Deschutes County commissioners approved the purchase of a triplex on SE Wilson Avenue in Bend to provide housing for clients of Adult Parole and Probation. The site aims to have its first residents moving in at the start of January 2024.
In August, county commissioners gave approval for the Adult Parole and Probation division to select a provider to purchase and operate a property that will create short-term shelter and long-term housing for male convicts and sex offenders.
The Request for proposal was awarded to Free on the Outside, a nonprofit with over 15 years of experience in offering transitional housing in Oregon. According to a report from the Dec. 6 meeting, about 25 men with sex offense conditions are chronically homeless, making it difficult for them to find housing, find employment or continue treatment.
The Adult Parole and Probation division was awarded just over $1 million in grant funds, as part of Gov. Kotek’s Emergency Order to expand low-barrier shelter capacity. According to a report, the final purchase price is not expected to exceed $825,000.
The property is 0.18 acres and includes three units. Free On The Outside plans to close on the property around Dec. 15. The units were occupied as of Dec. 6, but at least one tenant has agreed to vacate by Dec. 15 to allow for the closing.
The program hopes to provide housing for this population to create stability and increase public safety. The shelter would also make the process of supervision and support easier for adult parole and probation officers.
Free On The Outside and Deschutes County Community Justice handed out flyers to 25 residences near the southeast property on Nov. 27. The flyer, which detailed project goals and information, allows residents to contact Free On The Outside with any questions or concerns regarding the shelter.
According to the report, most occupants who received the flyer had no questions during the visit. “Staff from both agencies will monitor and respond to any additional feedback or questions,” read a statement from the Dec. 6 report.
This article appears in Dec 13, 2023 – Dec 25, 2024.
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“According to the report, most occupants who received the flyer had no questions during the visit.” This is because several of the neighboring units never received a flyer and these were not mailed to owners of neighboring properties. The flyers were also not bilingual and many of the residents in this area would have been able to better understand and discuss this information in Spanish. This project was very rushed and poses serious risks to the women and children living nearby. We understand these folks are better off housed and monitored than wandering the streets – but this is not the place with kids all over and Kiwanis park just 650 feet away. In just 6 days, the petition in opposition has gathered over 500 signatures, here’s the link… https://chng.it/BkdSqsfFGH