In a continued effort to address the legal requirements set forth by a federal court ruling, the Grants Pass City Council approved a resolution on April 15, 2025, to add two additional designated resting sites for unhoused individuals. The decision came during Monday night’s regular council meeting and was passed with a 6-2 vote. Councilors Riker and Nicholas cast the two dissenting votes.
The resolution is part of the City’s broader strategy to comply with an injunction issued by Judge McGlaughlin, which currently restricts the City from enforcing most camping regulations. In order for the injunction to be lifted, the City must demonstrate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensure that a total of at least 150 legally designated resting spaces are available for unhoused persons.
Prior to Monday’s vote, Grants Pass had two established resting locations: 704 NW 6th Street and 712 NE 7th Street. These existing sites will remain in operation and currently provide approximately 55 and 44 resting sites, respectively. However, these numbers fell short of the court’s mandate, prompting the City to expand its available accommodations.
The newly approved resting sites will be located at 714 NW 6th Street and 711 NW 6th Street. Both new locations are adjacent to the current 704 NW 6th Street site but will remain separate operational entities.
The 714 NW 6th Street location, situated just north of the 704 NW 6th Street site, will be able to accommodate approximately 24 resting spaces. The second newly approved location, 711 NW 6th Street, is currently used as a City employee parking lot. Once converted, it will offer space for roughly 50 unhoused individuals.
To offset the loss of employee parking spaces near City Hall due to this conversion, the City is renting approximately 40 parking spots from a nearby church. This move is aimed at reducing traffic and parking congestion in the neighborhood surrounding City Hall. The parking lot will officially transition into a designated resting site beginning Wednesday, April 23.
According to city officials, once all four sites are fully operational, the total number of resting sites available will be approximately 173—exceeding the 150-site requirement outlined by the court. In response, the City’s legal team plans to petition the court to lift the existing injunction. If successful, this would restore the City’s ability to enforce municipal camping regulations, which are currently suspended with the exception of those in Riverside and Reinhart Volunteer parks.
City leaders have emphasized that these changes are not permanent housing solutions but rather emergency measures to comply with federal court directives and provide a legal framework that allows the City to manage public spaces more effectively. The move also reflects growing concerns among residents and businesses about the visible impact of homelessness, while balancing legal obligations and human rights considerations.
The debate over how best to address homelessness in Grants Pass remains ongoing, with strong opinions from both community advocates and city officials. While some view the expansion of resting sites as a necessary step toward compliance and compassion, others worry about the long-term impacts on public safety, infrastructure, and city resources.
For now, the City Council’s decision marks a significant shift in how Grants Pass approaches homelessness—one that may soon restore local enforcement authority while also expanding options for those experiencing homelessness within city limits.
