Bend Church asks advisory committee for $10,000 to buy tents, sleeping bags and basic supplies

Pat Luce and Leslie Hopper, co‑coordinators for Open Door Ministries at Bend Church, told the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee they are requesting $10,000 from the city’s block‑grant program to purchase immediate needs for people without a physical address.

Luce described Bend Church’s services, which include mail service for about 300 people without a physical address, distribution of water, snacks, clothing, blankets, sleeping bags and emergency assistance for utilities and shelter. The presenters said volunteers operate the program and that the church provided $150,000 in seed money to help start Central Oregon Villages, an outdoor congregate site.

Luce and Hopper said prior purchases included 28 sturdy tents and Kelty sleeping bags bought through REI outlet and other stores. Committee members asked about procurement and distribution procedures; Luce said volunteers compared prices across retailers and used forms developed with staff to record recipients and basic demographic information. She said the group distributed initial supplies in about five to six weeks, and that donations continue to arrive.

Committee members asked whether the group could accept other funding sources; the presenters said they could accept CICT (sic) funds instead of CDBG. When asked about administrative burdens, Luce said volunteers handled the reporting and that Melissa from city staff helped twice to support paperwork and processes.

The presentation concluded with committee members thanking Bend Church for ongoing services and confirming interest in the request.