Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor
An ongoing issue in Monmouth’s neighboring city of Salem, aspects of homelessness are beginning to become apparent here, as well, with several instances of homeless and transient camping observed in the Monmouth-Independence area.
According to an article published by the Polk County Itemizer-Observer on Dec. 2, language has been changed to the exclusion ordinance in order to discourage both vandalism to city property, as well as homeless camps from setting up. Despite this, the ordinance changes are not explicitly anti-camping, and according to Monmouth’s interim City Manager, Chad Olsen, the city has no plans to design anti-homeless protocols.
“I’ve seen instances, but I wouldn’t categorize homelessness as an issue in Monmouth,” said Olsen, citing a few occasions where people camped on city property and one where a transient person was travelling through town.
“Typically, you would see more of an issue in terms of homeless or transient populations in the county seat, because we just don’t have the services here to provide for those groups,” Olsen stated.
Despite Olsen not anticipating homelessness becoming an issue, a warming center has opened in Monmouth, and the council is currently looking at creating a group with a set of bylaws eligible to become part of the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance. The group would make a request to Housing and Urban Development — which allocates funds across the state for eligible groups — and is looking to become an independent organization, according to Olsen.
Olsen also assures that homelessness is on the City Council’s radar as a potential issue and that there are currently discussions being had about what strategies to utilize in the future.
Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu
