Community Outreach
Outreach is where the vision for Oasis Village began and it will continue to be an important part of the Oasis vision once the village is open.
We view outreach as a critical component of homeless services. Through outreach, service providers and volunteers are able to engage with individuals experiencing homelessness, many of whom are disconnected from support networks or unaware of available resources. They are able assess immediate needs, provide on-the-spot assistance, and establish relationships built on trust, fostering individuals' willingness to accept further assistance. These relationships are a vital link between homeless individuals and long-term support services, facilitating connections to shelter, housing, healthcare, employment assistance, counseling, and treatment services. The goal of outreach and the goal of Oasis Village is to support the transition from homelessness to stability and self-sufficiency.
Below, we share a few of the many stories of outreach in our community.
Colleen Thomas
BS, QmHA | Homeless Outreach Services Supervisor Deschutes County Behavioral Health
Over the last several years I have had the opportunity to see what started out as a conversation and dream of a low barrier shelter for residents of Redmond, come to fruition and turn into what will be an oasis of dignified services and shelter for some of our communities most vulnerable. Offering a low barrier shelter village will fill a much-needed gap within the continuum of housing options for those living unsheltered.
The vision and goal behind Oasis Village comes from the belief that all individuals should have opportunity and choice for a dignified place to call home. The Oasis Village concept is not only an opportunity for our community to embrace this vision, but to truly create a safe place for individuals to have their basic needs met. How we address homelessness cannot be viewed as a one size fits all approach as it is a complex systemic issue. By offering shelter alternatives such as Oasis Village, those conducting outreach and those receiving services will have the tools and resources necessary to impact change. As an outreach worker for years, I could only have imagined the ability to offer a low barrier shelter to my clients. Having Oasis Village as a resource for those living amongst the junipers means that we are providing individuals the opportunity to make a choice when taking the next steps in their journey to self-sufficiency. This gives me hope that their unique needs will be met, in turn resulting in greater success.
The culmination of what did start out as a conversation while conducting outreach on a blustery Wednesday morning on Antler Ave has been a gift to be a part of. This shelter opportunity will truly be an oasis for all those receiving services and I could not be more proud of the work and intention being poured into this Village.
Margaret King
A note on outreach from Secretary of Jericho Road
I am excited to be involved with Jericho Road who serves the community of houseless individuals and those financially struggling. Currently, I serve as a board member and am active in weekly outreach to local Redmond camps. My main responsibility is to gather and organize clothing donations to distribute to people who need them. I am proud to support people in this capacity. Being part of a community to me means seeing a need and working to fill that need.
Over the last nine years, I have been actively volunteering with houseless folks in both Redmond and Bend. I have had the opportunity to serve in many ways; Bend’s Community Center (Feed the Hungry/Keep ‘Em Warm program), Bend Day Center (clothing room organizer), Redmond St. Vincent De Paul’s food pantry, Cold Weather Shelter, Beulah’s Place, and Jericho Table. These opportunities helped me get to know the folks and their needs. Connecting with people and creating trusting relationships have helped me understand the wide variety of needs people have. Every person has a story unique to their own travels and choices.
Both cities have locations for people to get some basic services and shelter during cold weather. A plan for the future is what is missing. Affordable housing is not really affordable to hard-working people with financial challenges. I have met many folks with differing needs, struggling to make it through one day at a time. I have been blessed to be able to assist people with getting IDs, SS cards, physical addresses and also connect people with specific nonprofits for more specialized assistance. I have worked alongside other service providers with the same objective of getting people back into our local communities and out of the dirt. People need a safe place to live in order to reclaim their lives, one piece at a time. I believe the Oasis Village can be the pathway to bring people out of houselessness and into housing. The plans to provide a stable living space that is safe and secure including wrap-around supportive services will provide a framework to assist people in their plans to improve their lives.
Ken Cardwell
A note on outreach from the Director of Jericho Table
The homeless have been in the Redmond area for a long time. I remember gathering supplies, water propane, clothes, and other essentials and heading out on the roads leading to their camps. This was around 2009. Usually, a friend and I would drive out together in his old beat-up diesel pick-up truck.
In the beginning, I was apprehensive. I had heard stories of felons, druggies, and unfriendly dogs. But I knew I was helping them, and hopefully, they realized this too. Eventually, I got to know many of them by their first name and their stories. Some were thriving, and some were barely hanging on. I remember three college-age people who had no idea how to camp, cook, or fend for themselves. We brought them a lot of supplies and offered some advice. On the other hand, I knew two older gentlemen that had built quite a “homestead” with a shack holding a pot-bellied stove and a bunk. They had an outdoor kitchen and a partial roof. They seemed to be happy and didn’t want to see any other life.
Then I would come across people that had just lost their job or their house and were hoping to move back into a neighborhood as soon as they could get some money together. These people may have had just one instance of bad luck that landed them there, and you could tell they were determined to reverse their situation as soon as possible.
These situations have not changed much, but we do see more people now. There are fewer families; we see mostly couples or single individuals. They used to be located in one general area but are now scattered out over a larger area. Mostly in BLM and city property. They still need our help, they still need to be treated fairly, and most of all, they need a safer place to stay.
I treat each homeless person as if I could easily land in their shoes with a bit of bad luck, and I always have compassion for their situation. I treat them as fellow neighbors, and they realize this through friendship and honesty. I have learned more about myself because of them.
My hope is that the people who have the desire can get out of the dirt and into a more stable, safe place. Stealing is rampant, and trust is low these days. If they were located in a safer environment, they would have a better chance to move forward and make something of their lives.