Days are numbered for Redmond-area homeless camp

The days are numbered for people living in a homeless camp east of Redmond. Evictions are in the near future for the remaining people living on the land.

The property is owned by Deschutes County, the Central Oregon Irrigation District,and the Redmond School District. Notices are up, and starting Monday, squatters must start leaving.

Last fall, roads were blocked and gates were chained in an attempt to limit access. While many people left, there are still about 30 to 40 campsites, and those remaining are faced with a familiar problem.

“Where do folks go?” Colleen Thomas, Deschutes County’s homeless outreach coordinator, said Wednesday. “And it’s that common issue that we always face. It is illegal camping, but these folks don’t have anywhere to go. So that’s what we’re struggling with right now,”

Unlike last fall, property owners and law enforcement officials say this really is the end of the line for the camp. According to outreach coordinators, it’s been an ongoing process, and they’re thankful they’ve been given time to work with the people out there.

“We’ve been able to collaborate and talk with the owners who currently own the land in Redmond, and have been able to get our providers out there to offer services to our individuals,” said Molly Taroli, co-chair of the Homeless Leadership Coalition. She said the ultimate goal is to put an end to homelessness.

The coalition and other service providers are currently reaching out to people who are still at the site. They will hold a public meeting Friday at 8 a.m. at the Deschutes Public Library.

Shon Ray from the irrigation district said that for them, safety and liability are behind the decision to evict the campers. She said the district owns about 124 acres, and is currently looking to sell the property.

James Lewis, the Deschutes County property manger, agreed, saying there’s been significant issues and damage to the area.

“The public is invited for legal use, but there have been conflicts over these past few years related to many of the homeless camps. There have been folks that have been harassed, or dogs have been let loose to chase folks,” he said.

Lewis said the county wants people to be able to use the land for recreation, without the fear of conflict.

“The overall goal is not to penalize people. The goal is to protect the land, protect it for legal uses,” he said.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Redmond Police Department are tasked with serving the eviction notices. Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Garrison said they have responded to several conflicts, as well as fires started by campers in the area.

“The commissioners and the board have heard that from their constituency and the public, and they understand, and so obviously the line has finally been reached in the sand, and now the county is finally moving forward, and we’re acting as the enforcement arm of that,” he said.

Deputies will give notice to people on the land that they are trespassing, then Garrison said campers will have 24 hours to leave. Deputies plan on returning the following day to issue citations to, and possibly arrest, any remaining people.