Bend Humanity Coalition

The Bulletin Editorial: Bend policy on vehicle camping is coming

"Councilors are not close to finalizing new vehicle camping rules. They plan to give plenty of time for public feedback. And they sure seem inclined to make an extra effort to listen to the views of people who camp in their vehicles on Bend streets now."

A draft code may be ready for the council’s Sept. 21 meeting. The plan is the council may vote on the code in November. You can tell councilors what you think by emailing them at [email protected].

Read the full editorial here:
https://www.bendbulletin.com/opinion/editorial-bend-policy-on-vehicle-camping-is-coming/article_7fdc9f80-3091-11ed-ade0-e338c04cc118.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Bend is no stranger to California transplants but this is different. The homeless camp on Bend’s Hunnell Road is dangerous, featuring drive-by shootings, other violence and deaths. The City of Bend has the authority to clear this dangerous camp, but has failed to do so.

“It’s not as hot as we’re used to,” said Jeremy Prater, who moved with his wife from Northern California just weeks ago.

Mercury rising as Bend begins to broil Jeremy Prater made the short trek Tuesday afternoon, as he does every day from his tent on Hunnell Road, to the misters and water spouts set up down the road

The City of Bend is spending $35,000 per homeless person, yet the number of people experiencing homelessness increased by 17% in the past year. Worse, the number of unsheltered homeless increased from 824 in 2021 to 1,016 in 2022, despite significant investment in, and expansion of, shelter capacity. Unsheltered homelessness, and the inhumane conditions that attend it, will continue to increase until the City of Bend joins other cities in the West in legally curtailing camping on public property.

Central Oregon's annual homeless count finds 17% increase in past year, to nearly 1,300 - KTVZ The number of homeless people in Central Oregon, as measured in an annual, federally overseen "Point in Time" count in January, rose 17% to nearly 1,300, despite outreach team challenges posed by a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Homeless Leadership Coalition reported Friday.