Document text
Medford council moves to help plug $2 million gap for Rogue Retreat By Damian Mann Updated: Dec 02, 2022 06:01 PM A A Rogue Retreat may get help from the city of Medford to help plug a $2 million funding gap faced by the organization. Rogue Retreat runs the Urban Campground, the Navigation Center and houses more homeless people than any other organization in Medford. [Mail Tribune/file photo] Medford City Council could help plug an almost $2 million shortfall for the area’s largest homeless organization. The council Thursday authorized city staff to develop an agreement by Dec. 15 that would provide Rogue Retreat with $1.35 million from House Bill 5202 dollars, which are required to be spent on homeless services. Rogue Retreat needs the money to continue operations next year of both the Navigation Center and the Urban Campground, which together will serve almost 200 homeless people a night. “This money is tailor-made for what Rogue Retreat does,” said Kelly Madding, deputy city manager. The city received $1.5 million from the House bill and has already provided almost $160,000 of it to Rogue Retreat this year. The state money, which was made available to Medford and other cities, is required to be spent by June 30, 2023. Earlier this year, the council provided $250,000 to the organization from a separate council community initiative fund. The total amount the council has provided to Rogue Retreat since July is $409,900. Even if the council approves giving Rogue Retreat the remainder of the $1.5 million, the organization faces a $500,000 financial gap to continue operations of the Urban Campground, which houses about 100 people a night, as well as the newly opened Navigation Center, which currently houses 64 people a night but is expected to go up to as much as 100 a night next year. Other Rogue Retreat operations such as Hope Village, a collection of 34 tiny houses, are more self-sustaining financially, Madding said. Rogue Retreat also has been involved in The Redwood Inn Motel project, funded in part with a state Project Turnkey grant designed to house fire survivors and the homeless. The project’s goal is to convert the motel into 47 small apartment units. Medford Urban Renewal Agency helped Rogue Retreat secure a $2.5 million state grant and provided $450,000 in urban renewal funds. The state also allocated $139,000 to help add kitchens, and Providence agreed to add $139,000 to convert some units to serve people with medical conditions. Stalled for months, the project might need as much as $1.8 million in additional money to get back on track. Rogue Retreat has faced an organizational upheaval over the past year, as well as financial strain as federal and state dollars from COVID-relief dried up. “Rogue Retreat needs to go back to developing other forms of funding,” Madding said. Madding said grants and donations help the organization with some of its funding. “The reality is it comes from our community, and when I say our community, that means the city of Medford, our neighbor cities possibly, possibly the county and more money from the state,” she said. Councilor Kevin Stine asked Madding, “Prior to this was the thought that this money was probably going to go to Rogue Retreat anyway, or were there thoughts of splitting it up among other nonprofits in need?” Madding said it was likely going to go to Rogue Retreat anyway because there aren’t many local organizations locally that have the capability to house as many homeless people. Councilor Michael Zarosinski said because the money will be used to house upward of 200 people a night, “let’s bridge the gap.” In the long term, Rogue Retreat will have to find other revenue sources, potentially from the city and other agencies. Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].