An Oregon county has eradicated homeless encampments after putting people sleeping rough in a village of 90 people.
Washington County spent millions on the system to move homeless people into subsidized housing, including new tiny houses.
Over the past two years, the majority of the homeless services tax has been spent building 90 pods in three locations.
Extension workers have, according to local reportshas been able to eliminate seven large and medium-sized camps.
But the new homeless village has sparked outrage among some as it is located in the middle of a housing estate with young families.
Over the past two years, the majority of Washington County’s metropolitan homeless services tax has been spent building 90 tiny houses in three locations across the county and expanding its shelter network.
Pod structures are based on tiny house models, the popularity of which has skyrocketed across the United States in the last decade.
The county has spent about 40 percent of the $86 million in Metro homeless tax revenue it allocated for this fiscal year, which ends in June.
But not everyone is happy with the arrangements the county is making to get most of its hundreds of homeless residents off the streets.
Capsule villages have to go somewhere, and one of the locations selected for a small village was Aloha, Oregon, on the grounds of the Aloha United Methodist Church.
The area is largely populated by the county’s older population, some of whom are concerned about neighborhood disruptions and potential safety issues.
“If someone poses a potential danger, we have a right to know for our own safety,” said Jim Wassgren, who has lived in the area for 25 years. ABC15.
‘We have invested in many cameras. We have also purchased a security (system) for the house,’ said Allen Ballantyne, who lives a few doors from the church.
“Setting up a homeless encampment in a frankly pretty geriatric neighborhood… with a lot of seniors and young families living here, right in the middle of that, couldn’t seem like the worst idea to me,” he said.
The pod village, which opened in February, is made up of 30 pods that are intended to be temporary shelters for homeless people.
The area is surrounded by a wooden fence and there is only one entrance and exit to the area.
It’s what’s called a “low barrier” shelter, meaning people won’t be drug tested or required to participate in certain programs to qualify for a module.
However, those selected to live in pods will have gone through a rigorous screening process, according to Washington County Department of Housing Services administrators.
Similar structures have been erected in neighboring Oregon cities, such as Portland, where the homeless population has increased in recent years.
One of those administrators said the county sheriff’s office will work with the city to keep the village and surrounding area safe, and that security will be present at all times.
“I guess my message is that anyone who has concerns should come to the opening of this program with an open mind,” he said.
However, longtime residents remain cautious and say they will remain vigilant as the community welcomes residents to the 30 units.
‘Well, we are very worried. We constantly hear horror stories about what’s happening in other areas and I’ve been to some of them and they don’t look good,” Ballantyne said.
‘We hope for the best in this place. The county has assured us that they have everything under control, but we are very skeptical.