{"id":2258360,"date":"2024-06-03T08:34:01","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T12:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-extremist-democrat-policies\/"},"modified":"2024-06-03T08:39:36","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T12:39:36","slug":"the-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-extremist-democrat-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-extremist-democrat-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing Oregon&#8217;s Homelessness Crisis Requires Reversing Extreme Democratic Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/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-extremist-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=2258360&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 \u200bsummary includes an overview of\u200b the Juniper Ridge homeless encampment outside Bend, Oregon, known as &#8220;Dirtworld,&#8221; and \u2062the challenges it presents. It discusses the impact of \u2063radical Democratic policies\u2062 on homelessness, the \u200dongoing \u2062crisis, and potential solutions\u2064 through \u2064pending reforms and a Supreme \u2063Court ruling.\u200b Local efforts and the issue&#8217;s \u2062broader implications are also highlighted. The summary provides insights into the Juniper Ridge homeless encampment \u2064near\u2064 Bend, Oregon, dubbed &#8220;Dirtworld,&#8221; \u200coutlining \u200bthe associated challenges.\u200b It delves\u200d into the influence of radical Democratic policies \u2062on the homelessness issue, ongoing crises, proposed remedies through upcoming reforms and a pivotal Supreme Court judgment. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-house-democrat-drops-racial-slur-during-anti-republican-rant\/\" title=\"Video: Democrat Representative Uses Racial Slur in Anti-Republican Speech\">narrative sheds light<\/a> on local initiatives and \u200dthe \u200dwider repercussions of the problem.  <\/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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-only-hope-for-oregons-rampant-homelessness-is-undoing-radical-democrat-policies\/\" title=\"Addressing Oregon's Growing Homelessness Crisis Requires Revisiting Current Political Strategies\">spray-painted signs mark<\/a> 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__b89e9-1652035995\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-8f12ddcabbc90685f6ab4c6e0e89e679 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-8f12ddcabbc90685f6ab4c6e0e89e679\"><\/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__b89e9-19b82fbd550c78e1a567e0c3a42b62b3 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-19b82fbd550c78e1a567e0c3a42b62b3\"><\/div>\n<p>Gunnels, however, said he hopes the homeless crisis will improve with two developments: the Supreme Court\u2019s expected ruling 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__b89e9-442fe8fa1089e6a100ae20dbcc63acac fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-442fe8fa1089e6a100ae20dbcc63acac\"><\/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 move homeless encampments 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 fire district 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__b89e9-5056e871d637d9f80229a8efa42d6a3e fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-5056e871d637d9f80229a8efa42d6a3e\"><\/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>Located near Bend, Oregon, on Highway 97, Juniper Ridge, nicknamed &#8220;Dirtworld,&#8221; is a popular homeless encampment with a Google business page. Approaching the site reveals campers amidst rock walls and trees. The area highlights the pressing issue of homelessness in Oregon, urging for effective solutions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":2258361,"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":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2258360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"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\/2258360","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=2258360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2258360\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2258361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2258360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2258360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2258360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}