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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Dispensaries duel for space in Jackson County ... Hunter-ed courses taken now will get kids afield this fall ... Heat may overcook chinook ... Dispensaries duel for space in Jackson County ... Hunter-ed courses taken now will get kids afield this fall ... Heat may overcook chinook ... OUR VIEW Our View: Homeless camp long overdue, but where? MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 29, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jul. 29, 2015 @ 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" --> After years of repeated attempts to provide shelter for the Rogue Valley's homeless population, local advocates say they are ready to create a permanent campground for people caught between temporary emergency shelter and long waiting lists for transitional housing. The plans of two local organizations could go a long way toward addressing the longstanding needs of the area's homeless, but one huge obstacle looms: Where will the camp be situated? Rogue Retreat, a nonprofit agency founded in 1998 that opreates a housing program for the homeless, has teamed up with the Jackson County Homeless Task Force to establish a permanent camp that would accommodate up to 30 tent sites. In addition to tent camping, the groups want to establish a "tiny house" community, building what amount to stand-alone bedrooms with no plumbing or electricity along with community cooking and shower facilities. The need is undeniable. Homeless people continually face the challenge of finding a place to sleep. Emergency shelters are only temporary, and camping illegally, in city parks or along the Bear Creek Greenway, is no solution either. Transitional housing programs are available, but waiting lists are long, and the programs have strict eligibility rules that not everyone can meet, such as having a source of income to contribute to rent payments. Organizers say they are working with Medford, Central Point and Jackson County officials to identify possible sites for the project and address zoning considerations, perhaps even creating a new zoning category for such a project. That will be the test that will make or break this effort: Finding a location that won't trigger opposition from neighbors. Realistically, that means finding a place with few — or zero — neighbors within close proximity. When Medford officials tried to find a new location for a mid-day food service program displaced from Hawthorne Park, they ran into intense opposition everywhere they turned. A permanent camp could generate even more resistance, so a well-thought-out plan and a heavy dose of diplomacy will be needed. If a suitable location can be found, a permanent camp won't solve the problem entirely. There will still be those who don't want to abide by the rules that will inevitably be imposed, and the site likely won't be large enough to accommodate everyone who does want to live there. But if a camp could help more people make the transition from living on the street to a permanent place of their own, it's well worth the effort. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 29, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501