COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | 3A
City establishes temporary shelter for
homeless at Community Center
DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
The city has set up a small, temporary shelter behind the Community Center in a move to address homelessness in the area.
By Damien Sherwood
dsherwood@
cgsentinel.com
A small row of tents on the
Cottage Grove Community
Center property has raised
the eyebrows of some in the
community.
A few weeks ago, the City
of Cottage Grove made ac-
commodations for a hand-
ful of homeless individuals
in the area by establishing a
small relief site situated in
the back of the center. The
site was equipped with can-
opies provide a temporary
shelter space.
“This is not going to be the
permanent solution,” said
City Manager Richard Mey-
ers. “This is just temporary
as we’re trying to address
some of the other issues.”
The site is part of an ac-
tive step the city has taken in
addressing homelessness in
Cottage Grove.
The reasons for the move
are manifold, starting with a
court decision almost three
years ago.
A Dec. 16, 2019, U.S. Su-
preme Court decision to
deny a petition to review
Martin v. City of Boise final-
ized a significant holding by
the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals which protects the
right for homeless people to
sleep in public spaces with-
out reprisal.
The Circuit Court ruling
held that if a homeless per-
son has no option of sleeping
indoors, a city cannot cite or
punish him or her for violat-
ing an ordinance disallowing
sleeping outside in a public
space.
Governor Kate Brown also
signed into law House Bill
3115 this year.
The law mandates that any
city or county law must be
reasonable if it regulates “sit-
ting, lying, sleeping or keep-
ing warm and dry outdoors
on public property.”
Under the measure, a
homeless person charged
with violating a ban on
camping or loitering would
have an affirmative defense
against a law that is not objec-
tively reasonable. A person
experiencing homelessness
may also sue to challenge the
objective reasonableness of
a city or county law, and be
awarded attorney fees if the
plaintiff prevails.
However, this bill will not
take effect until July 1, 2023.
In the meantime, the Cir-
cuit Court ruling stands.
Beyond legal reasons,
though, Meyers invoked a
basic appeal to humanity.
“They’re humans and
we’ve got to do what we can
try to do to get them back on
their feet,” he said.
In setting up the site, how-
ever, the city has laid down
some rules. Site occupants
are not allowed to loiter in
the front of the building and
cannot be on the sidewalks
entering into the building.
They may also not block
any of the handicap path-
ways or block any of the
doors, even if the door is not
an entrance.
The site is also limited
to just six people to keep it
manageable.
Part of the strategy is to
provide a pathway for indi-
viduals who need a hand up.
While some in the com-
munity have complained that
city should not be providing
this service at the communi-
ty center, city staff have said
that the proximity provides
the opportunity to make
much-needed connections.
“If we pushed them off the
Community Center, they’d
be in the parks and they’d be
scattered around throughout
the community,” said Mey-
ers. “And we wouldn’t have
that direct connection where
we’re able to regularly check
on them.”
The city is working with
other organizations such as
Carry It Forward, Be Your
Best, Looking Glass and oth-
ers to establish avenues of
upward mobility.
South Lane Mental Health
is also a resource, though the
nonprofit is currently under-
staffed and finding it diffi-
cult to secure positions.
Another reason for the
city’s approach has been to
help other members of the
community and businesses
by providing an alternative
to doorstops and sidewalks,
said Meyers.
See SHELTER A6
Are you ready?
D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS
How pet owners can prepare for disasters in advance
The need to prepare for natural disasters is never more apparent
than right after an especially harsh storm touches down. But disaster
preparation should be a proactive endeavor, as taking action before a
storm can make confronting the storm that much easier.
Pet owners must give extra thought to disaster preparedness to en-
sure their pets can make it through harsh storms unscathed. Natural
disasters like storms and fi res can put pets in jeopardy, so it’s vital that
pet owners take the steps necessary to protect their furry friends be-
fore such disasters strike.
• Place a rescue alert sticker on your front door or window. Rescue
alert stickers alert fi rst responders to the presence of pets in a home.
The ASPCA recommends placing the sticker on the front door or win-
dow (visit aspca.org to receive a free sticker). Include the types and
numbers of pets in the home as well as the name and phone number
of your veterinarian.
• Learn about local safe havens. If pet owners must evacuate in the
case of a coming storm, their pets must evacuate as well. Some ani-
mal shelters provide emergency shelter for pets and/or can arrange
for pets to be fostered until their owners can safely return home. It’s
vital to conduct this research in advance, as the ASPCA notes that not
all shelters can accommodate pets during storms or other emergen-
cies. Knowing which ones do can ensure pets have a safe place to go
should disaster strike.
• Stock up on emergency supplies. The ASPCA recommends pet own-
ers plan as if they won’t be allowed to return home for several weeks,
even if they suspect their time away will be much shorter. Speak with
your vet about what to include in a pet fi rst-aid kit, and be sure to
bring at least several days’ worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food.
Disposable litter trays, liquid dish soap and disinfectant and an extra
collar or harness and extra leash are some additional emergency sup-
plies to pack. A full list of recommended emergency supplies can be
found at aspca.org.
• Make sure pets wear collars and tags at all times. Disaster can strike
at any time, so it’s vital that pets wear their identifi cation tags and col-
lars at all times. The ASPCA urges pet owners to include pets’ names
and any urgent medical needs on the tags. A telephone number
where owners can be reached at all hours of the day should be in-
cluded on tags as well.
• Take location into account. The ASPCA advises pet owners who live
in regions prone to certain disasters to fi nd rooms in their homes
which can serve as safe havens during storms. Many storms do not
require evacuations, but that does not mean pets won’t be frightened.
Safe rooms should be clear of windows and be easily accessible and
easy to clean.
Disaster preparedness includes strategies to keep pets safe in the
wake of storms or other potentially hazardous situations.
Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
• Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions.
• Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home.
• Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster.
For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center.
South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506
Twitter: @southlanefi re
Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue