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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2018)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2018 | 9A FIRST STEP from page 1A First Step, which consists of a board of pastors, social workers, educators, grant writers and cor- porate managers, listed a number of partners in achieving success- ful outcomes for their clients, including Goodwill Job Con- nections, Oregon Department of Human Services, Lane Commu- nity College, Catholic Charities of Lane County, St. Vincent De- Paul and Habitat for Humanity’s home buyer classes. Program participants will go through a background check and will be required to pay a month- ly contribution to the First Step program, or else do work “in kind.” “This program is not a free program,” Lenox told the Siuslaw News. “I don’t like to say that a lot of organizations are Band-Aids, but they are. And I support a lot Let me Showcase your property. 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This will include no theft, no violence to oneself or others, no alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs or drug parapher- nalia and no persistent disrup- tive behavior. Quiet hours will be enforced between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., no overnight visitors will be allowed and children playing outside the homes will require adult supervision. The participants will live in one of three trailer units that will be temporarily placed on land owned and occupied by the Pres- byterian Church, located at 3996 Highway 101. As of now, First Step is mere- ly a pilot program, using the next year as proof of concept, though it’s possible it may ask for a three- to six-month extension. After that period, the program will look to expand to six to 10 homes, depending on the need that is found. “But it won’t be at the church because it isn’t an appropriate place for it,” said Greg Wood, Pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church and board member of First Step. “It would be somewhere on the edge of town, in the urban growth boundary, or perhaps in the county. It would need to be on a bigger piece of property on a little bit more security and with the opportunity to put in perma- nent infrastructure.” At issue at the Planning Com- mission was whether or not the city would allow the group to in- stall three mobile units, and First Step was tasked with answering safety and construction issues re- lated to the project. Sewer, water and electrical lines would be run underground, connecting to the already exist- ing facilities used by the church, and trash receptacles would be barred to discourage foraging by wild animals. 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Bringing New Life to Senior Living® to the lot, were also addressed. emails supporting it in the affir- to look at what we want to be as a “I realize those woods have mative, two neutral and only one community. What’s Florence go- been a haven for people camp- testimony written in the negative, ing to be?” ing,” Wood said. “We have been citing concerns over security, First Step contends that it will more aggressively, in the last two vandalism and sanitation. focus on community members or three months as a congrega- “Maybe this will light a fire. Spark an interest in others who tion, encourag- think, ‘You know what, this might work.’ Housing is in a crisis, ing people to get out of there and and it’s everywhere. We know we’re not going to solve it, but move on. We we’re giving it a big, big shot.” would feel that — First Step board member Kathryn Lenox having people there 24 hours a day would discourage that. Be- “Stability is an important com- who need a step up. cause they will be there, and they ponent of successful life, and it “It will not be folks that live will say, ‘No, you can’t camp here,’ pays off to have a place to call on church property in a trailer along with the rest of the staff home and a place to clean-up and who will go out and panhandle,” and the church volunteers.” rest your mind,” said First Step Wood said. “That will not be part Planning Commissioner Brian proponent Ivy Medow during of the program, and if it is, they Jagoe brought up concerns re- the meeting’s public comments. will be evicted from the program garding evictions regarding un- “A place to get out of the rain and and lose the incidental benefit ruly tenants. plan what you’re going to wear of living in one of the First Step “I think personally, the pro- the next day, and prepare meals temporary houses.” gram is great,” he said. “My for your kids and friends. It pays Ultimately, First Step repre- concern is that people will go off in ways that are immeasur- sentatives hope that within the through the process, but if the able and difficult to imagine for first year of the program, the true wrong [type of person] gets in, is those of us who have been lucky scope of the project will be real- there a process for getting them enough to rarely, if ever, have to ized and that it will pave a path out in an expedited manner, sleep under a car or a bridge. It’s for like-minded organizations to without causing your program to hard for us to even imagine, I help the issue of home ability. fail because of one person?” think. “We don’t know how this is Wood answered, “If I entered “I’m totally in favor of this going to play out,” Lenox told the the program with a substance project. It’s a way for the commu- Siuslaw News. “We’re going to abuse issue, which I don’t have nity to grow in a good direction.” review it quarterly. We may have by the way, and would not follow While the majority of the audi- to extend it and go before the the rules, there’s no problem with ence in attendance at the meeting commission if that happens. But the director saying they are out of were in favor of the project, a few if other pastors are doing some- compliance. ‘You have 36 hours individuals expressed skepticism thing along these lines as well, to follow the rules or you have to around the ultimate impact it who knows. Maybe this will light leave.’” would have in the community. a fire. Spark an interest in others Commissioner Michael Tit- “The reality is that we have a who think, ‘You know what, this mus also questioned where chil- whole group of people that come might work.’ Housing is in a cri- dren in the facility would be al- from the south up north during sis, and it’s everywhere. We know lowed to play outside. beautiful weather, and they go we’re not going to solve it, but “We may have to designate back south during the winter we’re giving it a big, big shot.” some part of the parking lot for time,” one person said. “Unfor- that,” Wood said. “Our parking tunately, a lot of these people Editor’s Note: Solutions to the lot is open on Highway 101. We’re get caught in between. I’ve lived housing issue are being addressed hopeful that can be a safe area. in some of these places, and I’ve by multiple agencies in Oregon, Between the First Step site and seen the ugliness that takes place. including Lane County and the the church building, there is also If we open our door and our City of Florence. Neighborhood a green space area of grass that is hearts and do the right thing — Economic Development Corpo- mowed right up until the time it and this looks like a great thing to ration (NEDCO) is seeking to turns brown. We currently have do — you can open that door and establish an affordable housing children in the parking lot from have Pandora’s Box open. You project at 1424 Airport Road in time to time who skateboard. It become a beacon for everyone Florence. There will be an infor- does say that children have to be who wants to come here and get mation session on Tuesday, Sept. supervised when outside of their something. We’ve got so many 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Siu- units.” people on the street corner with slaw Public Library, 1460 Ninth Written public comments sub- signs and accosting people for St., to introduce the community mitted to the commission were things like gasoline, food and a and potential buyers to the proj- overwhelming positive, with 76 job. If we open that door, we have ect and to talk about next steps.
