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Medford council tallies its efforts to aid homeless people By Damian Mann Oct 16, 2022 12:30 AM A A Homeless people hang out at the urban campground in Medford, which costs an estimated $2.4 million annually to operate. [Mail Tribune / file photo] Medford has spent almost $18 million over the past three years to curb homelessness, but the city has seen a spike in substance abuse and mental health disorders. Each year since 2020, the city has increased the money it has devoted to deal with homelessness, which continues to place a strain on residents, businesses and emergency services. “We have surpassed our goals and frankly, in my opinion, what our expectations were on having an impact on the homeless population through that plan,” said Councilor Eric Stark. The City Council Thursday night reviewed its Homeless System Action Plan, which has led to investment in various types of housing, diversion and prevention programs, as well as development of funding sources. In 2018, a city survey found 609 adults who lived on the streets, with 116 veterans and 108 people in families. From 2020 to 2022, the city has seen a 15% decline in chronic homelessness, according to Angela Durant, the city’s principal planner for housing and urban development. But during the same period, the city has seen a 63% increase in homelessness among those with severe mental illness. A 93% spike has been seen in people with substance abuse problems. The city has worked with local nonprofits, including Rogue Retreat, to offer a variety of housing, such as the urban campground, a tiny house village and a Navigation Center. Many of the properties where these facilities are located are owned by the city. The Navigation Center, which will house 100 people a night, cost almost $7 million. Rogue Retreat manages the shelter portion. To address the spike in mental health and substance abuse, other partners are preparing a plan to deal with those issues at the Navigation Center. The city is looking at medical crisis housing and has recently partnered with Jackson County for a mobile crisis unit. Durant said the city is partnering with 22 behavioral health providers to set up a framework to deal with some of the more difficult mental health and substance abuse issues. An almost $4 million effort through Project Turnkey to transform the Redwood Inn into 47 small apartments has stalled, awaiting additional dollars to complete all the units. An additional state grant of $450,000 is in the pipeline for this project. One of the goals for the motel is to create decompression units to help those with mental health or substance abuse. Other units would be available for permanent supportive housing. Another project being developed over the next two years would provide 304 housing units for families, seniors, medically fragile individuals and agricultural workers. Durant said the city will continue to look at securing funding to help operate the urban campground, which costs an estimated $2.4 million annually. The city has found a permanent location for the facility off West McAndrews Road, and the urban campground will move from its temporary location off Biddle Road to the new location in June 2023. Surprised at the expense to operate the urban campground, Councilor Alex Poythress said, “It seemed like it was a lower expected cost.” Rogue Retreat, which operates the urban campground, is working on developing the actual cost to operate the campground, which has grown from about 25 beds a night to 125 now. When it started operating the campground, Rogue Retreat had grants that helped fund the operational costs, but many of those have since dried up. Local health care providers have shown a willingness to partner with the city to provide medical housing units, which will help alleviate emergency room visits. The city has an ongoing effort to identify city-owned properties that could be used to shelter the homeless. So far, 16 properties have been identified. To help identify and secure properties, the city had been looking at a community housing foundation. Durant said the city has since reevaluated this idea and is now working with other partners that have greater expertise, including the Northwest Community Housing Foundation and Proud Ground. Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].