To Mayor Ed Fitch and members of the Redmond City Council

Over the past few years Redmond has grown its homeless services to the point where together we offer a nearly complete continuum of services with additional services including a managed camp and permanent supportive housing in development. This progress was made possible through collaboration between the city, county, state, local service providers, and community support. We want to continue to build upon this foundation.

At the same time economic and social conditions and camp displacements occurring at China Hat and other locations in Central Oregon have continued to push people living unhoused onto city, county, and federal properties in and east of Redmond. As service providers we are aware of the need for changes in how unhoused living is managed and how people living unhoused are served. We want to work together to ensure this happens in a manner that provides increased safety for all while honoring Redmond’s tradition of stepping up to help our neighbors.

We are concerned that the recently announced plan to remove people from Desert Rise and nearby areas does not allow sufficient time for people to be relocated safely or for service providers to develop and implement a coordinated plan to assist their clients and the city during the process. We know from experience that dispersals of people living houseless on public lands without adequate planning poses risks to all in our community. In the case of the Desert Rise relocations:

• Some campers may disperse further into the Junipers, making it more difficult for service providers to help manage safety and progress toward shelter and housing.
• Some may relocate to already congested camping areas increasing the likelihood of conflicts within the camps and with the community and potentially interfering with or overwhelming established services.
  Some may move onto the streets of Redmond as we have seen occurring elsewhere.
• In addition, a poorly planned sweep will endanger the relationships and trust our outreach teams have built with our neighbors living houseless over the years. These relationships are essential for continued progress addressing homelessness and to ensure that existing and planned programs in east Redmond are respected.

We are therefore asking the city to pause its plans until:

• A collaborative process is established through which service providers can share their many years of experience in east Redmond with the city and county to create a comprehensive relocation plan with the greatest likelihood of positive outcomes.
• A location is designated for the affected people to relocate to legally and receive outreach services.
• A safe and accessible location for continued weekly outreach by Redmond Collective Action, Jericho Road, and their partners is established.
• Adequate funding is identified to allow service providers to assist people with their moves.
  The planned managed camp is open and operating stably.

Again, we recognize the need for change and wish to be full partners in the process to ensure the Desert Rise relocation happens in a manner that builds upon the collaborative work that has already been done and does not endanger the existing and planned services in east Redmond.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to meeting with and working with you.

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