Nonprofit presenters ask Josephine County to consider leased site at 1798 SE N Street for 24/7 managed stabilization center

Presenters representing local nonprofits and faith-based recovery programs asked the Josephine County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 to consider leasing county-owned property at 1798 SE N Street in Grants Pass for a 24-hour managed stabilization center, intended as an alternative to unmanaged downtown encampments.

The presenters said the proposed site would be fenced, lit and staffed 24/7; would use modular units (not tents); and would include screening, behavior agreements for participants, coordinated case management, links to addiction and mental-health services, and monthly community advisory meetings for neighbors. They said the project would aim to move people into treatment and housing rather than maintain encampments.

The proposal’s supporters described an initial budget figure of about $3,000,000 to launch the site, said a city grant of about $1,200,000 was identified as one near-term revenue source, and said additional state, federal and private funding partners were expected to be pursued. Presenters named several models and partners by example, including Community Solutions, Built for Zero, Road’s Retreat and U-Turn for Christ, and said lessons from those programs informed their plans.

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