TD Council pushing ahead to put shelters on Bargeway Road
This is the site of a shelter for houseless people in The Dalles. It is at the end of Terminal way between Northwest Natural Gas and Oregon Cherry Growers.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles City Council is pushing ahead on creating a temporary shelter for the local houseless population.
The village of six units is to be located at the end of Terminal Way in a gravel lot between Northwest Natural and Oregon Cherry Growers.
Council held an emergency meeting today, Oct. 28, at noon to get the ball rolling as overnight freezing temperatures cropped up this week. Councilor Darcy Long-Curtiss said the shelters could be delivered as early as Thursday, Nov. 5.
Council unanimously approved a resolution giving City Manager Julie Krueger the ability to work with necessary parties to create the small village.
Exterior shot of a 8-foot by 8-foot “Pallet Shelter,” also the name of the company providing the structures. Photo courtesy Palletshelter.com
During public comment, Breanna Wimber asked if running water and bathrooms would be available at the site.
The City will be providing the infrastructure for the shelter complex, which includes electricity, a dumpster, and portable toilets, Krueger said.
Those needing showers or laundry facilities will still have access to those at St. Vincent De Paul.
Running water will not be available on site. The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Farquharson said her concern was the close proximity to Riverfront Trail, noting people use it even when it is 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
The shelter was made possible when Councilor Darcy Long-Curtiss applied for and received a $45,000 grant from the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council for the structures, which come on a pallet and are quick to put up and take down.
“There are a lot of details being worked,” she said at the meeting. “This is a huge relief to be at this stage finally. I’ve been working on it so hard for so many months. There’s been so many challenges and setbacks. But I never gave up…”
The shelter will be open through March 31.
In addition, a host will remain on-site in a recreational vehicle and will be responsible for looking after the shelter and its residents and enforce rules. Long-Curtiss said they are getting volunteers to watch the shelter. We need to recruit people and sign agreements and lay the groundwork. “You don’t just throw this stuff up and have people show up,” she said.
The interior of a Pallet Shelter. Photo courtesy Palletshelter.com
Long-Curtiss is currently putting together guidelines and rules for those living in the facility, Kreuger said. In addition, Councilor Rod Runyon said he had contacted county commissioners in Lane County to get rules they use at their permanent facilities within that county. Runyon also said that the shelters should be for adults only.
Northwest Natural’s Tonya Brumley, who will work next door to the shelter, said her biggest concern was safety. She asked that the area be well lit and the area receives extra patrols from the police.
“We do recognize the issue and want to be a partner and help,” she said. “We also want to keep our own staff and assets at our facility safe.”
Here is how the Pallet shelters are loaded and delivered to sites for quick installation. Photo courtesy Palletshelter.com
