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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: What's happening with Marie Callender's Local farmers need more products in grocery stores Building for the future and the past Get Up & Go: Nov. 17 Armed robbers steal safe from Medford home Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Woman in critical condition after being struck by car in Medford Emergency services Wrap Up: Phillips homicide Brookings man gets federal prison time for gun crime Politics and Elections Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Granlund cartoon: GOP wrecking balls Ballot measures played little role in mobilizing voters in state Senate race 'Euphoria' over pot initiative Oregon voters narrowly reject GMO labeling measure Education Good news for SOU: Enrollment's up Mom gives school lobby a makeover Crater students present play about Thoreau's night in jail Half of Oregon's community college enrollees need remedial classes Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Environment Birders sought for bird counts Grow 'em before you plant 'em Since You Asked: Biomass One makes steam-generated power Organic squash creates a bountiful harvest for ACCESS Prospect-area cow death likely not a wolf kill State News Kitzhaber embattled as he seeks fourth term Nation - World Obituaries In Loving Memory of Brian Basler Mullen Helen Marie Anderson Marie Louise T. Scott Smith Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Pinon, Valdovinos make Skyline first team Locals make Skyline all-league teams Niner defense delivers Big plays from seniors highlight OSU upset Spartans pull off sweep in Seattle Varsity 541 College Sports Big plays from seniors highlight OSU upset Beavers check their slide and silence the critics SOU to host MidAmerican Nazarene in first round of NAIAs Eastern spoils SOU’s conference title hopes Thompson raises SOU scoring bar Pro Sports Niner defense delivers Spartans pull off sweep in Seattle Spartans pull away for victory Blazers beat Nets 97-87 without Aldridge, Batum James erupts for 41 points in Cavaliers' win Community Sports Results / Standings Business Latest Stories Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Blog: Brrrr! It's Cold Outside! Ride & Drive: 2015 Ford Expedition Family time turns into shopping time Pacific Power girds for winter woes Real Estate News Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families Home prices rise across Jackson County New I-5 interchange puts south Medford on fast lane to fast food People In Business People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Lithia reports $34.5 million third-quarter profit Agriculture Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Where do all those leaves go? Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Nov. 17 Our View: Wyden's O&C bill may be the answer, or not Letters to the Editor, Nov. 16 Dana Milbank: Nancy Pelosi in denial Charles Krauthammer: The Gruber confession Editorials Our View: Wyden's O&C bill may be the answer, or not Other Views: A chastened Kitzhaber must tend to business Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our view: Saigo brings an energy to SOU campus Our View: Zoning, building codes should respect fire Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Nov. 17 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 16 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 14 Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Nov. 12 Guest Opinions Reflections on the election in Oregon and beyond Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Lifestyle Latest stories Colors of Fall Moth Munch Too bad Hooter can't talk Here's a hand up you can use Success of the starling Food Community blog: Pumpkin, salted caramel pair tradition, trendiness Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Jessica Fisher creates frugal, fabulous recipes Rogue-style Thanksgiving An advanced lesson in homemade mustards Community blog: Egg-rich flan is a stunner for holiday spreads Home and Garden Beyond curb appeal: When it pays to stand out Use the hidden meaning of color to enhance your home 17 things you never knew about turkeys Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home How to live and work in a tiny home Health Here's a hand up you can use Community blog: Happy Holidays? Surviving and Even Thriving in the Dark Times Dr. Murray Feingold: ‘Grief is the price we pay for love’ Health Watch: Tips for post-workout recovery Community blog: Don't Fall For This Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Christ Unity Church shows 'Gen Silent' Milestones and Achievements Local farmers need more products in grocery stores Ashland honey festival draws swarm of visitors Fundraiser to benefit Medford Senior Center New Arrivals The meaning behind Veterans Day Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon to perform two shows 'Alice in Wonderland' opens at Theatre Convivio 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Makana plays the Unitarian Theater 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos SOU presents 'The Drunken City' The power of human spirit Music Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon to perform two shows The Farr Side: CMA telecast was a disappointment Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Makana plays the Unitarian Rogue World Ensemble presents 'Gather 'Round' Focus on Tanya Gabrielian as Rogue Valley Symphony evokes the Baroque Community Events Review: Randall Theatre's 'Secret Garden' still enchanting Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Dining Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Blue Toba is a cultural experience Back Porch Bar & Grill Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Local farmers need more products in grocery stores ... Our View: Wyden's O&C bill may be the answer, or not ... A different kind of fish feed ... Local farmers need more products in grocery stores ... Our View: Wyden's O&C bill may be the answer, or not ... A different kind of fish feed ... Time runs out on a sanctuary Transitional home for troubled men must close over safety violations Gene Haag, 77, believes he's doing God's work at his home in the 700 block of Nobility Drive in Medford. By Mat Wolf MailTribune.com By Mat Wolf Posted Sep. 4, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Sep 4, 2011 at 2:40 AM By Mat Wolf Posted Sep. 4, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Sep 4, 2011 at 2:40 AM » Social News Gene Haag, 77, believes he's doing God's work at his home in the 700 block of Nobility Drive in Medford. He has transformed the property into a transitional home for men who are former convicts or sex offenders or who are homeless — giving them the Gospel, fellowship, and, perhaps most importantly, job training and employment in his landscaping business. The house is a sprawling, three-story-plus-basement complex that sits next to a large white barn in a yard covered with shrubberies and vehicles, some in working condition, some not so much. The house dates back at least to the early 1900s and, from its spot atop a hill in southwest Medford, stands in stark contrast to the newer housing and developments that surround it. But the Medford Building Safety Department says the house is unfit to hold its residents without building improvements and permits. At the beginning of August, Haag was served notice that the 15 tenants in the home will be forced to vacate on Friday, Sept. 9, and only Haag and his wife will be allowed to live there. On Aug. 1, the building was cited for having improper or inadequate fire escapes, ventilation, smoke detectors and bathrooms and for having substandard living spaces for the 17 people who reside there. Under Medford building code, a living space must have at least 70 square feet per person. Haag had converted portions of his home, such as a basement and upstairs balcony, into bedrooms without the proper permits. Haag was given until the end of August to remedy the problems, draw up renovation plans and file for permits to get the building up to snuff, but Aug. 31 came around and the necessary paperwork still hadn't been filed. As he gave a tour of the home on Friday, Haag said he had a contractor draw up plans for the building, but the contractor had failed to submit the plans on time, leaving Haag and his tenants stuck. Haag has been operating some form of this kind of charity, though not always at this location, since 1975. He's convinced that what brought his residence to the attention of the Building Safety Department was a former tenant whom he had asked to leave for not abiding by his rules, which include no smoking or drugs on the property. "It was probably someone I kicked out," Haag said, "someone who wanted to create problems for us." Haag said he made most of the upstairs renovations 20 years ago and was unaware they weren't up to code at the time. Despite what were apparently building violations, Haag is adamant about the property's mission. "People call it a lot of different things. It's not a treatment center, it's not a halfway house, it's a Christian home," he said. He said without his assistance, many of his cohabitants wouldn't have anywhere else to go. Many of his tenants expressed the same concern about being forced to vacate, but didn't want their names or faces revealed because of their fear that if the notice goes through they'll be out of a job and a place to stay. They worry that if their identities were public, finding alternatives would be next to impossible. One man, who wished to be identified only as Dave, said he had been incarcerated for 11 years and didn't know where he would be if it weren't for Haag. "This has been a godsend for me. If it wasn't for Gene, I wouldn't be where I am today," Dave said. "Guys come out of prison and try to better themselves and find that there aren't any open doors. Gene opened the door of his house to me to help me become a better person." Haag said he has plans drawn up for getting his home up to code and would be ready to file them if given more time. He also said he has removed the sleeping quarters from the basement and attic spaces, further crowding other parts of the house but complying with the requests of the building administration. But that doesn't meet all the Building Safety Department's requirements. "We gave them 30 days to make corrections," said Building Director Chris Reising. "We try not to kick people out on a holiday weekend, so we gave them another week." Reising said Friday Haag's house first came to his office's attention after a complaint by a former resident. Reising said his department was aware of the building's use as a home for sex offenders and former inmates, but it still had an obligation to uphold building codes. Haag said that without the services he provides, many of his tenants would be homeless, wouldn't register with authorities and would be more likely to re-offend. In Oregon, a sex offender has 10 days to register a new address. One resident named Clarence said he had never been to prison, but had been homeless and wasn't sure what would happen if he's forced to move out on Sept. 9. "I don't like it, that's for sure, I don't want to be homeless again," Clarence said. Mat Wolf is a reporting intern from the University of Oregon. Reach him at 541-776-4481 or by email at [email protected]. By Mat Wolf MailTribune.com By Mat Wolf Posted Sep. 4, 2011 @ 12:01 am Updated Sep 4, 2011 at 2:40 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 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 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 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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