SILVERTON — A church in Silverton is proposing to build cottages in its parking lot to temporarily house homeless women.
The proposal by St. Edward's Episcopal Church is far from becoming reality, but is already raising support and backlash.
“It’s literally the least we can do, but it’s a start,” Sarah White of Silverton Warming Center said at a public meeting Thursday.
The program in Silverton is being modeled on what Episcopal Church of the Resurrection of Eugene has been doing the past five years .
The four proposed cottages would each shelter one single woman over the age of 18. The women would be referred by agencies and be able to pass a background check.
The women would have to comply with a code of conduct including no drinking, smoking or doing drugs, submit to a urine analysis and set and meet weekly goals.
“The goal that we have for our pilot program is to have four women transition to permanent housing in the first year,” said Rev. Shana McCauley of St. Edward’s.
The buildings would measure 8 feet by 8 feet, have a bed and a desk.
But they would not have plumbing, power, heating or air conditioning.
The church would remodel and section off part of its kitchen and a restroom for use by the women. That area would have its own lock and be available to the cottage residents 24 hours a day.
“I think this is a worthwhile humanitarian gesture, but I am concerned about the lack of infrastructure,” said Chris Cooper, a Silverton resident.
How many homeless currently reside in Silverton is hard to track.
The most recent official count showed 11 homeless people living in Silverton, but there were 29 people who came to warming shelters in town this winter and the Silver Falls School District had 69 students who identified as homeless in the 2016-17 school year.
According to Kenneth Houghton of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, there are 38 emergency beds designated for single women in Marion County.
“I would just say the homeless are here, you just don’t see them,” Silverton police chief Jeff Fossholm said.
The main concern from neighbors is how the influx of homeless would affect their community of beautiful homes with immaculate lawns.
“I know what happens when homeless people come into neighborhoods. I do not want homeless people living here,” said Christine Rasmussen, a Silverton resident.
One neighbor of the church said he has had homeless people living outside of his house at different times and they didn’t cause problems in the neighborhood.
And the church hosted 14 homeless people last winter with no problems.
“The people who are concerned about this are coming from a beautiful place,” said Silverton resident Summer Sheldon.
Former Silverton mayor Stu Rasmussen suggested an alternative to the church’s plan.
He pointed out that many Silverton residents are older empty nesters with spare rooms in their homes.
Rasmussen suggested a room share or community-wide shelter program as an alternative to small shelters could be a better way to go about helping the homeless population.
“I’m surprised that we’re not being more creative,” Stu Rasmussen said. “You’re asking this neighborhood to take them in.”
The Silverton City Council would have to approve a change in zoning to allow the church to have the pods.
The Planning Commission is working on the language of a proposed code change. The city council would then have to approve any changes.
“Code changes are not an easy thing to do,” said Gene Oster, an insurance agent in Silverton. “This process is months, maybe even years getting to where we have these pods. Nothing is guaranteed, even if the city was to pass this.”