I am a resident of Larkspur, Bend, Oregon. Recently, it came to my attention that our local government is planning to establish transitional housing, for convicted 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree sex offenders (10-15 at a time (50 a year) at 640 – 652 SE Wilson Avenue. 

This location is alarmingly close to several parks and schools - less than 1000 feet away from two Bend Parks and Recreation facilities, and less than a 100 yards from over a dozen children. 

The nonprofit responsible went door to door on November 27, 2023. Their outreach included six triplexes, three duplexes, and one single residence. Of which I can verify at least 9 of those residents (likely more), never received any information regarding the matter. Three families would have needed a bilingual flyer copy, that was not provided. The people who did receive something were under the impression it was to be a sober living house, due to the misleading information in the flyer itself.

I recently learned that as of 2022, shelters were changed from a conditional use (requiring public notice/comment) to an outright permitted use in residential zones as a part of the shelter code update. In doing so, eliminated the requirement to notify the public of important decisions such as this. 

The director of Deschutes County Community Justice has stated that they needed a location "that wasn’t like right next to a park or right next to a school." However, the site chosen is uncomfortably close for many residents who value the safety and tranquility of our neighborhood.

The county states that the hosing market in Bend is so tight, they had limited options. They were also “under the gun” with their grant source, they had limited time for notifications. However, that does not justify placing these facilities in the middle of a residential neighborhood.  The location of this facility imposes a risk to the families and children living in this neighborhood which is unacceptable.

We compassionately understand the need to house these individuals, but believe there are more appropriate locations that would not potentially disrupt the peace in areas where children frequently play and learn. We urge Deschutes County Community Justice to reconsider their decision on this matter.

In a recent meeting with Deevy Holcomb, Director of Deschutes County Justice. She stated, they believe their ability to screen individuals is very good. But also said, they have never had a project like this before. There is no guarantee for it’s success, and without any type of “neighborhood warranty” the liability falls solely on the neighbors.

Larkspur is one of the most dense neighborhoods in the city of Bend. Having a concentrated number of individuals with backgrounds such as these justice involved individuals, is simply too high of a risk to take.

As of today, Wednesday February 7th, 2024. Our current proposals are as follows:

1. Sell the property & return the grant funds 
2. Relocate the parolee program to more suitable location(s) 
3. Repurpose the property for women & children (or other similarly harmless populations in need of housing)

We have asked the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners to bring the topic back to their meeting agenda as quickly as possible, to reconsider other options. 

Please join us in protecting our community's peaceful environment by signing this petition to reconsider the approved transitional housing at 640 – 652 SE Wilson Avenue.

A new website has been created using public information. We hope it helps you form your own opinion, please check it out.

There is much bigger picture here and it’s one I think everyone should be aware of. The first thing you will notice after clicking on the website is the alarmingly high number of transitional facilities, for people in need, in the southeast quadrant a Bend. We believe these programs should be equally spread out in our city. Choosing the same area again and again, is doing more damage than good.

https://bendtemphousing.weebly.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above is a cartoon submitted 02/01/2024 by a Larkspur Neighbor. Below is a comment from an adjacent neighbor and it's absolutely heartbreaking.  This was sent to Director Holcomb of Deschutes County Community Justice, and all three Deschutes County Commissioners on January 29, 2024.

 

Good Morning,

I am honestly shocked this housing nightmare is still an on going discussion. After I had emailed Phil Chang and I believe two of the other commissioners, and received his disregarding and honestly hurtful response I was going to just walk away from this. This situation has put on so much stress to my family. I’m not sure Deevy if you know, but I am a single mother to two absolutely stunningly beautiful daughters. This triplex that apparently is a great location to house level two and three sex offenders is right next door to the triplex I live in. The unit stairs into my backyard. The backyard I am killing myself to pay for to provide a semi-nice life for my children. That is completely just stripped and taken away from me, we will never be able to play in the backyard again. You are wanting to run through 40 to 50 different men level two and three sex offenders who have ruined someone’s life. I am utterly shocked and disgusted. You find that to be a good idea to put around a community with families and children??

My days will now be spent wonder, are those men going be knowing when I’m coming and going?! Are they watching if I have both my kids? Do I not have my oldest daughter, is she home alone because she’s old enough and can be?  Well I guess that doesn’t matter she will no longer feel comfortable to ever stay home alone again. You have just stripped any amount of safety that we have felt in this home. Phil Chang’s response about “having them next-door or not, my neighborhood will not be any safer” is the biggest lie I have ever heard. Is that what you tell yourselves to sleep better at night? How would you feel if this was going right next-door to you with your young children? How can you sit back and tell me putting up to 50 different men cycling through that house each year is not changing the safety dynamic of the neighborhood.. I have now up to 50 different men with eyes on both me and my daughters. YOU are choosing to put up to 50 different men running through that house each year that can now daily see my children.

As I’m reading through this lovely FAQ link, there’s a statement in there and I quote

“Additionally, if individuals are not able to agree to house rules this property will not be an option for them.”

These are sex offenders… They DID NOT feel the need to follow any rules, any laws, they did not care about the person that they were victimizing. But now it’s suppose to make us feel better that they are going to sign some paper with  “rules” they have to abide to because all of a sudden they’re a completely changed person. Utterly so shocked and so disappointed in our system that instead of fighting for the protection of all of these innocent children, you are fighting to make sex offenders feel better and give them the comfort and second chance that they deserve. These are grown men, adults, they knew exactly what they were doing and chose to do it, knowing the consequences. How you are not fighting to keep these men as far away from children, parks,  schools, a baseball field loaded with families and children will forever blow my mind.

Go put them across from the sheriff station. Go do anything else other than make an entire community turn upside down. DO BETTER DESCHUTES COUNTY.
[ Signed,
J. M. ]

This facility must be relocated immediately. Community Justice for Larkspur Neighborhood NOW.

 

Click on the link below for more details in the original article, where I first read about this situation. 

https://centraloregondaily.com/bend-transitional-halfway-house-sex-crime-felons/