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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, December 5, 2018
CJ Patrol Homeless Alliance is starting a grassroots effort
Tina Casey Jones
IVN Contributing Writer
On Dec. 2 Jimmy Evans, leader
of the Cave Junction Patrol and self-
styled promoter of homeless outreach
in the Illinois Valley, gathered a
dynamic group of individuals together
Sunday in order to coordinate current
activities being undertaken on behalf
of Valley residents who are in need
of shelter, food, warm clothes and
a place to catch a decent night’s
sleep; and to brainstorm ways the
community can help those who need
further help. Among those attending
were members of CJ Patrol, current
Valley leaders who are already
providing services, as well as
community residents who just want
to help.
Evans shared a “state of the
homeless” update, outlining that there
are currently 8-10 people living on the
streets of the city with an additional
15-20 homeless living outside the
city limits (not including those living
in cars). He also reported that there
are more women suffering from
homelessness in the Illinois Valley
than usual and the patrol is kept busy
handing out sleeping bags, socks,
warm blankets and jackets.
The ultimate goal is to create
a shelter that would serve basic
needs for hygiene, nutrition and a
safe warm place to sleep. Evans
was approached by an anonymous
donor who would partially provide
funding for a warming center, but
in the meantime the Homeless
Alliance brainstormed ideas that
could be acted upon immediately,
including providing additional trash
receptacles and putting porta potties
in strategic locations around town.
These two suggestions will be worked
on with city representatives and a
determination made for potential
locations.
The Homeless Alliance plans
to meet again this Sunday at 4 p.m.to
take more detailed action, such as
forming small committees to take
specific steps such as site selection,
city liaison, food distribution, outreach
services, construction committee and
professional volunteerism or mental
health organization involvement
regarding counseling.
According to alliance
participants, most of the city’s
homeless are children of current or
former residents. They also felt that
the 8-30 members of our homeless
population would gratefully accept
help from a warming center. And with
the support of residents, the city’s
homeless can ultimately be reunited
with their families.
If you are a concerned
community member, helpful volunteer
or a knowledgeable professional,
please consider becoming involved
in the CJ Patrol Homeless Alliance.
You can contact Jimmy Evans at
541-592-2407 or by texting him on
Facebook Messenger. You can also
join the Alliance Facebook page. The
next meeting will be at 4 p.m. at the
Illinois Valley Wellness Resources
office, 315 Caves Hwy. Suite C (same
complex as Options for Southern
Oregon).
(Photo by Laura Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
Locals met to talk about homeless issues at Taylor’s Country
Store Sunday, Dec. 2.
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