Addressing houselessness in Sisters

Following an October 6 “community conversation” about houselessness in the Sisters area, hosted by a coalition of local organizations, the City of Sisters has released a 32-page summary report on community concerns, ideas, and questions that came out of the meeting.

The event served as a platform for learning and input-gathering providing an opportunity for participants to hear from 11 community groups who are each providing services and assistance to the unhoused in Sisters. Small groups of citizens then met to share their perspectives and ask questions. That information was recorded and served as the basis for the summary report, which is available on the City website (ci.sisters.or.us, administration, houselessness, community conversation).

With the community’s participation and insights, the 11 partner organizations — including the Sisters Ranger District, Sisters School District, City of Sisters, SPRD, Sisters Library, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Deschutes County Behavioral Health, Sisters Community Leadership Initiative, and Sisters Cold Weather Shelter — will continue to work collaboratively to address houselessness in the community.

At the November 20 Sisters City Council meeting, councilors adopted Resolution 2024-22, which authorizes temporary shelter facilities during severe cold weather conditions. This resolution allows for the suspension of applicable land use regulations and the associated review process to enable emergency cold weather shelter operations to be established for the 2024-2025 winter season. 

Before an emergency shelter can open operators must submit to the city: 

• A letter from the property owner authorizing the use of the property as a temporary overnight shelter. 

• Operational permit from the fire safety manager authorizing the use of the space as a temporary overnight shelter.

• Shelter code of conduct.

• Emergency contact information for the shelter operator. 

• Notify Sisters Deschutes County Sheriff on the nights the facility is open.

The emergency declaration will run from November 21, 2024, to March 15, 2025. There are specified weather conditions and temperatures which determine when a shelter may operate.

The resolution is not directed toward any specific facility or organization. The hours of operation will be from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. the next morning, when other public facilities will be open. If the weather which required the shelter to open is still applicable between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and other public facilities are not open, the shelter may remain open. Any facility serving as a shelter may house up to 20 people, but at no time can the number be more than that approved by the fire safety manager.

This emergency declaration is a temporary solution that allows the City and its partners to help houseless neighbors during extreme winter weather.