A major step toward expanding emergency housing capacity in Grants Pass was taken after the city’s Community Development Department approved the development of Parker’s Place Village, a proposed shelter project designed to serve individuals experiencing homelessness. The facility will be constructed at 218 and 220 Redwood Highway and is planned to provide at least 150 emergency shelter beds along with integrated on-site services intended to support residents and connect them with longer-term housing resources.
The approval was issued on March 4, 2026, following a review of the application by city planning staff. The proposal was submitted earlier in the year and was determined to be complete in mid-February. The shelter will operate as a 24-hour, low-barrier facility intended to provide temporary housing while connecting residents with social services, housing assistance, and other resources.
The project will be operated by Alternative Living Solutions, Inc. and the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team, commonly known as MINT. The property is owned by Elk Island Trading Group, which has acquired two adjacent parcels along Redwood Highway for the development. The combined site covers approximately 1.02 acres and is located within the city limits of Grants Pass. The property is zoned General Commercial and sits within the city’s urban growth boundary.
Plans for Parker’s Place Village include the installation of sleeping units created from converted Conex shipping containers. These units will be constructed in accordance with Oregon’s transitional housing standards and will serve as individual sleeping spaces for residents staying at the shelter. In addition to the sleeping units, the project includes construction of a permanent restroom and shower facility containing six toilets and six showers. The facility is planned to meet accessibility standards and comply with applicable building and safety codes.
The shelter is designed to provide continuous staffing and integrated services for individuals staying at the facility. Program staff will conduct intake assessments, offer peer support, and help connect shelter residents with housing resources and other services based on individual needs.
The site was evaluated by the city to determine whether it meets requirements established under Oregon law governing emergency shelters. State statutes require local governments to approve emergency shelter applications when certain criteria are satisfied. The city reviewed the location, environmental conditions, transportation access, and public safety considerations before issuing its decision.
Planning staff determined the property is located within the Grants Pass urban growth boundary and is not situated in a floodplain or other mapped environmental hazard area. The site was also found to have access to nearby services, including retail businesses, medical facilities, and public transportation routes along Redwood Highway and Highway 99. Josephine Community Transit provides service along the corridor, and nearby health care providers include Three Rivers Medical Center and the Grants Pass Clinic.
The proposed shelter location was also reviewed by the Grants Pass Police Department and Fire Department to evaluate potential impacts on public health and safety. The agencies determined the project would not create unreasonable risks in those areas.
The development of Parker’s Place Village is connected to ongoing efforts by the city to expand shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness. Grants Pass has faced increasing challenges managing its unhoused population in recent years and is currently under a court order requiring the availability of 150 shelter beds for individuals without housing.
City officials previously allocated approximately $1.2 million to acquire property for a shelter site and conducted a competitive proposal process to identify a partner capable of constructing and operating the facility. Elk Island Trading Group was selected to receive grant funding for the project.
Although the shelter has received approval, several conditions must be met before the facility can open. Project developers must obtain approvals for grading and utility installation, secure building permits for the restroom and shower facility, and obtain permits for the sleeping units. Fire department requirements must also be satisfied before a certificate of occupancy can be issued.
With the director’s decision now finalized, Parker’s Place Village moves one step closer to construction as the city continues efforts to establish shelter space for individuals experiencing homelessness in Grants Pass.
