By Scott Swanson
Editor, Lebanon Local
Lengthy public hearings may not be particularly pleasant, like the one described in our report, beginning on page 1 (found online at LebanonLocalNews.com/residents-crowd-city-hall-chambers-to-have-their-say-on-homeless-issue/), on the City Council’s lengthy hearing regarding the question of where to locate a sleeping area for Lebanon’s homeless.
But they often represent very healthy democracy in action: Citizens having their say, public servants hopefully listening and weighing what they’re hearing.
Lebanon is moving forward in its quest for a solution to the challenges presented by the local homeless population, and that’s also a good thing – for Lebanon.
This is a community that has done a lot of things right and the movers and shakers who’ve made those choices now have to figure out the best solutions for the folks seeking places to bed down around town.
Not only would that likely provide better options for the already beleagured police, but frankly, if the neighbors’ experience is any indication, it will solve problems all around.
Sweet Home, the neighbor up the road, in January opened a “sleep center” for its homeless population earlier on a fenced three-acre piece of property outfitted with 30 Conestoga-style huts built by local high school students and a donated modular building that serves as an office.
The facility, operated by Lebanon-based Family Assistance and Resource Center, is modeled after one in Walla Walla, Wash., which city officials and community members visited and which has produced notable success in changing lives, both of the clients and the community.
Speaking from personal observation and reports we’ve heard from those involved in the Sweet Home effort, early results there have impressed even the doubters.
Homeless individuals, who formerly were camped in open areas and visible throughout the downtown on the sidewalks, are largely staying near the shelter.
They have a secure place to stay, they have easy access to help for needs they have from people who are conveniently available (such as the Linn County Mental Health Crisis Response Team, see page 2). The number of interactions with police have plummeted. And no, there hasn’t yet been a stampede of homeless from out of town, a commonly voiced concern in the community.
Those involved say that individuals who had little interest before in getting help in dealing with their issues are showing a lot more now.
We’re certainly not suggesting that Sweet Home’s solution, which isn’t perfect by any means but has definitely improved the situation dramatically, should be Lebanon’s. But we commend the City Council for taking this bull by the horns. It has to.
Whatever the solution is, we hope it benefits not only those who are houseless and may be afflicted with other issues, but the general population of Lebanon.
In other words, a win-win.