For two years, Jericho Road has partnered with the Redmond Housing and Service Providers holding monthly meetings to discuss options for housing and shelter in the Redmond area. Those discussions and member findings reveal there is a significant shortage of shelter options in Redmond and the greater tri-county area. This shortage, in fact, exists statewide. The most recent Oregon Statewide Shelter Study conducted in July 2019 highlights that Oregon is one of the top four states in the nation where 61% of all people experiencing homelessness were found in unsheltered locations. Additionally, the recent PIT count shows that 5,814 beds would be needed to shelter households experiencing homelessness in the state. Based on the discussion and research, it has been determined that a comprehensive feasibility study must be conducted to collect the necessary data and related information to test the need for a shelter in Redmond. A feasibility study process will gather, evaluate and assess information from stakeholders and participants in the area and create a report with recommendations based on the information gathered. With such a report, Jericho Road and the other participants will be provided a direction and consequent goals depending on the findings and recommendations.
“The unique challenge in Redmond is how the problem gets resolved. It is refreshing to see a provider such as Jericho Road are doing a study like this.”
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- The purpose of this project is to determine the needs for services and shelters for unhoused people in the area. It is this combination of conditions evidenced by the increasing dependency on meal sites, food pantries, clothing distributions and “necessity rationing” that has convinced Jericho Road and its partners that a feasibility study that specifically identifies the conditions and alternatives in the Redmond area related to establishing a homeless shelter must be addressed.
- This project was implemented by Jericho Road.
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The project attempted to:- Identify and engage the services of a qualified and professional planner with the intent of creating a feasibility study related to the need, justification, alternatives, and manner of a homeless shelter in Redmond, Oregon.
- Share the results of the feasibility study with local governments, agencies, organizations, and the public.
- Use the information as a basis to move forward to the next level of establishing a shelter in Redmond or to find that such a need does not exist and is not necessary.
The services of Ms. Jen Rusk of Bend were originally obtained for the preliminary interviews and meetings which generated the statistical information necessary for the study to be completed.
The meetings for the first phase of the study were completed according to schedule and the report was complete before covid restrictions were imposed.
The partners and the meetings were a significant and most successful part of the study and completed as planned.
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- Regional Health remained an important participant throughout the process of meetings and interviews which added greatly to the success of the effort. We were successful in meeting the arbitrary date which we negotiated with Regional Health when restarting the study in January.
- The most significant challenge we faced was the pandemic and the accompanying restrictions on meetings, open discussions, etc. At the completion of the first phase of meetings in early March of 2020, Jericho Road approached Regional Health regarding the difficulty in continuing and offering to return the balance of the funds for program support, etc. Regional Health suggested a hiatus of some months until the study could be resumed. That is the advice we accepted and in January of 2021 the services of a new consultant were obtained, and meetings were resumed using zoom and other electronic connections. It is regrettable that the meetings were unable to be in person as human interaction is considered an important part of communication and discussions. However, the results were extremely effective.
- Regional Health remained an important participant throughout the process of meetings and interviews which added greatly to the success of the effort. We were successful in meeting the arbitrary date which we negotiated with Regional Health when restarting the study in January.
The participants from the Jericho Road Oversight team have voiced their enthusiasm in the realization that our organization must make significant structural changes going forward.
It is also hoped that the study itself will be of significant support in the efforts of both Bethlehem Inn and Shepherd's House in their current negotiations to establish shelters in the Redmond area using Covid funding and other sources listed in the study itself.
This study is now available to the public including organizations and agencies interested in creating such a project in Redmond.