ODOT’s homeless right of way cleanups cost $10,000 in taxpayer money a day

(Update: Adding video, comments from ODOT official, nearby resident)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Homeless camps in the public rights of way have been a growing focus and source of concern around Central Oregon cities. ODOT has contracted to clean up and remove the camps from its rights of way every few months, costing an estimated $10,000 a day in taxpayer money.

The cost includes equipment, ODOT crew, and a hazardous waste team. If there are large items at the camps, an excavator will be used.

NewsChannel 21 reached out the the company that handles hazardous waste, but they declined to comment.

Many of the camps, ODOT returns to clean and clear multiple times as they re-emerge, when people return to the locations, citing safety and health issues.

Personal items that are removed will be held in a facility for 30 days for owners to pick up. But many of those items are never picked up, leading to costs to dispose of them.

"Everything that we come across in camps in the right-of-way area, we either determine if that's trash or if it's a personal belonging," ODOT Region 4 Public Information Officer Kacey Davey said. "If it's a personal belongings, we inventory every item and store it on site at the facility for 30 days."

A resident who recently moved to a place across from the Colorado Avenue encampment said he was warned about the camp.

"I was told to make sure I have renters insurance," he said. "I was told to make sure I lock everything up because of the camp."

The sweeps largely focus on five areas off Highway 97. Residents of those camps are required to receive advance notice of the cleanups.