Housing

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Grants Pass v. Johnson, the Southern Oregon case that could have widespread implications for how cities can regulate homelessness.

The repercussions could have national implications for how cities can regulate homelessness.

The closure is happening because the city turned down over $2 million in state funding to keep it open.

AllCare Health launched a project to document the experiences of homeless people across Southwestern Oregon. Julie Akins is the senior housing director for the health care organization and a former mayor of Ashland. JPR’s Jane Vaughan recently spoke with Akins about what she’s learned in our region.

The decision could have major impacts on public services and growth in the county.

The highest court in the land will soon decide how much leeway cities and counties have in offsetting new construction with fees to pay for infrastructure.

The following are headlines from a few local news sites on a recent Sunday. In Ashland: “City Council to vote on camping ordinance, consider funding to extend emergency shelter operation.” In Medford: “Medford council worries about draining last federal dollars to help homeless people.” In Grants Pass: “Parents, superintendent want fence between school and homeless campers.” Besides all being about homelessness, there’s another similarity in these stories. None talked about the lack of housing in the Rogue Valley.

The state of Oregon recently approved Ashland’s Housing Production Strategy, which is required by legislation passed in 2019.

Around a hundred Ashland residents brought concerns to a neighborhood meeting Thursday night about a new homeless shelter the city plans to open in November.

California cities of every size lack shelter beds for the state’s growing homeless population. A new bill would force local governments to do more, and punish ones that don’t plan housing for homeless Californians.

Several cities in the Rogue Valley are hosting an open house Thursday night about new rules to promote walkable communities.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose administration is struggling to contain a worsening homelessness crisis despite record spending, is trying something bold: tapping federal health care funding to cover rent for homeless people and those at risk of losing their housing.