‘They are wanting help’: C. Oregon outreach group provides supplies to Juniper Ridge homeless

(Update: Adding video, comments from homeless, outreach coordinator)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Shepherd's House Ministries has been supporting the homeless in Central Oregon with several services, including mobile outreach.

As part of Project SHARE, teams of service providers travel to two of Deschutes County's biggest encampments, off China Hat Road south of Bend and at Juniper Ridge north of the city, providing water, clothing and food.

"This is a difficult issue, and it's something that is hard to walk through and hard to navigate with people," coordinator Tim Ellis, who has worked for the program for three years, said Thursday.

Nicknamed "Dirt World," the large homeless encampment located at Juniper Ridge has been the location of several drug busts, other crimes and wildfires, including last summer's Mile Marker 132 Fire.

Those living in the area say they're well aware of the public's frustrations.

"Some people really don't care," said Anthony, who lives in Juniper Ridge. "And that's what gives this area a bad rap. And there are a lot of people who are not down with just trashing that place."

For many like Anthony, the growing cost of living in Bend led him to homelessness.

"Bend became very hard to afford, extremely expensive," he said. "Our landlords ended up having to move back into the house we were renting because they couldn't afford their house. And our rent almost doubled after a few years."

Ellis and his team provide propane tanks, clothing and hot meals once a week to both the Juniper Ridge and China Hat encampments. While at one camp Thursday, the team had completely run out of full propane tanks, a need that could mean life or death for many.

"These are people. These aren't an issue. These aren't a political problem. These are people's lives that- they're in our hands and they are wanting help, " said Ellis. "We're not that far separated from living out here and living rough."

The city and county have worked together on the over 1,000-acre property, deciding last year to shrink the encampment. At a joint meeting last fall, city councilors and commissioners voted to allow camping within a 170-acre parcel, called a Temporary Safe Stay Area, and set a May 31 goal to accomplish their initial goals.