On October 7th, Jay Meredith, CPA and candidate for Grants Pass City Council Ward 2, made a bold proposal on Facebook that has sparked significant discussion among city officials. This isn’t the first time Meredith has put forward this idea—he initially introduced it after the City’s legal victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in June regarding the treatment of homeless individuals. However, with growing concerns around drug use and illegal behavior at the city’s two temporary, unsupervised “resting” sites, Meredith’s proposal is gaining momentum.
In his post, Meredith laid out both his frustrations and his vision for a more managed approach. He explained that while the City won its federal legal battle, two state laws require “objectively reasonable” regulations on where and how people can rest or camp on public property. This means that until state laws change, the City must continue providing a designated public space for resting or camping.
Meredith strongly criticized the current unsupervised sites, advocating instead for a single, supervised location where illegal drug use would be prohibited, and behavioral rules strictly enforced. “No more unsupervised sites,” he asserted. “For the short term, we should have only ONE managed site—no illegal drug use allowed, with reasonable rules to hold bad behavior accountable.” He emphasized the importance of guiding individuals toward the help they need, while also making it clear that those who refuse to comply should face legal consequences. “Tough love, no more enabling,” he added.
The proposed site is a 16-acre, city-owned property located about a mile outside of town. Formerly a landfill, the site is undeveloped and unsuitable for traditional construction, but Meredith believes it could be an ideal location for a managed homeless site. “It won’t bother neighbors if properly managed,” he noted.
Meredith further clarified that there are no laws requiring the City or any nonprofit managing the site to allow drug use. He suggested that nonprofit organizations could assist with transportation or visit individuals at the site. The costs to prepare the site, Meredith argued, would be modest, with the possibility of securing state or grant funding for ongoing management. “The City cannot and should not provide operations—it’s too expensive for a government agency to handle,” he explained.
Meredith has shared this idea with the City Council several times since August. “A few Council members are open to exploring it, some I’m unsure about, and one seems to be warming up to it,” he said. As issues at the current sites escalate, Meredith highlighted the growing urgency among city leaders to find a solution.
Calling on the community to get involved, Meredith proposed that if the site were leased long-term to a nonprofit, local businesses and community groups could contribute to getting it up and running. “We could collectively accomplish in a month or two what might take years if left to government hands,” he said, emphasizing the strong volunteer spirit in Grants Pass and Josephine County. “Many hands make light work.”
As Grants Pass continues to face complex challenges surrounding homelessness, addiction, and public safety, Meredith’s proposal has opened up a crucial dialogue about alternative solutions for managing these pressing issues.
