The City’s two unsupervised homeless resting and camping areas are failing to provide a safe and effective solution, to put it mildly. In my view, the situation has deteriorated to the point where the Grants Pass City Council should urgently convene emergency or special meetings. Many who are closely monitoring the issue share the sentiment that the matter is indeed critical.
Several weeks ago, I spent time at the J Street camp and observed several extremely concerning situations. While it was a weekend and the immediate impact on neighboring businesses seemed limited during the day, a series of videos shared by a nearby business owner just over a week ago showed a much graver reality. The footage prompted me to consider contacting the mayor, council, city manager, and police chief to stress that immediate action was necessary. The business, feeling unassisted by the City, has begun rallying support from other area businesses to demand intervention.
Later that same day, I had a distressing encounter at the Grants Pass Shopping Center. A young man, visibly under the influence of something dangerous, acted violently. Considering his backpack and proximity to the J Street camp, there’s a significant chance he was associated with the camp. That incident served as my sign to alert the Council about the urgent need for action.
However, I hesitated. As a candidate for a City Council seat, I did not want my concerns to be seen as a political tactic, especially with an important forum approaching and ballots soon to be mailed out. This issue is, after all, one of the most discussed topics among mayoral and council candidates.
Today, I no longer care if this is viewed as a political maneuver—this is no game.
It is time for the Grants Pass City Council to call a series of emergency and special meetings, ideally beginning before the end of this week.
Inaction Amid Consensus
At the October 2 City Council meeting and during various candidate forums since, there seemed to be broad consensus that these resting and camping sites pose significant problems. Yet, the cancellation of the October 16 Council meeting, coupled with the uncertainty over when the issue will be revisited in earnest, has left many, including myself, frustrated by the lack of urgency in addressing these challenges.
It’s my hope that the following story will ignite action among the City Council, City staff, and our community, just as it did for me after speaking with a single mother living near the 7th Street camp over the weekend.
The Voice of a Young Resident
Let’s begin with the words of 11-year-old Natalee Emray, who prepared the following speech for the October 16 City Council meeting before it was canceled:
“Hello, my name is Natalee Emray. I have lived in Grants Pass since I was 1 year old. I am now 11. I want you all to see my face and think about my safety. Every morning, I wait for the bus to take me to middle school. My house is on the corner of 7th and A. Since the campsite on 6th opened, I have had homeless men try to talk to me. I’ve missed my bus because I was too scared to walk two houses down to my stop. I was hiding on the porch. I’m scared. I heard in the news about rapists living at these sites, and now you’re moving one next door to my house.
“In America, 1 in 10 children are sexually abused, and you just made a campground for them to live next to me. I have lived here safely for 10 years, and now I’m in danger just waiting for my school bus. According to the National Drug Abuse Center, 2.08 million American teens suffer from drug addiction. You’ve now made it incredibly easy for me to join them. I don’t feel safe playing outside or practicing volleyball in the driveway anymore. My friends’ parents won’t allow them to come over for sleepovers because it’s unsafe. Please see my face and want to keep me safe. Don’t allow homeless camping near schools or residential homes. Children matter—I matter. Thank you, -Natalee Emray, age 11.”
A Mother’s Perspective
Now let’s hear from Natalee’s mom, Britni, on the realities of living near the 6th Street and, now, 7th Street resting and camping sites near the City’s police station.
“Two to three times a day, I have to go out and usher individuals off my property or shout through the cameras. A handful of times, I’ve tried calling the non-emergency number, but the call won’t go through—it’s busy. I try making online reports and get a notification saying GPPD doesn’t serve our location… despite being next door.
“Individuals hide between the wooden fence and a section of chain link with privacy fencing (which overlap) to make drug deals, often parking in my driveway to complete the transaction. My daughter has missed her bus because a man who approached her the day before was at her stop, so she hid on the porch. We find needles near our dumpster, have had packages stolen, and DoorDash orders taken before we could get to the door. Our children are scared to go outside and play. Noise from outside keeps my special needs son awake. Not to overshare, but the other day, while I was in the shower, my son heard a knock at the door—it was a homeless man. My son isn’t aware of the danger and almost let him in, but my daughter intervened.
“I’m a single parent, and despite my kids being 10 and 11, I now have to treat them like toddlers. We have lived here since they were 1 and 2 years old. They used to play outside and take out the trash independently; now, they can’t. Even walking to the mailbox isn’t safe. I have to watch them on FaceTime or through the camera until they’re safely on the bus. Their friends’ parents won’t allow them to visit anymore. We can’t afford to move, nor should we have to. We shouldn’t have to find funding to relocate because individuals who contribute nothing to society are taking over what I’ve worked hard for. The one thing you want as a parent is to provide a safe environment for your kids… we had that until the camps opened on A Street. We lost the rest when they moved to 7th.”
Addressing the Crisis
This is indeed an emergency for the businesses and residents near these two camping sites, and the City must treat it as such. While I’m not suggesting that the City is doing nothing, some neighbors feel this way, and the issue must be tackled head-on.
State law requires cities to provide resting and camping locations if they regulate them, meaning the City must continue to offer sites. We must also recognize the emergency situation for some of the homeless, especially with winter approaching.
Here are some proposed areas for focused discussions in upcoming emergency meetings. While I’m not an expert, others will likely refine or expand on these suggestions:
- Immediate Relief for Neighbors:
- What is the City doing to provide immediate relief for neighbors while planning a managed site for the future?
- How many neighbors need urgent assistance?
- What can the City, community groups, or nonprofits do to help?
- What can City police do to address significant drug activity? Not all tactics can or should be discussed publicly.
- Hire Additional Police Officers:
- Begin the process to hire at least four more officers. Police are stretched too thin, and there is too much overtime this year. The City can afford to hire eight more positions after approving the new Public Safety utility fee, ensuring a balanced budget for the next three to five years.
- Identify Sites for a Managed Homeless Location:
- What sites are available, and what type of operation could be set up?
- Define “objectively reasonable” and state law concerning homeless individuals and neighboring residents.
- Avoid low-barrier sites and define this term clearly.
- Consider proximity to residential areas and potential impacts.
- Determine Site Operation Funding:
- What state, federal, or charity funding sources are available to nonprofit partners?
- Can the City seek state funding due to the impact of laws requiring site provision?
- Are there available ARPA or capital funds to help cover upfront costs?
This list is just the beginning. A flood of troubling behavior has impacted some of our neighbors, and it’s time to treat this like the emergency it is.
The City cannot and should not address this issue alone. Local nonprofit partners, including organizations like the GP Gospel Rescue Mission, need to be involved in these discussions.
Residents can share their thoughts by emailing MayorCouncil@grantspassoregon.gov. I encourage constructive comments to help drive real change.