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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland High School's robotics team's season ends at district meet Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand New park gets first major tree Police Reports Oregon Shakespeare Festival honored for preserving history Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job High school Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Southern Oregon University Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 11 Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community Blog: Judgment and Misery Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Looking Up: Watch the Lion chasing Jupiter Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ticket Availability ... Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ticket Availability ... Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Shelter is a basic human right Comment By Randi Powell DailyTidings.com By Randi Powell Posted Dec. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Randi Powell Posted Dec. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News An Ashland resident recently argued that in order to fix the homeless “problem” we need to stop feeding them because this keeps them around. This Ashland resident is upset because the homeless population is prohibited from sleeping within city limits so they are forced to camp outside of Ashland near residents' homes. She also argues that the homeless encampments are not full of homeless, but are actually full of people hoping to live under the radar so they can do what they want. In reality, homelessness is a complex issue that is the result of an interplay between lack of affordable housing, mental illness, and substance abuse. Providing the homeless residents of Ashland one hot meal a week is not akin to “feeding the bears.” We provide the black bear population with a far more consistent food source. A proactive approach to this complaint is to provide the homeless residents of Ashland a warm and safe place to sleep seven nights a week so they are not forced to sleep in fields outside of town. Currently, two local churches, Trinity Episcopal and First Presbyterian, and Pioneer Hall provide a homeless shelter Monday through Thursday from November to April. I am a senior Oregon Health & Science University nursing student and member of Nursing Students Without Borders. We are committed to finding shelter for this marginalized population during the coldest months of the year. In the past two weeks we have approached all 35 churches in Ashland and City Hall to request that they provide the location for a homeless shelter for the remaining three nights a week. Nursing Students Without Borders would even provide the volunteers to run the shelter. Unfortunately, we received a resounding “no” and one “maybe.” I have had an enjoyable experience volunteering at Uncle Food’s Diner and the homeless shelters. The people have expressed nothing but kindness and gratitude for a hot meal and a warm place to sleep. The community organizations that provide shelter and other services for the homeless say they have not had an adverse incident during their eight years of operation. It is a naive argument to say that if we stop feeding the homeless then they will go away. There have always been and always will be homeless people, whether we feed them or not. Each community has an ethical obligation to care for those who are mentally ill, unfortunate, poor and homeless. As a member of the Ashland community I am not OK with ignoring this very real situation. The homeless are people. They shiver when it gets too cold. Whatever your moral compass, be it religious or humanitarian, hopefully you will feel compassion for those in need of this basic human right that we are denying the homeless in our community. The homeless residents of Ashland need a place to go and I urge the local churches to open their doors and provide this crucial social service. Randi Powell of Ashland, an Oregon Health & Science University nursing student, is a member of Nursing Students without Borders. By Randi Powell DailyTidings.com By Randi Powell Posted Dec. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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