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Ashland shelter shuffle aimed at extending help for homeless By Morgan Rothborne Updated: Jun 08, 2022 07:33 PM A A City and nonprofits rally to house remaining residents as Ashland Emergency Shelter moves toward closure This photo from Rogue Retreat shows the Ashland Emergency Shelter, which includes 10 “pallet shelters” and 37 beds inside a former church. An emergency homeless shelter in Ashland that has served 200 people since it opened in November 2021 came within inches of closing Wednesday, but fast work from city staff and nonprofits should carry the shelter through for another five weeks — possibly long enough for the remaining 15 residents to find alternative shelter. “It’s all up in the air right now,” said Jason Houk, board treasurer of Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice, which has stepped up to help the remaining residents. Rogue Retreat has been operating the shelter, at a cost of $40,000 a month, mostly due to staffing costs, said Matthew Vorderstrasse, Rogue Retreat development director. The site, at 2082 E. Main St., includes 10 “pallet shelters,” which look like metal sheds or tiny houses, along with 37 beds inside a former church. Ashland City Manager Joe Lessard said Wednesday that he and his staff are working to transfer the lease for the site to Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice by the end of the week. “It all started with a meeting on Friday (June 3) with Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice, who called the meeting to see what we could do in the community,” said Ashland Mayor Julie Akins. Houk said his organization was responding to information that the shelter was out of funding and would be forced to close. The group invited Akins, who invited Lessard, Housing and Human Services Commissioner Joy Fate, along with Rogue Retreat. The conversation turned to problem solving. “We really came together,” Akins said of the meeting. Akins said Fate offered to manage the shelter as a volunteer. Jobs With Justice offered to help run the shelter. The meetings led to a surprise item at last Monday’s City Council study session. Akins said she doesn’t like to surprise people but felt it was necessary. “I was wrapping up all these phone calls as I was walking in, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to have to put it on them.’” City Council members heard from Housing and Human Services Commission staff, who told councilors that between 41 and 50 people could be on the streets if the shelter closed June 8 as planned. The council voted unanimously to put the shelter on its regular meeting agenda for Tuesday, June 7, as an emergency addition. Within those 24 hours, Lessard and his staff worked to manage the legal and technical details of transferring the lease from Rogue Retreat to Jobs With Justice. Lessard told councilors Tuesday that the city could walk back intended budget reductions from the community development fund to provide a cushion for the shelter, if need be, but that Jobs With Justice had agreed to cover the basic necessities for the shelter. “This is an unusual example of how nimble government can be — and the fact that we have the funding to do this. I’m proud to be a part of this,” City Councilor Stephen Jensen said. “This is absolutely what it should be about. It should be about helping our residents,” Councilor Paula Hyatt said. Council voted unanimously to give the city manager authority to continue the legal work necessary to keep the emergency shelter open. The shelter was always intended to be temporary. It was a stopgap measure in the face of COVID-19, Vorderstrasse said. Rogue Retreat worked with the city of Ashland to secure $300,000 in funding from the state to establish the shelter, which includes a building that once housed a church, with rooms for residents, bathrooms and a kitchen. The pallet shelters outside provide a bed, heat, a roof and a door that locks, a luxury that can be a powerful aid in bringing people down from crisis, Vorderstrasse said. “It’s definitely an upgrade from staying out in the elements,” Vorderstrasse said. Rogue Retreat has agreed to stay with the project until Friday to help the remaining residents, including two families with children. Rogue Retreat also has offered spaces at its Medford shelter locations, Vorderstrasse said. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected] or 541-776-4487. Follow her on Twitter @MRothborne .