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Ashland businessman and developer Allan Sandler is teaming with members of the homeless community on a work-for-housing proposal that could get people off the streets. Sandler has proposed that the business community team up to build a dormitory-style shelter that would house 20-25 homeless people. In a letter to the City Council, Sandler said people who lived at the shelter would help senior citizens, homeowners in need and others. Aaron Fletcher, a young Ashland homeless man who prefers the term "home-free," is working with Sandler on the work-for-housing idea. But instead of a dorm-like shelter, Fletcher envisions having small groups of homeless people live in rented houses scattered around Ashland, he said in an interview last week. Up to five people would live in each house. In return for a place to stay, the residents would work a minimum of one hour per day in their surrounding neighborhoods. They would plant gardens, start compost piles, install deer fencing, build chicken coops, install rain-catchment barrels and perform other tasks, said Fletcher, who long has had an interest in wild edible plants and local food production. Fletcher said many homeless people have become habituated to living outside but could be reintegrated into the regular community by spending time in the comfort of a house. "If they are in a house, that will motivate them to want to have houses and stay. If you want homeless people to stop being homeless, let them stay in houses," he said. The work-for-housing concept is better than building a shelter in Ashland or authorizing a legal homeless camp because the residents would have respect for the houses, their neighborhoods and the community, Fletcher said. "They would say, 'I just mowed that lawn. I just planted that garden,' " he said. Homeless people working in neighborhoods could show that they can be responsible and hard-working, Fletcher said. "By doing free labor for neighbors, it's like a job interview every day. Some of those neighbors will own businesses or know people who own businesses," he said. "This is a tightly knit community." Fletcher, who can often be seen around Ashland pulling a small wagon and leading his yellow Labrador retriever, hopes to outfit his wagon with a safe and accept donations for the work-for-housing program. He said a responsible, respected Ashland resident would have the only key to the safe. The safe would be opened with homeless people present. The key-holder would be a local business owner or member of a nonprofit group, he said. Fletcher has done odd jobs for neighbors in the past in exchange for a place to stay. He said the work-for-housing rental homes could become neighborhood hubs, helping neighbors get to know each other. He said he thinks the project would be appealing for responsible homeless people. "The people it sounds good to are the responsible people because responsible people don't mind pitching in," Fletcher said. Mayor John Stromberg said he's meeting with Sandler on the proposal next week. Sandler was out of town and not immediately available for comment on his idea. Reach reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-479-8199 or [email protected].