Welcoming this Winter’s Warming Shelter to the BCD
This year hasn’t been easy on anyone. No matter a person's profession, location, or support network, the weight of the pandemic has impacted every sector of society. Many of us are now faced with the reality that this holiday season won’t be characterized by large gatherings with loved ones, but instead with virtual toasts and long-distance calls. Nonetheless, it’s a gift to have a home-away-from-home to miss, a hot meal to share, or a family to FaceTime.
There are folks living in our community who don’t have a home to keep them warm or a support system to help them through this difficult time. On November 10, when temperatures hit near freezing and winds in Bend reached up to 20 mph, a member of our community passed away in a parking lot. His name was David Savory, and his death serves as a tragic reminder of the repercussions of turning a blind eye to the starkly underserved homeless community. Savory was on the waitlist for several shelters in the area, but due to the lack of options in Bend compounded by Covid-19 restrictions, he was left with nowhere to go. That is unacceptable.
Addressing our community’s failings, and how they lead so many to be homeless and without the services they need, has been a priority for the BCD initiative since day one. Many in the houseless community lived in the Bend Central District for years before it was identified as an area to be redeveloped. We are committed to working toward long-term, compassionate solutions to meet the needs of people who find themselves in this situation, rather than simply relocating or attempting to avoid the issue.
Bend has few low-barrier options for homeless people. It does not have a navigation center, drop-in center, or permanent warming shelter. When the City of Bend announced a partnership with Shepard’s House to run a warming shelter in the Bend Central District this winter, we were overjoyed. The shelter will host up to 70 people each night through March.
More information about the warming shelter here: https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/25/bend-oregon-homeless-weather-shelter/
This is just one temporary solution. As we move through these troubling times, we ask that our community join us in advocating for compassionate support and a better social safety net. Here are some ways you can help aid our most vulnerable neighbors this holiday season:
Write to Bend City Council at council@bendoregon.gov to support more funding for homeless services.
Sign up for the Meal Train to provide dinner for warming shelter residents: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/okmq8d?fbclid=IwAR3wVfcuSlovW7JMI1eVHYD5wBPCTkYIBBL5MHndxmOSGK7k2MCDf9OrefQ
Donate to Homeless Service Providers: https://cohomeless.org/donate/
“This neighborhood specifically is like a comfort zone. It’s where I used to live. I lived right here under the bridge. I was there for a year and a half, so I come here for comfort.”