Newberg, OR. – Official Release: The City of Newberg is deactivating its temporary campsite for unhoused persons effective Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024. The activation of the campsite near Sportsman’s Airpark was necessitated by the news that the Community Wellness Collective temporary church shelter was due to cease operations at the end of June. The city would like to thank CWC for its efforts to date to shelter unhoused persons through the winter.
The decision to cease campsite operations is based upon two factors.
First, there has recently been a change in the legal framework with the Supreme Court striking down the Grants Pass decision[1] as being out of alignment with the substance of the eighth amendment of the Constitution. This legal change was also weighed in the decision to shut down the temporary campsite.
Secondly and more importantly the NDPD Police Chief has been able to clarify the method by which officers can help induct individuals experiencing homelessness into the YCAP shelter on College Street, and that shelter is now operating. A dialog with YCAP has also recently revealed that there will be additional shelter options from YCAP, including sheltering in a local motel. Our police officers will therefore be able to help individuals experiencing homelessness to enter YCAP’s navigation system.