Proposal for homeless microshelter site in Dallas draws mixed community response

Hours after community opposition led to Monmouth church leaders in June backing off a plan to open a microshelter for the homeless, there was already a new plan in the works.

By the next day, Church at the Park had made an offer to buy a large lot in south Dallas.

The latest plan is still a long way from final – and a land use process stands in the way – but Church at the Park pastor and CEO DJ Vincent is hopeful the new location will work.

“We wouldn’t be going there if we didn’t think it was good for unsheltered folks, good for the community of Dallas and really thinking we’re going to make a big difference for families and individuals in rural Polk County,” Vincent said.

But plenty of people are not happy about it.

Proposal in Monmouth dies, another in Dallas starts

Earlier this year, Christ’s Church Methodist and Presbyterian United in Monmouth showed interest in hosting a site for 20 microshelters on an undeveloped piece of land that neighbored church property.

Church at the Park agreed to operate the project, as it is doing with similar microshelter locations in Salem.

That project was allocated more than $1.5 million in state funds through the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance. That money was part of $200 million allocated by the state Legislature to address homelessness and housing affordability.

The church received significant pushback from neighbors and people in the community. In June, the Church’s board voted to not move forward.

But the money was still there and the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance still had a goal of finding a site in rural Polk County for a microshelter site.

That’s when they entered into a contract to purchase the home at 1876 Holman Ave in Dallas. Vincent said the deal is pending receiving the required approvals from the city.

The .76-acre property has a 1,600-square-foot house with four bedrooms and one bathroom. It’s been on the market since December.

Though it’s in the Dallas city limits, Holman Avenue has a rural feel to it. It’s a gravel road without sidewalks and is barely wide enough for two cars to pass.

There are about a dozen homes along the road.

Surrounding the homes are auto shops, a wrecking yard and metal fabrication businesses.

Vincent said the concept Church at the Park intends in Dallas will be similar to the one discussed for Monmouth with five trailers containing microshelters with two beds each and one bathroom with each trailer.

He said the existing house would be used to provide services rather than for living space.

Vincent said Church at the Park also intends to do what it has at sites it is managing in Salem, having multiple staff members there at all times and transportation provided to residents.

He said there will be a priority in who will be taken in at the transitional shelter.

“We’re going to prioritize our vulnerability scale that starts with families with children and moves to women then to kind of elderly, then to those with medical needs, but with the option to serve those who are unsheltered,” he said.

Support and pushback have already begun

According to a news release by the city, the land needs to be rezoned to Community Services from industrial. That public process is not easy or quick.

The city said there are six steps the applicant will need to take before a decision is made by the city’s planning commission. Any decision could then be appealed to the City Council or the state’s land use board of appeals.

Vincent said Church at the Park has accomplished the first step, which is a pre-application conference with the city.

“The staff seemed very engaged in our pre-application meeting and we think they’ll be giving us all the information we need,” Vincent said.

Many of the remaining steps allow for public input.

People are already weighing in on the idea, even though Church at the Park hasn’t formally applied yet.

“Homelessness is a drain on our society,” John Nicholson, who lives in Dallas, told the City Council at its Aug. 7 meeting. “You can take a look at Portland, you can look at Salem, it’s trash everywhere, drugs in our neighborhood.”

Unlike the discussed site in Monmouth, the one in Dallas has brought comments from people on both sides of the issue, those who want it and those who don’t.

“I urge you all not to succumb to the fear-burdened narratives and extreme examples that discourage extending help to our neighbors in need,” said Tessa McCoy, a Dallas resident who said she was formerly homeless. “Instead, let’s face the reality and struggle faced by those in an emergency because homelessness is an emergency that we can all face.”

The City Council and planning commission have warned people that anything they say wouldn’t have a bearing on the land use decision. But people have been talking anyway.

“I’ve heard a lot of questions, a lot of detailed questions, a lot of people opposed and a lot of people in support of it, too,” said Jeremy Gordon, a Polk County commissioner and chair of PATHS. “But it ultimately is going to be a planning, a land use decision of the city of Dallas and I really respect their process.”

What's next?

In the past few weeks, dozens of signs have appeared in front of the rest of the houses along the street, all in opposition to any proposed homeless shelter.

Some are specific, with arrows pointing to the house. Others say that there aren’t enough support services in the county to support the number of people he church is proposing to house.

Vincent said Church at the Park has been active in discussing the project with people and groups that have shown interest in what they’re doing in Dallas.

“We have been going door to door kind of in concentric circles around the property. We have gone to recent local events like Crazy Days,” Vincent said. “We are doing outreach to any small group, church group, club and letting them know that we would be happy to just provide materials or even come speak in person.”

The $1.5 million the state has allocated towards the program has to be spent by Jan. 10.

Vincent said it could take that long before the program is up and running.

“If everything goes well, we’ll open by Jan. 10,” Vincent said.

Bill Poehler covers Marion and Polk County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Plan for homeless microshelter site in Dallas draws mixed response