Homelessness persists in Sisters

There are currently 32 Sisters students who are without a home - living in tents in the woods, in RVs, or sharing a home with another family. This number in October is already up over last year in February. There are five children under the age of 5 living in the woods.

At the October 10 City Council workshop, members of the Sisters Community Action Team on Homelessness gave a presentation outlining the extent of homelessness in Sisters, efforts being made locally to alleviate homelessness, and long-term actions that could be taken to help.

Six speakers representing different organizations, as well as both former and current homeless residents, helped put a face on homelessness in Sisters. Speakers included: Dawn Cooper with the Family Access Network (FAN); Tom Hespe with the Kiwanis Food Bank; Ian Reid, Sisters District Ranger with the U.S. Forest Service; Lois Kaping from the Sisters Cold Weather Shelter; and Kyle Yore and Mandee Seeley, who have both experienced homelessness in Sisters due to high rental costs.

Each January, dozens of trained volunteers survey people in the tri-county area in shelters, transitional housing, at meal sites and food banks, drop-in centers, health clinics, hotels/motels, campsites, RV parks, and through street canvassing for a Point In Time Count of the homeless. In Sisters the count was done at the FAN office, the Cold Weather Shelter, the food banks, and by outreach around town.

Precariously housed means not living in permanent housing, i.e. couch surfing. Unsheltered means living in a car, RV without full hookup, or outdoors.

The average age of respondents was 31.7, with the oldest being 79 and the youngest a newborn. Adult males accounted for 43 percent, adult females for 28 percent, male children 15 percent, female children 13 percent, and trans/other of any age one percent.

The total reported in Sisters was 69 people, up from 50 in 2017. Of those 69, 48 percent were unsheltered, 39 percent were precariously housed, and 13 percent were sheltered. Six reported they were homeless due to domestic violence, 11 were chronically homeless, and veterans and unaccompanied youth both accounted for less than five people each.

Economic reasons were cited as the primary cause of homelessness in Sisters (55), with family or health issues, violence/abuse, and legal issues cited as other reasons.

Adult with children families are the most common homeless population in Sisters at 61 percent of respondents. Single adults represent 30 percent, and families with multiple adults only account for nine percent.

The key findings in Sisters from the 2018 Point In Time Count indicate that most respondents have some earned income. In other words, they are employed but unable to afford permanent housing. Many are domestic violence survivors. Some have been homeless for over three years and have a persistent mental illness (HUD chronic homeless definition).

The Sisters Cold Weather Shelter opens November 1 at the Sisters Community Church Hangar Annex. During November, it will be open on nights the temperature is forecast to be 32 degrees or colder, offering dinner, breakfast, and a safe warm place to sleep. Beginning in December, the shelter will be open every night starting at 6 p.m.

Ponderosa Heights Apartments, a project of Housing Works, just completed taking applications from qualified people for the lottery for their new low-income apartments located on Brooks Camp Road.

Mosaic Medical is currently negotiating bringing their medical van to Sisters one night a week.

Many of the short-term goals established by the Community Action Team have been accomplished, including a Sisters Cleanup Day involving trash on public lands. It was discovered that a percentage of the trash was not due to homeless camps but rather illegal dumping of construction debris by two local builders.

The City is retrofitting the coin machines in the Village Green showers to accept tokens that will be available through FAN. The educational presentation was made before the Council to make them aware of the circumstances surrounding homelessness and to encourage them in their efforts to address homelessness and the lack of sufficient affordable housing in Sisters.

The committee is investigating the possibility of providing subsidies to families living in RVs but lacking proper hookup facilities. The subsidies would allow them to rent a space for the winter in an RV park, which would also provide them with laundry and shower facilities.

Those who would like to join in the effort to alleviate homelessness in Sisters may contact George Myers at [email protected] or visit cohomeless.org.

Camping supplies, including tarps and propane, and warm clothing are always welcome and can be dropped off at the Habitat office above the Thrift Store. To volunteer as a monitor at the shelter or to provide a meal, contact volunteer coordinator Joann Rundell at [email protected]