A community meeting was held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 23, 2023 at St. Bede Church in Forest Grove, 1609 Elm St. regarding a proposed pod village on Elm Street in Forest Grove for homeless people, similar to the one across the street from Winco in Hillsboro.
The county’s supportive housing services program manager, Jes Larson, was there, along with Emily Roots, the county’s public affairs administrator, to make a presentation about the proposed site and to answer questions. But the meeting was not organized by the county - it was organized by members of a grassroots initiative, Forest Grove Folks, which is against the proposed pod site, and was chaired by one of the heads of that group, Don Thaler.
I was at this meeting. I was live blogging it on Mastodon for the first hour.
https://mastodon.social/@coyotebroad/110250176335085988
Here is what I saw and heard at the meeting - if you were there, perhaps your experience was different and, if so, feel free to share in the comments:
I was really impressed with how kindly and welcoming the opposition to this pod community, the founder of Forest Grove Folks, Don Thaler, opened the meeting, how well he moderated the meeting, how he spoke to everyone, no matter their stance, etc. You would never have known he was the head of the opposition except for one comment at the very end.
I was also really impressed with how Marlene Mutchler, Vicar of St. Bede's Episcopal in Forest Grove, set a good tone for the meeting, reminding everyone that they were in a sacred space, reminding everyone that we need to care for the homeless and all of our neighbors, and for her stepping in at one point to remind people of these points when things were getting quite out of hand. She was an important voice of reason and calm.
Jes Larson rarely gave a straight answer. Her beating around the bush when answering questions was beyond frustrating - and I say this as someone who is neutral about the pods but thinks they COULD work if properly managed and supported. She did not build trust in the county today - not at all. The county must do better in communications in the future if they don't want an ugly community revolt about this project. There is a lot of damage control to be done because of the vague answers and avoidance at this meeting - I hope they rise to the challenge.
Emily Roots, Public Affairs Administrator at Washington County Department of Housing Services, did a MUCH better job of answering questions clearly - whether or not you liked her answer, she gave straightforward answers.
Early on, an audience member asked if there are any decision-makers on stage or at the meeting regarding the pod community. The question was met with silence. This is a really, really bad look for the city and county to not have had decision-makers in attendance to listen. And I'm still not sure who the decision-makers are - Ms. Larson never really gave specifics.
In response to a question asking where they lived, Ms Larson noted she lives in Portland - and it was met with murmurs that I interpreted as people unhappy that a person NOT from the county is the lead on this project. Roots noted that she lives in Forest Grove and hikes the B street trail - but then said she lives in Forest Gale Heights - which was also met with murmurs, which I interpreted as, "Ah, yes, the most affluent part of Forest Grove, one where pods will NEVER be built."
The projector didn't work so the short presentation the county brought had to be printed out on a few sheets of paper and circulated among attendees - and the room was entirely full, some folks had to stand in the lobby. (why did they not just share it online so everyone could view it on their phones?!) The presentation was very general, just about the overall problems regarding homelessness in the county. The only slides that really related to what people wanted to know at the meeting was one that was a map of the area, this one below that outlines what the county's community engagement process regarding a "shelter siting" is supposed to look like
and this one that notes the timeline for the project.
A reminder that, while the county says it has a process for community engagement, this meeting was NOT organized by them; it was organized by a neighborhood association, Forest Grove Folks, which is in opposition to the proposed pods location.
The county representative says there will be no official community engagement until after the county has already bought the property and is preparing to move ahead - which most in the room interpreted to mean there is no way to stop the project and any community engagement would be "just for show" as one attendee said. Ms. Roots said "robust" stakeholder engagement won't happen until real estate deal closes. She sees these meetings happening in summer (not sure if she meant this summer or the summer of 2024). She thinks it will take 18 months after the real estate deal closing for pods to open.
Most of the county talking points focused on the general problem of homelessness in Washington County and presenting data to prove it - which was strange, because I don't think anyone in the room doesn't think there is NOT a crisis in Oregon regarding homelessness and, in fact, I would say most of the people in the room want to do something humane and equitable about it. That the county doesn't understand why people are opposed to this project - and there are a myriad of reasons for opposition, and that some are opposed to some parts (the pods, but not the apartments) and other are opposed to all of it - is really disturbing.
The county says the pods will be temporary housing for people who are enrolled in public service programs and have case workers and are waiting for permanent housing. It sounds like it will be single people, not families - but given the beating-around-the-bush in answer to questions, I may not have that right. It also sounds like the goal of the pods is to replace the just-four-months emergency shelter, making emergency shelter something offered year-round. And if I understood it correctly, the pods will eventually be replaced by a permanent structure, something like the Valfre at Avenida 26 in Forest Grove, a new apartment complex that provides 36 units of affordable housing for low-income families, with 30 two- and three-bedroom units. Eight of the units at the Valfre are set aside to provide permanent supportive housing with wrap-around services and case management for vulnerable community members.
You can read about that site here:
https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/housing/news/2022/09/06/community-leaders-tackle-housing-crisis-head-grand-opening-valfre-avenida
Well into the meeting, Roots finally acknowledged the worry the community has regarding operation of the pods. She says there will be 24-hour staffing and that there is a commitment to transparency in communication regarding how the shelter will be managed.
Roots again said no stakeholder meeting will be held until the real estate transaction has ended. An audience member said waiting until after real estate deal closes is too late to talk to the community, that it makes "engagement" meaningless. Another said that, so far, what's happened has been anything but transparent.
The lack of real information from the county representative finally became too much, and people began to yell out. "How about you don't build this next to my house?!" and other comments. A woman next to me, taking notes, mumbled, "here we go." Someone yelled out, "let's cut to the chase. How do we stop this?" The room erupted into LOUD applause.
Many audience members asked to know what other areas were looked at. I never heard an answer to that question (doesn't mean there wasn't one - I may have just missed it).
There was a lot of audience pushback that this area on Elm Street meets the county's own criteria for a site, that it's really not close enough to mass transit or other services.
Ms. Larson implied that soil testing could mean housing plans do not go forward. Some audience members said that the site is contaminated from automotive oils from a previous business.
In response to a question, Ms. Larson at first implied that the pods will not be like the Hillsboro site across from WinCo, but then described the pod rules there as just like what will be proposed for Forest Grove - and the audience pointed out that the Hillsboro site has broken down cars and trash visible by anyone passing by, as well as trash and campers around the site, within 500 feet, which is supposed to be prohibited. There was great concern expressed at how the Hillsboro pod site is an eye sore. The representatives never acknowledged that.
An audience member gave an impassioned commentary that was, in the end, asking why homeless shelters are so often in or near Latino and poor communities, why the Hillsboro site across from Winco was going to be moved to Corneius, and why most shelters and most homeless services in Washington County are in district 4 of Washington County rather than the more affluent parts of the county - the room erupted in loud applause. At first, Larsen avoided answering, but after several audience members demanded an answer, Larsen said "thank you for bringing up equity," then said there are maps that show where shelters are, where poverty is, says there are 70 shelter beds in Tigard, says the county is searching for pod sites in Tigard, etc. But I never heard an answer to the question or an acknowledgment of the stated imbalance.
Larson says the pods next to WinCo in Hillsboro will, indeed, move to Cornelius. She did not acknowledge any problems with the pods regarding trash, vehicles that people are living in at the site, surrounding trash and campers, etc. - she did say that she has no data showing an increase in calls to police in that area since the pods were opened, but she would check.
There was a question about what kind of folks will live in the pods, if they will have to be drug-free, alcohol-free, drug tested, etc. "Will they take a pee test before they can enter?" Someone asked if people who have just been released from jail come to the pods.
An audience member noted that she helps homeless people on her own and the county has never helped her, she cannot get answers - she helps with paperwork on her own, helps find shelter on her own. Larsen thanked her for her efforts and said in answer to where she can actually find help, "be persistent." Once again, the room groaned.
Laren said again that there would be rules for living in the pods, that residents had to engage with public services and follow a code of conduct, and that there would be a no drugs policy, but there would be no drug testing. She said this is "a standard practice" not to have drug testing.
Someone asked if people who had been convicted of murder of child molestation would be allowed in the pods. Larsen said that they follow state law and that if people have served their time, they have the right to live somewhere. Which I guess was her way of saying, yes, there will be people with criminal backgrounds in the pods. But she noted that people with criminal backgrounds also might be in the room with us, right now, that they could already be neighbors.
Eventually, the audience began shouting out again - one person claiming that homeless people are brought in from other states. Another said she had a homeless man collapsed and barely responsible in the public right of way in front of her yard (the area between the sidewalk and the street) and that he said he had been dumped there by someone from a Hillsboro medical facility.
Larson said the vast majority of homeless people, when polled, gave as their last permanent address a place in Oregon. She said there was a number to call regarding anyone experiencing homelessness, however, she did not know the number by heart - because it's not her office's number. She directed people to call by Community Action - Hillsboro, Oregon, a nonprofit that is in charge of "Community Connect" for the area. Lots of comments that it was weird that the Supportive Housing Services Program Manager at the Washington County Department of Housing Services doesn't know that number by heart and it doesn't go to her office.
Shawn Cardwell from the Forest Grove Foundation, a local nonprofit serving the homeless population, was invited to speak. He spent most of his time noting his connections with Forest Grove and naming other board members present. Never really said why he was there and how he or his organization could be a resource for the community members present. The women in my row were confused about why he was there, since he seems to have nada to do with this pod village. One woman mumbled that she was tired of his "folksy nonsense."
An audience member asked where the county sees this project in 3 to 5 years, what they think it will look like. Larson said she hoped to see construction on the affordable homes completed and the pods gone.
Another audience member asked if the county could decide at any point to make this a camping spot for homeless people, per the rules set by "time place and manner" in a recent federal court ruling and an Oregon law. The federal court ruling provides that local law regulating sitting, lying, sleeping or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property that is open to the public must be objectively reasonable as to time, place and manner with regard to persons experiencing homelessness, and that cities and counties are limited on limiting camping. Larson said the rule that Forest Grove passes will govern if that can happen, and that rule hasn't been passed yet. She said, "we cannot criminalize homelessness", resulting in very loud applause from a small group. She noted that no camping is allowed if there is available shelter and law prohibits camping next to pod site and that there are no plans to allow camping at this pod. Many responded that this isn't being enforced - camping is still happening even when there is shelter available and that the Hillsboro site is an example of rules NOT being enforced. Someone noted that, in theory, camping could be allowed on the right of way in front of houses in this neighborhood, in the land between the sidewalk and the street.
Someone shouted out that homelessness is because of the influx of drugs, to big applause.
Donna Gustafson, Forest Grove City Councilor, asked to speak and used her brief remarks to strongly encouraged everyone to be at the Forest Grove 2023 Annual Town Meeting on April 29, 2023, from 10 AM to Noon in the Forest Grove Community Auditorium at 1915 Main Street. She suggested people bring their neighbors, "even if they disagree with you on this," and said, "We work for you."
There was a question about who decides who goes into the permanent housing apartments, and if neighbors influence that decision maker. Larson said there will be opportunities for community input with the "entity" that will build and manage permanent housing. She said it could be a collaborative effort led by a nonprofit, which is how The Valfre is managed.
A question about if the county will pay for increased policing for predicted increased trash, crime, etc. Larson said there will be a "good neighbor agreement" that will address concerns and that they will "develop a plan" to prevent and address problems and that they will "change the plan as needed." She said, "We will work with you when we get to that point." Which prompted someone asking again about the problems at the Hillsboro site across from Winco and how this pod site would be different - and once again not getting an answer.
An audience member did speak in support of the pods, saying this is a critical, urgent need and it will address some of the concerns people already have now with unsheltered people and it will make the situation regarding the homeless better, and a small group applauded loudly.
Someone asked where the programs are to give a "hand up" instead of a hand out, and asked why the people living in the pods didn't build them themselves, and why the people that will live in the permanent housing didn't get trained in construction so they could build it themselves, so that there was both ownership and job-training. Ms. Larson said there are workforce development programs where people enrolled in such get rent help.
Someone noted that most people at the meeting care about the homeless but that no one wants this kind of pod village "in their neighborhood" and that "we want to help" but not by "putting children at risk," and again noted problems at the Hillsboro pods regarding trash and camping outside the area. She said she feels Hillsboro's problems are just being moved to Forest Grove.
Someone noted that he has had his cars and home broken into and that he is counting on his home sale to fund his retirement, and this puts that in dire jeopardy. The county rep made several remarks but they were vague and didn't address the comment, and he eventually interrupted her to ask who will compensate him for his devalued property. She said that they problems he's talking about - the robberies - are from unsheltered people. He replied, "it's all connected."
An audience member talked about how he and his family were homeless, struggled with hunger, said he would not be here without help, said he does have concerns about this project, but that we do all need to help each other. Don Thaler responded, "I think we all want to help,", and someone behind me said, "no, not all of us" - and he meant himself, that he does not want to "help". But I don't think he was heard.
An audience member asked what people in the pods will do all day. Ms Larson said that part of their time will be "down time", that they may need time to recover from being homeless, that many homeless people are crime victims themselves, and just like anyone, they need "down time." She said that otherwise their time will be meeting with case managers, getting to doctor's appointments and getting medical treatment, getting IDs, etc.
An audience member claimed that a military vet is being displaced for this development, and that this happens regularly. Larson said that, in fact, the veteran she was referring to was a renter and this was a rental dispute with the property owner because he was selling. Mr. Thaler noted that no matter who land is sold to, this person will be displaced.
An audience member suggested that Washington County officials look into "Village of Hope" in Eugene, saying it's a good model, that they have excellent screening. of residents, and says "instead of asking how do we stop this, we ask how to make this work."
https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/shaping-salem-s-future/housing-shelter/learn-about-city-efforts-to-address-homelessness/learn-about-micro-shelter-villages
This same person also said that you can tell who the renters are, because they have more trash in their yards.
The last question was if what happened today would be communicated with other county officials and the "decision-makers". Larson, after some vague comments, ultimately said yes.
If you disagree with how I've represented what happened at the meeting, feel free to note such in the comments.
Here's a newspaper article about the controversy:
https://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/washington_county/potential-elm-street-pod-village-sparks-community-backlash/article_a039ede2-e09e-11ed-b5ee-c716e675e9f7.html
If you have concerns, here is the contact information to elected officials to express your thoughts:
Forest Grove City Councilors
By Email to all Councilors: CityCouncilors@forestgrove-or.gov
By Telephone: 503-992-3235
FG City Manager: City Manager: Jesse VanderZanden
Phone: 503.992.3234
Email: jvanderzanden@forestgrove-or.gov
Contact information for Washington County Board of Commissioners:
Jerry Willey - District4@washingtoncountyor.gov
Kathryn Harrington - https://forms.co.washington.or.us/form/constituent-inquiry#top
