TIGARD, Ore. — People packed into a Tigard church Tuesday night to hear more about a proposed program to help homeless people. The situation became heated as many neighbors expressed their fears and frustrations to the nonprofit working to make it happen, Just Compassion.
The Washington County nonprofit's Safe Parking Program aims to provide a handful of people living in their cars a safe and discreet place to park while they work to get them back on their feet and into permanent housing. There are already five non-disclosed parking areas in Beaverton, according to the director. Although the nonprofit believes no one should have to live in their vehicle, having a place to park helps individuals stabilize their lives and gain better access to services.
Tuesday night's informational meeting at Christ the King Lutheran Church was slated for an hour, but ran much longer. Director Vernon Baker explained how the program was limited to three vehicles in the space and that each participant would undergo a thorough background check. Anyone found in violation of Just Compassion's rules would be removed from the program.
"Our intended Safe Parking sites in the Tigard area would hold no more than two to three vehicles," Baker said. "Passenger vehicles and vans. But no trailers, no RVs and no abandoned vehicles."
Employees of the parking program explained reiterated the regulations for people interested in participating.
"I wish that it would be heard that this isn't just a free for all," said Ellie Hofer, who works with the program. "There's a contract. There's rules and regulations."
Although the room included some supporters, most people who showed up voiced serious concerns.
"(The meeting) felt very tightly controlled," said Pam, who has lived in Tigard for 25 years. "It's an awkward situation because you want to be compassionate, and you want to feel like you're open-minded and helpful. The concerns had to do with safety, primarily."
Some expressed worries about operating such a program at the site of a preschool, hoping that it would only start once the school year ended. Others pressed the nonprofit on security and whether there would be more in the residential area. Many feared that a small group of homeless people would lead to more moving into the area. Several said they were frustrated that they were hearing about this program and plan for the first time Tuesday night.
The contentious discussion grew even more heated at points throughout the night, devolving into shouting at times.
"We know our neighbors, and now we're going to be in a situation where we don't know who's here, who is living here, who is influencing just the area. So, it's unsettling," Pam said.
Currently, there is no set timeline for the program in Tigard. There will be a virtual Zoom meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1.