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Residents press county to explain why proposed cabins won’t house families
Summary
Residents repeatedly asked why the proposed low‑barrier program excludes families; county staff said families may access hotel‑placement options but the Troy Street design targets individuals and couples without cars and focuses on rapid housing navigation and behavioral health supports.
Multiple speakers asked why the Troy Street cabins would not accept families, noting the county had previously described cabin programs as assisting working families and seniors. One resident asked, “Can we prioritize the 200 homeless children in our school district?” and another asked why families would be directed into hotels rather than the tiny‑cabin model. County staff said the proposed model was designed for individuals and couples without cars and that hotel placement and housing vouchers could be used for families who need a different setting.
Supporters and some council members argued that low‑barrier models paired with case management, housing navigation and behavioral‑health services can help people exit homelessness and reduce encampments. Speakers with lived experience described screening, bag searches and exit policies for observed drug use in low‑barrier settings and said supportive services were essential to success. The council asked staff to provide comparative outcomes from local pilot projects and to clarify eligibility rules and voucher support in writing.
