GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Weeks after the closure of the city’s largest homeless resting site, city officials are evaluating new locations to serve as designated resting areas for homeless residents. The city’s efforts come in response to a legal ruling that temporarily halted any enforcement actions against homeless individuals camping in public spaces.
In a recent work session, City Manager Aaron Cubic presented several potential locations for new resting sites, which included both previously used areas as well as new spaces—some publicly and others privately owned. “We’re looking for additional space and additional time,” Cubic explained during the session, emphasizing that the spaces would need to meet the standards of being “objectively reasonable.”
This renewed effort follows a legal setback for the city, as an emergency restraining order was issued last week in a lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center. The order prevents the city from removing tents or campsites from city parks, issuing citations, or making arrests related to camping on city property. This legal action has effectively paused the city’s enforcement of laws that prohibited camping in certain public spaces.
After hours of deliberation, Mayor Clint Scherf and the City Council settled on four potential sites for the new resting areas. These include the existing overnight resting area on 7th Street, as well as two new publicly owned locations: one on NW Midland Avenue and the other on SE I Street. Additionally, a privately owned space on NW Vine Street is also being considered. The city has not yet established a timeline for the opening of these new sites and plans to discuss the next steps after gathering feedback from legal counsel and the public.
The city’s move to consider new resting sites is seen as an effort to balance the needs of the homeless population with the concerns of local residents, many of whom have expressed frustration over the impact of visible homelessness in the area. As Grants Pass continues to navigate the legal challenges and the complex issue of homelessness, officials are hopeful that these new sites will provide some relief while remaining in compliance with the ongoing lawsuit.
The city has indicated that further discussions on the timeline for these sites will take place after feedback is gathered, with the aim of creating a sustainable solution to a challenging issue.