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HOUSING THE HOMELESS Tiny house advocates say residents will be carefully screened for Third and Front property Tiny house advocates say residents will be carefully screened By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Apr. 12, 2016 @ 12:01 am By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Apr. 12, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Supporters of a proposed tiny house village for the homeless have tabled plans to buy a Medford property in favor of leasing a city-owned lot that has been opposed by neighboring businesses, including the Randall Theatre. “Instead of spending a quarter-million dollars, we’re more interested in getting that property at Third and Front streets,” said Heather Everett of the Jackson County Homeless Task Force. Medford City Council discussed the proposal last week and heard from organizations that supported it and businesses that opposed it. Rogue Retreat, a nonprofit that works on homeless issues, had been looking at an undisclosed property near downtown for a proposed village made up of 8-by-10-foot "tiny houses," but the city suggested leasing a different property for $1 a year. Rogue Retreat has developed many properties in the Medford area for the homeless. Hope Village is the nonprofit's first attempt to create a tiny house project to give homeless people an alternative to living on the streets. Rogue Retreat released a layout for the proposed village on Front Street, which would have 12 to 14 tiny houses along with a guard house, kennel, garden and community room. Rogue Retreat currently has 44 units available for the homeless, and it partners with the Jackson County Housing Authority. Local organizations are looking for other solutions to lessen the amount of homelessness in the valley, including programs for mothers who have been addicted to drugs. Erica Niquette’s solution for homelessness was to couch surf for most of her teenage years, a precarious lifestyle that only worsened her addiction problem. “The only thing I had to go home to was a drug house,” the 21-year-old said. Addicted to heroin, Niquette realized that she had to quit after she became pregnant, and she needed a more secure home for her baby, Bradley Sahlberg, who is now 2. She said she became sober Feb. 26, 2014, and she now lives in a clean, comfortable apartment in west Medford, thanks to Rogue Retreat. Niquette first became addicted to oxycontin after she met a boyfriend at age 13, and then she progressed into heroin. She continues to worry about the affects on Bradley, she said, adding that she is used to receiving criticism. “If they want to judge, they can judge,” Niquette said. “I’ve never had to live on the streets, but I know I never could,” said Niquette, who applauds the effort to create a tiny house village to help get people off the streets. City Councilor Dick Gordon said he thought there were some good discussions about the Third and Front property last week, but the one-third acre could be just one of many properties the city will consider as a site for a tiny house village. “We’re going to look at other available land for a pilot project,” he said. Rogue Retreat was getting ready to raise about $250,000 for the purchase of a property when the city stepped in and offered assistance. Everett said her organization hopes to hold a community forum at the city lot to answer questions about the tiny house village, which would have up to 28 residents. She said there’s nothing like a home to help instill a sense of responsibility in people who are homeless. “There’s something to be said for wanting a normal life,” Everett said. She said candidates for the tiny house village would be carefully screened and would receive counseling for mental health and drug and alcohol dependence. “A thief would not be a good candidate for the program,” she said. She said local organizations have been successful in helping some homeless people give up drugs and alcohol and develop some dignity and respect for other people. “We try to get them out of survival mode to what’s the next step in their life,” Everett said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Apr. 12, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. 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