Residents and service providers press council on homelessness outreach and open drug activity

During the second public comment period, community members and outreach volunteers urged the council to increase services and coordination for people experiencing homelessness and to address open drug dealing in parts of town.

Susan Hilburn, an outreach volunteer, reported conducting a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) count that returned 55 entries and said the figure likely understates the size of the homeless population. Hilburn described collaboration with local outreach groups — Rediscovery, PBH and Reflections — and said more tiny homes and streamlined approval processes are needed to move people indoors. “We need to be doing much more,” she said.

Resident Susie Blake said the Cherry Hill neighborhood around Safeway and the health department parking lot has “rampant drug dealing” with open use, delivery activity at curbside and discarded drug paraphernalia in alleys. Blake said the situation imposes safety risks for both housed residents and people living outside and called on the city to act rather than “gaslight” the public.

Speakers asked the council to assess whether outreach and emergency-response staffing are sufficient, to pursue shelter and tiny-home options and to address reported open dealing near service sites. City staff did not announce new funding or policy changes at the meeting; the comments were entered into the public record and will inform staff follow-up.