Another day, another concerning move by the Grants Pass City Council. At the March 17th Council Workshop, Councilor Indra Nicholas brought up the name of Dr. Robert Marbut. She hoped to explore his consulting services for communities struggling to support the unhoused. The idea that only Dr. Marbut should be approached was echoed by Councilors Victoria Marshall and Kathleen Krohn.
That being said, a quick search of his name shows that his methods and ideas have been discredited and proven ineffectual. He is described as a bully and cruel, and his tactics dehumanizing. As a political appointee under the first Trump administration, he touted the idea of “Housing Fourth,” dismissing the evidence-based ideas of the Housing First Model that identifies housing as a basic human right. He was eventually removed as the Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness due to heavy criticism from Congress. As a resident and former Councilmember of the City of San Antonio, Dr. Marbut claimed to have helped instigate a significant decline in homelessness in his city. However, the evidence collected suggests there was, in fact, an increase in homelessness. With Housing Fourth as the foundation of his structure, he encourages the creation of large, high-barrier shelters, and supports the idea that programs run by churches and non-profits should be “outlawed.”
With little information presented, the majority of the Council—including City Manager Aaron Cubic and Mayor Clint Scherf—seemed willing to entertain the cost of his consulting services. Some reports state his fees alone cost cities tens of thousands of dollars. Exploring such an expense, as they still balk at the price of bringing the current “resting sites” up to ADA standards, feels irresponsible and rash. Engaging other professionals to strategize and problem-solve is an admirable idea, however, Dr. Marbut is simply not the right person for the job.
Melissa I. Hughes
Grants Pass, Or.
