelter, homelessness in Ashland is likely to continue to grow.

Oregon has the fourth-highest rate of unsheltered homelessness in the country and the highest rate of unsheltered homelessness for families with Children. Over the past six years, the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Oregon has increased by 63%.  The 2022 Point in Time count of individuals experiencing homelessness estimated that at least 18,000 individuals experience homelessness across Oregon.  Ashland has also seen its homeless population dramatically increase.  Jackson County has seen its unsheltered homeless population increase by an estimated 132% over the last six years.   

The Ashland Shelter is one part of the Governor’s comprehensive investment and plan for addressing the homelessness emergency in the three counties in Oregon that have seen the most precipitous rise in homelessness.  The Governor made this emergency declaration to “reduce homelessness and it’s impacts by rapidly expanding the State’s low-barrier shelter capacity, to rehouse people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and to prevent homelessness to the greatest extent possible.”  Executive Order 23-02, “directs the State’s emergency management response capacity and an initial infusion of targeted funding and other resources that will meaningfully reduce the level of unsheltered homelessness in Oregon, while establishing a framework to support the continued reduction of homelessness in the long term, even after the state of emergency has ended.” 

The City of Ashland received a state grant for the purchase of the building at 2200 Ashland Street to provide shelter services for unhoused residents in our community.  With this project under the emergency declaration, Ashland is joining other communities in the Rogue Valley and across the state in investing state funding to develop shelter facilities and support services.

Under the state grant, Ashland’s shelter must provide 30-beds for overnight unsheltered homeless accommodation beginning approximately November 1, 2023, and ending to January 10, 2024.  The grant funded beds must be low-barrier and connect individuals to resources that can allow them to move to permanent housing quickly.  Additional state funding is programed in Jackson County to help reduce the incident of homelessness.  Shelter beds available above the 30-bed grant requirement can be offered on a priority basis to families with children or those deemed most vulnerable due to their circumstances or need for support navigation services.  After January 10, 2024, the City plans to use the building as its annual emergency extreme weather shelter/clear-air center.   

For more information about the Governor’s Executive Order on Homelessness:
oregon.gov/gov/eo/eo-23-02.pdf.
The first step to help someone experiencing homelessness is to address their needs and challenges. The City will work with a local homeless service provider to create stability and then work to transition them to permanent housing.
During the building's use as an emergency shelter for unhoused residents, the shelter service provider will be offer limited food service exclusively for the residents of the shelter. During this period, the facility will not be open to the general public or available for drop-in meals. The primary focus during this phase will be on providing shelter and essential support services to the residents of the shelter.

Subsequent to its use as an emergency shelter, the site is designated for intermittent use as a low-frills severe weather shelter during extreme cold, heat conditions and when the air quality index is about 150 due to smokey conditions. Traditionally, meals would not be a part of a low-frills severe weather shelter; however, the City genuinely recognizes the importance of providing meals to our unhoused population, particularly during these adverse weather conditions. Therefore, future collaboration with the winter shelter service provider and volunteers to ensure that meals are accessible to unhoused individuals when the building functions as a severe weather shelter would be valuable.
The City is obligated by the terms of the State grant to provide beds for 30 people at the emergency shelter between the opening date in early November through January 10, 2024. The goal will be to transition people to permanent housing during this period. The service provider the City will be contracting with has a high rate of success in transferring folks to permanent housing. After January 10, the emergency shelter will transition to a severe weather shelter and the City will work with the service provider to develop an exit plan. 
The City is working to collect and organize information for a report to residents and businesses near the Emergency Shelter on issues that may arise during the operation of the Emergency Homeless Shelter.
A designated smoking location will be provided on the property. This area will include a covered section that includes fireproof ashtrays to dispose of cigarette butts. The designated smoking location will discourage smoking at building entrances or undesirable locations.
Funding to support the property acquisition includes:
  • $1.158 million of “All In” grant funding from the State
  • $1.0 million in Department of Administrative Services grant funding
  • $200 thousand of City of Ashland General Fund monies approved in the 23-25 Biennium Budget for inclement weather sheltering
Homelessness in Jackson County has increased by 63%, and 132% in Ashland. Doing nothing about this status is not an option. The City’s goal is to get ahead of the situation and help stabilize people who are experiencing homelessness and transition them to permanent housing. The City will work with a local homeless service provider who has the experience to help the City reach this goal.

Ashland is a small community with limited commercial properties. Council and staff began searching for a suitable property in February 2023, and held four Executive Sessions between February and August 2023, to discuss the potential of the property at 2200 Ashland St.

Council’s intent was to reach out to the public before formally approving the purchase; however, the final agreement with the seller was not reached until Friday, August 11, 2023. This meant that in order for the City to meet the requirements of the State grant, the approval had to be made at the August 15, 2023, City Council meeting. If the City had delayed the approval to the next Council meeting on September 19, 2023, the City would have missed the grant deadline. (The Council did not meet on September 5, 2023, due to the Labor Day holiday.)
Despite local successes in moving unhoused people into permanent housing, the state of emergency remains due to the increasing rates of people falling into homelessness. The challenge of addressing such complex and wide-ranging issues as homelessness is that the root causes are many, and varied, and often are complex and interconnected.  Addressing the root causes of homelessness is, for many individuals and organizations, a constant and ever-evolving task. 

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. 1

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 7 million affordable and available homes for renters with the lowest incomes, disproportionately impacting people of color—especially Black/African Americans.

• Rise of Rent Amid 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.

Finally, the City of Ashland’s funding for its emergency homeless shelter is being provided under two State of Oregon grants that total over $2.1 million. The current City budget only includes $100,000 in FY 2023-2024 ($200,000 for the 23-25 BN) of City funding programmed for the operation of the annual extreme weather shelter/clear-air center.  The City cannot begin to address the root causes of homelessness on its own.  Its new shelter effort is aligned with the state’s plan to stabilize unsheltered homeless individuals so that they can seek and receive the support services they need to gain permanent housing despite the above listed challenges.
No, there will not necessarily be a trained medical professional or counselor present during the intake.  However, all OHRA staff are trained in Trauma Informed Care, and will utilized Trauma Informed practices at intake.
Camping or entering onto rail road tracks or right of way is specifically prohibited under ORS 164.255 and APD will respond to any such complaints and take appropriate action.
A "low-barrier shelter" doesn't differentiate between homeless individuals based on their reasons for being homeless. It provides shelter to anyone without a home, regardless of whether they're struggling due to financial constraints, mental illness, or addiction. While services are made available for those who need  or request them, an emergency shelter primarily focuses on offering immediate shelter. Individual assessments of the applicants for a shelter bed help identify those needing extra support, such as referrals to addiction treatment or mental health services, but the goal is to get everyone inside first. The shelter staff works with partner agencies to create personalized plans for ongoing assistance, addressing the diverse needs of the homeless population while ensuring a safe place to stay for all.
This would be dependent on the circumstances. The person would likely be offered to stay at the designated camping area behind the Ashland Police Station on East Main St or officers would try to connect them with other service providers. 
The September 14, 2023, meeting is specifically focused on addressing the potential impacts of the shelter's use at 2200 Ashland Street on the immediate neighborhood. It serves as a local initiative to discuss the unique challenges faced by those living in proximity to the shelter. However, it's important to note that the City Council has planned a broader, city-wide discussion on the emergency shelter needs and homelessness impacts for the entire community. This larger-scale discussion is scheduled for October 2, 2023, at 1175 East Main Street (Council Chambers), beginning at 5:30 p.m. - More information on Council meetings at ashland.or.us/Council
While the City itself does not maintain a registry of each person participating in a shelter program, it is important to note that the shelter provider takes measures to ensure that every occupant is registered through the State of Oregon's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). HMIS serves as an invaluable tool, functioning as an information system that gathers client-level data and records information about the provision of housing, shelter and essential services. This comprehensive system helps track services provided to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, ensuring that valuable data is collected and utilized to address homelessness effectively within the community. In addition to its role as an information system for collecting client-level data and tracking services, the HMIS is also coordinated with shelter and service providers statewide. This coordination enhances the system's capacity for comprehensive tracking and data sharing, facilitating more effective and efficient responses to homelessness on a broader scale.
The provision of restroom facilities at the shelter, which includes an outdoor porta-potty, plays a vital role in creating a designated and accessible location for individuals experiencing homelessness to use these essential facilities. By ensuring a readily available option for restroom use, the shelter aims to significantly reduce incidents of people resorting to defecating in public places. This not only addresses a basic human need but also contributes to maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of public spaces, fostering a more supportive and inclusive community environment. The Parks and Recreation Department utilizes sharps containers to remove needles from all parks on a regular basis. 
A neighborhood committee has been formed that is comprised of residents, Siskiyou School officials and business representatives in the area. In addition, a member from the Housing and Human Services Committee will serve as an advocate, and lastly someone from the houseless community will be on the committee. The Mayor will offer support to the committee on behalf of the City Council.
The City maintains insurance on the building as a City facility, and the shelter provider will also maintain insurance specifically related to the operation of the emergency shelter.
In early September 2023, Council and staff walked the neighborhood to speak with residents. For those who were not home, an informative door hanger was left at the residence.

A letter to residents near the shelter was sent out September 7 and 8, 2023. The letter contained background information, referenced the web page and announced a neighborhood meeting on Thursday, September 14, 2023. The neighborhood meeting took place at Southern Oregon University, where 88 residents attended. Also present were 13 City staff, two councilors and the Mayor.

A public forum at a City Council Study Session on October 2, 2023, will be another opportunity for the public to speak to City Council. For information on public testimony; attending the meeting in person, virtually or watching live; visit ashland.or.us/Council.
The City will expand Ashland Police patrol presence from downtown to include Ashland St, Clay St and the Bear Creek Greenway. The cadet program will be expanded to assist in the patrol of City parks and other properties. The City is exploring the possibility of a store front office for Ashland Police in the Exit 14 area. The fencing near the shelter that borders the Bear Creek Greenway and the railway, will be enforced. City staff will continue to monitor community comments and questions. Q&As will be posted on the Emergency Shelter page.

During shelter operations, the Parks and Recreation Department will assist with regulating Clay Street Park access to Siskiyou School. Parks staff and contracted janitorial services staff will visit Clay Street Park daily and perform maintenance as needed. This in addition to coordinating Clay Street Parks activities with the Ashland Police.

The City’s goal is to stabilize the people who are experiencing homelessness. Creating stability will be achieved by a partnership with a local homeless services provider, who will then work to transition people to permanent housing. 

If any unlawful or disorderly behavior is observed or any threat to public safety is observed, please call dispatch at 541.488.2211.
Although there are no noticing requirements or land use approvals required for the siting of a new emergency shelter per state law (Please refer to the zoning Q&A), the City Council will hold a public meeting on Monday, October 2, 2023, regarding the City's approach to addressing the increase in unsheltered residents,including the proposed shelter and severe weather shelter. In advance of this meeting the City will mail an invitation to the residential neighborhood and commercial properties in the vicinity of 2200 Ashland Street. 
The Ashland Police Department is developing plans to strengthen uniform presence in this part of the city. APD will work with partner agencies to strive to protect all members of the community and encourage all members of the community to take steps to safeguard themselves as well.

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