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ASHLAND, Ore. — Southern Oregon Housing for All (SOHFA) – a coalition of community advocates and tenants who fight for everyone to have a place to call home – is pressing Ashland City to release 2200 Ashland St. as a homeless shelter now that the winter months are approaching.
The Purpose of the Property is to House the Homeless
Former Mayor Julie Akins says: “We need to open 2200 Ashland St. as a homeless shelter 24/7. The city was given a grant to buy the property to use as a homeless shelter…that’s what it’s supposed to be, and that’s what we are committed to.”
SOHFA invited the community to a meeting earlier this week to discuss the problems surrounding the homeless population.
Preparing for the cold months ahead, the organization met recently with Ashland Mayor, Tonya Graham, requesting two pallet houses owned by the city for use as storage at the homeless night lawn facility. SOHFA is awaiting a reply.
Meanwhile, the City Council is organizing forums to discuss the potential uses of 2200 Ashland St., and a member of the Ad Hoc Committee, Avram Sacks, has assured that all the proposals under consideration will benefit the homeless population.
This week’s SOHFA meeting was attended by members of the homeless community who pointed out the drawbacks they face daily.
Homeless Man Says It’s Challenging to Learn Job Skills and Keep Clean
Augustine Willis told the meeting that, as a homeless man, it is challenging to learn new job skills while keeping clean…’when you can’t even get a shower.’
Becca Battaglia, a resident of the night lawn campsite behind Ashland Police Headquarters, appealed to the city to provide the homeless with better resources such as on-site storage, laundry facilities, and showers.
In a statement, SOHFA says immediate action must be taken to provide shelter for homeless people during the upcoming cold and wet winter months.
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