GRANTS PASS, Ore. — As the temperatures in Grants Pass remain above freezing this weekend, one of the few resources for the city’s unhoused population may have to close its doors overnight due to a lack of capacity.
The Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) severe weather shelter has been overwhelmed with demand in recent weeks. The shelter, which operates under city rules allowing it to open when temperatures fall to 30 degrees or less, has seen a significant increase in the number of individuals seeking shelter since the closure of a large camping site on city-owned property on J Street.
Rayne Bird, the Team Lead at MINT, explained that the shelter has been operating at full capacity nightly, with a limit of 49 individuals. “Our cap is 49 people, so we’re only able to house 49 at night,” Bird said. “Everybody else unfortunately has to figure it out.”
While MINT continues to offer services during the day, including providing access to resources from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the inability to accommodate more individuals overnight highlights a growing gap in the community’s ability to address the needs of its unhoused population. Even with limited overnight shelter, MINT still provides some comfort for those who cannot stay, offering hot coffee and a place to warm up temporarily.
However, the situation remains dire, as many individuals are left without a safe place to sleep as cold weather persists.
As the city grapples with the challenge of providing enough shelter, questions remain about how to expand resources and ensure that no one is left to endure harsh conditions on the streets.