Redmond, OR – The City of Redmond is evaluating a proposed ordinance change that would allow micro-shelter units at safe parking sites, expanding the city’s current program that only permits vehicles to park in designated spaces for unhoused individuals. The move is aimed at providing additional temporary shelter options for those in need, but some city councilors worry it could shift the program from temporary to more permanent solutions.
Redmond’s safe parking program, which has been operating for three years, currently offers about 33 parking spots within city limits. The program allows individuals experiencing homelessness to live in their vehicles while having access to services and case management. The addition of micro-shelters, sometimes referred to as pod shelters, could offer an alternative to those without vehicles or those in unreliable RVs, providing them with a safer, more weather-resistant living space.
The idea was first introduced during a city council meeting on November 26, and continued discussions have taken place in subsequent meetings. Proponents, including Rick Russell, executive director of Mountain View Community Development, the nonprofit running the program, believe that micro-shelters could help individuals transition out of unsafe living conditions and move toward stable housing.
“These are temporary shelters,” Russell explained. “The idea is not to create permanent housing, but to provide a place for people to get out of the weather and have a more stable environment while they work toward finding a permanent solution.”
Mountain View Community Development has already encountered individuals in the safe parking program who would benefit from pod shelters, including those without vehicles or those with RVs in poor condition. Russell highlighted that when such individuals are ready to transition out of their vehicles, the chances of successfully moving toward stable housing increase significantly.
Other cities in the region, such as Bend, have already incorporated micro-shelters into their safe parking programs. Bend Church, for example, has provided pod shelters on its property for over two years, successfully offering temporary housing for people who are then able to move into permanent homes.
“We’ve had zero problems with our people,” said Jen Stuart, lead pastor at Bend Church. “Multiple individuals have found housing after being here, and we’ve seen firsthand that this model works.”
The City of Redmond is also considering the urgency of the situation, as there is a limited amount of funding available for micro-shelters. In June, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek approved a $1 million shelter pod funding allocation for Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council. As of January, approximately $450,000 remains of that funding, which is set to expire in June. Russell has urged the city to take advantage of this opportunity before the funds run out.
During a January 6 work session, Redmond city councilors expressed both support and concern. Some acknowledged the potential benefits of the micro-shelter option, while others worried that allowing these units could inadvertently shift the program from a temporary solution to a more permanent one. Councilors emphasized the need to carefully define the parameters of the ordinance and ensure that it aligns with the city’s overall housing and homelessness strategies.
“We want to make sure we’re creating a solution that remains temporary, as intended,” said one council member. “But we also want to make sure we’re being as helpful as we can to those in need.”
The city council plans to continue discussions on the proposal and aims to make a decision in the coming weeks. In the meantime, advocates for the micro-shelter expansion remain hopeful that the change will improve outcomes for Redmond’s unhoused population, providing them with more opportunities to stabilize and eventually transition into permanent housing.
