By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews.com
The Yachats City Council has voted unanimously to open the pavilion behind the Commons on nights with bad weather to allow homeless people to sleep in a dry place.
The proposal to the council was made by Yachats Community Presbyterian Church Pastor Bob Barrett and two community members, who will handle opening, closing and any cleanup.
“It’s not a formal shelter by any means, it’s just a dry place to sleep,” Barrett said.
Barrett, Mary Deriberprey and Jill McClain pitched the idea to the council last week after seeing an increase of homeless people sleeping at the Little Log Church & Museum, at the Commons’ front door, other places outside around town – and then seeking daytime help at the church. The church offers food when its pantry is open, but also some dry clothing, blankets, bus tickets, and connections to social services in Newport or Florence.
“In the past month or so it’s been a deluge of people passing through — but staying for awhile,” Barrett told YachatsNews, but with little equipment like tents or sleeping bags. “They’re coming to the church soaking wet and freezing cold.”
Barrett said it’s the largest influx of wintertime homeless – many with obvious mental health issues – that he’s seen in his seven years in Yachats.
Opening the pavilion should also discourage people from sleeping outside on the grounds of the city-owned Little Log Church, which has become a regular overnight spot. Under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a new Oregon law, local governments cannot force homeless people from staying overnight on public property unless there are other options available nearby.
The pavilion would be one such option.
Barrett said the church or the city would not advertise the pavilion was available, just simply unlock its doors at 6 o’clock each night during inclement weather and then lock it up each morning at 8. It would not be opened for sleeping if there are activities or renters using it and wouldn’t be open during any Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program classes.
There is a portable toilet in the pavilion parking lot and garbage cans inside and nearby.
“I don’t think any of us are naïve enough that we know there won’t be problems,” Barrett said, but hope to minimize issues with posted rules and outreach by church members. “We’ll just see what happens. If it doesn’t work then we can say we tried.”
Council members had few questions and offered their unanimous support.
“The people who are making this request are the people who deal with homeless all the time,” said Councilor Greg Scott.
McClain has a landscaping business in Yachats and regularly comes across homeless individuals, often offering them a day’s work and pay.
Barrett said there would be no other services at the pavilion other than a dry – but still very cold – place to seek shelter for the night.
“I don’t think we need to wait until we find someone dead to address this,” he told the council. “I think it’s something that could work and is worth trying.”
The pavilion was opened immediately Thursday night. One man spent the night.
Paul Thompson says
Who is going to monitor this night time shelter, our two day a week code enforcement officer? Yachats needs a real code enforcement officer system to enforce the city code 24/7, but nothing has been done about it for years.
Michael Flaming says
Bad move folks. Most of these people are moochers and just a nuisance.
Yvonne says
I lived in the Eugene area for 30 years and watched the whole west side turn into felony flats because of the enabling attitude of that city. I’d rather see drifters keep on drifting on out of our town. Otherwise the result will be dirty needles and break ins.
TIME WILLIAM TELL says
It’s a tough decision; humanity or safety. We want to be kind to others, but we don’t want to invite crime and other distasteful elements into our midst. As others have mentioned, where do we draw the line? Will our care and concern bring about an increased level of crime, danger, and distastefulness? Are we providing an anchor for a never ending issue, or making a better life for those in need? Is it a hand up or a hand out?
Suzanne says
This is a lovely gesture, but several things come to mind. We will have an increase in break ins, drug use, and the like. I am not implying all homeless are criminals, but it’s a recurrent issue. There is no law enforcement here, so this will be largely unsupervised. Who will clean up? Check the playground for needles? If you look at downtown Portland, San Francisco, Eugene, you see the results of kindness without forethought.
Michelle Frankfort says
Thank you, Bob Barrett, Mary Deriberprey, and Jill McClain, for your humanity. It isn’t a crime to be poor, homeless or in need of help. We all deserve shelter. It is unconscionable for a community to do nothing when it absolutely can do something. Thank you for trying.