Prineville homeless shelter must make way for new jail

A men’s homeless shelter in Prineville could be coming to an end by next month, as it sits on the planned site of a new Crook County Jail recently approved by voters.

The Regeneration House offers emergency shelter for homeless men county-wide. It’s located on Northeast Second Street, next to the sheriff’s office.

Redemption House Ministries first used the county-owned property to operate a women’s shelter. As that program grew, the women’s shelter moved to a local church, opening up room for the men’s shelter, which provides a warm bed, a meal and a shower for those in need.

Five to 10 people will show up asking for a bed each evening, Executive Director Greg Sanders said Wednesday.

After voters passed the bond measure for a new jail in November, county officials discussed putting the new jail on the property where the shelter operates.

“Right now, we’re doing an environmental study on the property, and part of that is going through and looking what’s underneath the ground,” Judge Seth Crawford said. “And that is why we need to remove these houses, sooner than later,”

Crawford said the county and the city of Prineville are working to find a solution and new home for the men’s shelter.

Sanders is hoping a resolution will come soon.

“We’re trying our best to help those in need,” he said.

If the men’s shelter doesn’t find another location the last day of operation will be on Jan. 31.

“We’re not sure — we’re kind of trusting that things are going to work out,” Sanders said. “We’re asking the community to assist us in any way that they can, whether it be funding or maybe they have some place that they can rent to us for a short time — at least to get us through until after the winter season and we get something more permanent.”

For more information: http://www.prinevilleredemptionhouse.com/