THE DALLES, Ore. — On Friday afternoon, a popular day center and lifeline for homeless people in The Dalles temporarily closed its doors over its negative effect on the surrounding neighborhood and violation of a unique city ordinance.
For nearly 40 years, the nonprofit Saint Vincent de Paul has run the day center downtown in The Dalles on West 3rd Street. It’s become a second home to those living outside.
“It’s very important. That’s how we get our clothes; that’s how we’re able to stay clean; that’s how we’re able to get our food,” said Michelle Daniels, who’s been on the streets for a year.
Five months ago, the city of the Dalles told Saint Vincent’s that their day center was creating a “public nuisance” and in violation of a city ordinance that requires businesses to be responsible for much of what happens within 300 feet of their building — an area for the day center that’s often lined with tents.
“It’s way out of control these days,” said Cameron Larsen, who lives near the center. “There are feces everywhere. I try to walk my dogs every day, and I have to pull him away from it. We’ve had people in our house. I’ve been attacked. There’s screaming all night; we’ve heard women being raped in the alley."
Larsen said it never ends despite his calls to police: "Oh, so many times hundreds of times a year, I call them,” he added.
“We had someone break into our house at about 10 a.m. and stayed in our house all day long until 6 p.m. when we came home from work,” said another woman who didn’t want to be identified but also lives nearby. “There are times that we are literally trapped on our little cul-de-sac street here … instead of it being a paradise for us and our children, this is a hell.”
Those at Saint Vincent de Paul’s said in a statement they sent a list of suggestions to the city of how they could address the problems, but the city found their suggestions insufficient and ended up filing the “nuisance claim” in court.
“The plan that they submitted was reviewed by our chief of police and was found to lack concrete action. There were a lot of 'we could do this; we could possibly do this; we wanted to see definite action a concrete progress moving forward,'” said Matthew Klebes, the Dalles city manager.
So, on Friday afternoon, the day center shut down.
“I think it’s a bunch of bogus. What are we going to do? How are we going to eat?” said one homeless woman in apparent distress.
“We’re here out on the streets in the rain and the cold, and there’s no help available now,” added Daniels.
Saint Vincent’s said in a statement that the decision to close was difficult but necessary for them to negotiate with the city and hopefully avoid a costly legal trial.
“The main issue and focus of our action is really around those nuisance crimes,” said Klebes.
“I’m not cold-hearted. I don’t want to see people suffer, but it shouldn’t be in a neighborhood. There needs to be some sort of balance,” said Larsen.
“We still need to be fed. We’re still human beings. We’re struggling through life,” added Faith.
The city is pausing its litigation while they sit down with Saint Vincent’s to try and figure out a way forward.
As for the homeless people, there are other resources in town: Saint Vincent’s also runs a food pantry and thrift store a few streets away, and that will continue to operate. But as for an immediate, warm place to go during the day, that will no longer exist — at least, for now.