{"id":2258259,"date":"2024-06-03T03:58:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T07:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-radical-democrat-policies\/"},"modified":"2024-06-03T04:04:57","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T08:04:57","slug":"the-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-radical-democrat-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-radical-democrat-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing Oregon&#8217;s Growing Homelessness Crisis Requires Revisiting Current Political Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-radical-democrat-policies%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2258259&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Juniper \u2063Ridge homeless encampment near Bend, Oregon, known as &#8220;Dirtworld,&#8221; illustrates the state&#8217;s homelessness crisis. Radical\u200b Democrat policies have exacerbated\u2063 the situation, leading to increased crime. \u2063However, upcoming reforms and a potential Supreme Court ruling offer hope for change in addressing the plight of \u200bthe homeless in Oregon. The Juniper\u200d Ridge homeless\u2062 encampment in Bend, Oregon, named &#8220;Dirtworld,&#8221; symbolizes the\u2064 state&#8217;s \u2062homelessness crisis. Policies attributed to Democrats have worsened the issue, resulting in a \u2062rise in crime. Yet, with \u200danticipated reforms and a possible Supreme\u2063 Court\u200c decision, \u2064there is optimism for addressing\u2063 the challenges faced by the homeless population in Oregon.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>Just outside Bend, Oregon, on Highway 97 lies the Juniper Ridge homeless encampment, also known by some locals as \u201cDirtworld.\u201d It\u2019s so popular among the homeless that it has its own Google business <a href=\"https:\/\/g.co\/kgs\/io8rWvE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As you approach the encampment, endless campers become visible over the top of rock walls, scattered through the forest. A burnt-out vehicle lies on its side near a camper and debris including several porta-potties, a dumpster, and a supply of drinking water. Dirt roads connect makeshift camps. Vehicles sit in a circle, a makeshift fortress surrounded by a wall of tarp. Broken glass, garbage, and spray-painted signs mark the ground.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-2021603855\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-52fe6109e630f6c998ba9edf654ff29b fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-52fe6109e630f6c998ba9edf654ff29b\"><\/div>\n<p>A man <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bendbulletin.com\/localstate\/bend-man-dies-after-dog-attack-at-homeless-encampment-deputies-say\/article_a57d4570-2670-11ee-ae81-1beb66affe38.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">died<\/a> there last year after a dog attack, according to The Bulletin, and a nearby horse boarding business <a href=\"https:\/\/ktvz.com\/news\/top-stories\/2023\/12\/18\/horse-boarding-business-near-juniper-ridge-homeless-encampments-closes-down-due-to-ongoing-issues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shut down<\/a> because it became too dangerous for customers to ride, KTVZ reported.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe crimes reported in these encampments cover the full range and include assaults, weapons offenses, sexual assaults, arsons, and homicide,\u201d Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels said.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to radical Democrat housing and drug policies, rural Oregon has been battling homelessness and the resulting crime for years. But with pending reforms and an upcoming Supreme Court ruling this June, some local leaders see light at the end of the dirty encampment tunnel.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Anticipating  Change<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Deschutes County, Oregon\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kgw.com\/article\/news\/state\/central-oregon-dominates-states-fastest-growing-counties-bend-deschutes-crook-jefferson\/283-51468a05-bbbd-43f2-a678-89c78495dc8a#:~:text=Within%20the%20three%20counties%20that,a%20significant%20increase%20in%20population.\"> fastest-growing<\/a> for its tourism and outdoor recreation, has struggled with homelessness for years, according to Gunnels. The county is located in rural, conservative Central Oregon, which has seen homelessness <a href=\"https:\/\/cohomeless.org\/what-we-do\/point-in-time-count\/\">increasing<\/a> steadily since 2015.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-788d5bcc15ed320b6f9402d4cd144af4 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-788d5bcc15ed320b6f9402d4cd144af4\"><\/div>\n<p>Gunnels, however, said he hopes the homeless crisis will improve with two developments: the Supreme Court\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clarence-thomas-the-supreme-court-wont-be-bullied\/\" title=\"Clarence Thomas: The Supreme Court Won\u2019t Be Bullied\">expected ruling<\/a> in <em>Grants Pass v. Johnson<\/em>, which could overrule a previous <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov\/datastore\/opinions\/2018\/09\/04\/15-35845.pdf\">decision<\/a> protecting the \u201cunavoidable consequences\u201d of homelessness, and the reform of Measure 110, which gave Oregon the nation\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/cohomeless.org\/what-we-do\/point-in-time-count\/\">most permissive<\/a> drug laws in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Communities across America have seen surging rates of homelessness, with a 12 percent overall <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hud.gov\/press\/press_releases_media_advisories\/hud_no_23_278#:~:text=The%20report%20found%20more%20than,to%20serve%20people%20experiencing%20homelessness.\">increase<\/a> from 2022 to 2023, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Oregon, the number <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/portland\/2024\/01\/03\/oregon-homeless-statistics-high-2023\">increased<\/a> 16 percent from 2022 to 2023, and in Central Oregon, it <a href=\"https:\/\/cohomeless.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bsk-pdf-manager\/2023\/10\/Official-2023-PIT-presentation.pdf\">increased<\/a> 28 percent.<\/p>\n<p>This is despite President Joe Biden\u2019s ambitious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2022\/12\/19\/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-plan-to-prevent-and-end-homelessness\/\">goal<\/a> announced in 2022 to reduce homelessness 25 percent by 2025. Biden\u2019s strategy includes the unproven (and often failed) \u201chousing first\u201d policy, which aims to \u201cprevent people from becoming homeless, address inequities that disproportionately impact underserved communities, including people of color and other marginalized groups, and help cities and states reduce unsheltered homelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Cause<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Gunnels said Central Oregon\u2019s struggle with homelessness developed with a trend in the American West since 2018, when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov\/datastore\/opinions\/2018\/09\/04\/15-35845.pdf\">ruled<\/a> in <em>Martin v. Boise<\/em> that the state cannot criminalize \u201cunavoidable consequences of being homeless\u201d like \u201csitting, lying, or sleeping on streets.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-3ee0fd37cf4714a1e18374aaf93f7f8d fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-3ee0fd37cf4714a1e18374aaf93f7f8d\"><\/div>\n<p><em>\u201cMartin v. Boise<\/em> has significantly limited local government\u2019s ability to manage public \u2018camping,\u2019 leading to the establishment of homeless encampments that have become very unhealthy, dangerous places to live or to encounter,\u201d Gunnels said in an email.<\/p>\n<p>Gunnels said Measure 110, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opb.org\/article\/2024\/02\/14\/oregon-drug-decriminalization-plan-measure-110-leadership-failures\/#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20day%2Dto,for%20law%20enforcement%20in%20Oregon.\">removed<\/a> penalties for the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, has also largely contributed to the region\u2019s homeless crisis.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMeasure 110 has contributed to rampant drug use and associated crime, including assaults, weapons offenses, sexual assaults, arson and homicide in homeless encampments in Oregon,\u201d Gunnels said. \u201cCase law limiting the authority of local jurisdictions to effectively address and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-time-paralympian-leads-lawsuit-against-portland-for-letting-homeless-block-sidewalks\/\" title=\"Two-Time Paralympian Leads Lawsuit Against Portland For Letting Homeless Block Sidewalks\">move homeless encampments<\/a> has further exacerbated these problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Crisis<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Central Oregon has seen homelessness <a href=\"https:\/\/cohomeless.org\/what-we-do\/point-in-time-count\/\">increase<\/a> from 594 homeless people in 2015 to 1,799 homeless people in 2024, according to the nonprofit Homeless Leadership Coalition. Most homeless people have lived in the rapidly growing area for over 10 years.<\/p>\n<p>The area has a number of homeless encampments, including two large ones near Bend, the most populous and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bendbulletin.com\/localstate\/deschutes-countys-political-influence-isnt-new-but-the-2022-general-election-indicates-strong-voter-turnout\/article_a0c9c63c-9699-11ed-a9a2-5f5075ad9550.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">liberal<\/a> city east of the cascades, and another in the smaller, more conservative city of Redmond.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of Bend are the China Hat Road encampment and the aforementioned Juniper Ridge encampment. According to Jacob Larsen, the City of Bend public information officer, the camps lie outside city limits, so they fall under the jurisdiction of agencies such as Deschutes County and the U.S. Forest Service.<\/p>\n<p>At the China Hat Road encampment, <a href=\"https:\/\/ktvz.com\/news\/crime-courts\/2023\/12\/11\/china-hat-road-residents-upset-after-recent-string-of-crimes-continuing-issues-in-homeless-camps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">violent crime<\/a> has plagued nearby residents for years, according to KTVZ, driving some to <a href=\"https:\/\/ktvz.com\/news\/government-politics\/2023\/12\/06\/35-year-bend-resident-leaving-oregon-says-china-hat-road-homeless-encampments-issues-continue-to-worsen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">leave<\/a> the state. Police <a href=\"https:\/\/kbnd.com\/kbnd-news\/local-news-feed\/701312\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrested<\/a> a man last year in the camp for fentanyl trafficking, according to KBND.<\/p>\n<p>Meth and fentanyl are common in the camps, Gunnels said, with meth causing violence and fentanyl causing overdoses.<\/p>\n<p>Outside Redmond lies an encampment off Antler Ave., just north of the regional airport. Tents and debris were so close to the runways that the Federal Aviation Administration <a href=\"https:\/\/ktvz.com\/news\/redmond\/2023\/03\/09\/theres-not-much-choice-here-homeless-camps-near-redmond-airport-runway-must-move-over-faa-safety-concerns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ordered<\/a> the city last year to clear the land and erect fences for safety.<\/p>\n<p>The Antler Ave. encampment, known as \u201cDirt World Two,\u201d has its own Facebook <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/p\/Redmonds-Dirt-World-100076163144189\/?paipv=0&#038;eav=AfYlqXA_iphkUg8XSxjM1VeS_yrHudHQFBgEoD2bfjSI88Vt8shjXTQRWhC_mUgP1Lo&#038;_rdr\">page<\/a>. The administrator of the page warned residents in February of nearby police: \u201cCops are on Antler.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fire Marshal Tom Mooney, with Redmond Fire and Rescue, sent a list of emergency responses to homeless areas of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-firefighters-rescue-woman-trapped-in-burning-car-service-before-self\/\" title=\"California Firefighters Rescue Woman Trapped in Burning Car: 'Service Before Self'\">fire district<\/a> in 2023. The department responded to 44 injuries, including emergency medical calls and vehicle accidents with injuries, and 33 fires last year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are very dangerous places for the people who live there and for law enforcement to enter,\u201d Gunnels said. \u201cLaw enforcement typically goes in en masse with at least multiple officers or deputies for safety.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Deschutes County Sheriff\u2019s Office Sgt. Jason Wall said in an email that people have been living in these areas for a while, but the population in encampments has increased noticeably in the last five years. The sheriff\u2019s office began using its school resource deputies to patrol encampments in the summer, according to Wall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe receive all types of calls for service,\u201d Wall said. \u201cFrom animal complaints to felonious assaults, and everything in between.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hope for Improvement<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Supreme Court could soon overturn <em>Martin v. Boise<\/em>. Justices heard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/docket\/docketfiles\/html\/public\/23-175.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arguments<\/a> for <em>Grants Pass v. Johnson<\/em> in April, and the court is set to decide on the matter this term.<\/p>\n<p>The case <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu-wa.org\/story\/johnson-v-grants-pass-breakdown-case-supreme-court-and-what-it-could-mean-people-experiencing#:~:text=A%3A%20Martin%20v.,not%20enough%20shelter%20beds%20available.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arose<\/a> in 2018 when Grants Pass, a small city in conservative Southern Oregon, began ticketing people sleeping in public. Plaintiffs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/23\/23-175\/275911\/20230823153037814_Grants%20Pass%20v.%20Johnson_cert%20petition_corrected.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">claimed<\/a> local bans on homeless camping were \u201ccruel and unusual punishment\u201d under the Eighth Amendment, citing <em>Martin v. Boise<\/em>. If the Supreme Court sides with Grants Pass, it would allow governments to enforce prohibitions on public camping.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe hope is that the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in <em>Grants Pass v. Johnson<\/em> will provide clarity as to the scope of local government\u2019s power to effectively deal with this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-surgeon-general-youth-facing-pandemic-mental-health-issues\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Surgeon General: Youth Facing Pandemic Mental Health Issues\">significant public health<\/a> and safety challenge,\u201d Gunnels said.<\/p>\n<p>Larsen said city officials believe local code will remain no matter the outcome.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBend does not ban camping, but imposes reasonable regulations on the time, place, and manner of camping in public places, as allowed under any of the arguments made before the Supreme Court,\u201d Larsen said in an email.<\/p>\n<p>Measure 110 could also find moderation with Oregon HB 4002. The bill <a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2024R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HB4002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">increases<\/a> the penalty for unlawful possession or delivery of a controlled substance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregon.gov\/oha\/EI\/THWMtgDocs\/HB%204002_HB%205204%20OHA%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">establishes<\/a> a pipeline to rehabilitation, and bolsters addiction and mental health services. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek signed the measure April 1, and it takes effect Sept. 1.<\/p>\n<p>Gunnels said the bill would allow police to discourage drug use and encampments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHB 4002 will re-introduce accountability and give law enforcement the ability to intervene and direct drug users to treatment. If those drug users fail to follow through with treatment, prosecutors and the courts will be able to compel treatment and failure will result in jail,\u201d Gunnels said. \u201cHB 4002 will not solve the current mental health, drug abuse, and homelessness crises in Oregon, but it is a step in the right direction for public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Larsen said the city of Bend supports the bill, but officials see drug addiction as a separate issue from homelessness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe city is optimistic that the additional tools created by HB 4002 will curb the impact of addiction in our community,\u201d Larsen said. \u201cUltimately, homelessness is a housing issue, not a drug issue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4833089\/\">studies<\/a>, however, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2856116\/\">show<\/a> that homelessness and drug use often go hand in hand.<\/p>\n<p>These policy changes, if successful, have the potential to set a minimum standard for the rest of the nation to correct rising rates of homelessness. Time will tell.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-4ff2f74e76c1d0aa1ef6844f4a358c0b fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-4ff2f74e76c1d0aa1ef6844f4a358c0b\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Near Bend, Oregon, off Highway 97, Juniper Ridge, dubbed &#8220;Dirtworld,&#8221; is a notable homeless hub with its Google listing. Approaching, numerous campers emerge behind rock walls amidst the forest. This site symbolizes Oregon&#8217;s homeless crisis, underscoring the urgent need for effective solutions and community support<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":2258260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screen-Shot-2024-05-31-at-2.23.36-PM-1024x577.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2258259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Screen-Shot-2024-05-31-at-2.23.36-PM-1024x577.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/507"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2258259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258259\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2258260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2258259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2258259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2258259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}