Examples of houseless communities

Temporary Shelter Communities (by Ree H)

Temporary shelter communities will fill three needs; spaces for people being swept to go to;  spaces for people to be and thrive while awaiting space in mainstream housing or an organized community space to open or be approved for such space; and a safe place to work on personal growth so they might be ready for the next housing step. 

Communities should be capped at 25 people, not including emergency refugees.

Residents stay at the community should be used to determine any short or long term needs, on an individual basis.

These temporary communities should be built, with complete infrastructure and onsite resident staffing, before the introduction of guests.

The resident onsite staffing should be comprised of houseless community leaders, a quorum of three for each community of 25. These leaders are to be selected by the city, oversight committee and management organizations.

Prerequisites for any onsite community leader candidate shall include but not be limited to de escalation training, crisis management skills, and on going management courses, to be provided by the organizing organizations.communication between onsite resident managers and oversight agencies shall open and immediate.

 The objective of the oversight agency is to serve the leaders of the houseless communities. The organizing agency shall be comprised of and under constant advisement by experienced temporary shelter organizers.

The oversight agency shall make regular reports of systems, operations, oversight, and issues arising from same in the form of regular reports and meetings with the city and partner organizations.

RV Park (by Cindy Hines):

An RV Park would provide parking overnight for vehicles, travel trailers, fifth wheels and other recreational vehicles in the motorhome class that are 10 years old and older and are the primary residence of the owners due to disability, retirement, or other income that is insufficient for affordable housing in the Portland metro area. This park might also  include other motor vehicles that are the primary residence of individuals who are experiencing houselessness.  It would be limited to 25-30 vehicles.

RV parking spaces would allow for five feet of space between parking pads. Parking pads will vary in length from 15 to 40 feet to accommodate various length of vehicles and RVs. The RV park will include a manager and all the aforementioned positions listed for the overall facility.  It would have  bathrooms, showers, a community kitchen, a laundry facility, and a community room, which all have a door code that is changed monthly. The RV park will help facilitate propane access or delivery, blackwater tank emptying by a mobile service or access to a dump site,  a mobile RV repair unit, and on-site electrical hookup. WiFi access would be a bonus

The basic rules for the park: no accumulation of trash or possessions outside of RV or car other than table, chairs, locked bicycles, BBQ, plants in pots, and one locked storage unit. All of one’s possessions must fit on pad. One space for RV resident to park car and one space for a guest. Overnight guests must be cleared with the manager and cannot stay longer than three days per month. 

A separate car parking area for those living in their vehicles can be based on this same model, with the pads being smaller. 

Additional detailed descriptions of communities:

Tiny House Villages

Temporary Support-- Based on FR model of “wet community”, 

LGBTQ/Native American Camp  (Ravenwolf  Schmick-Justice)

This camp is for couples and singles, primarily LGBTQ and/or Native American, although not strictly limited to them.   This camp is to be a safe space: Safe spiritually, environmentally, mentally, emotionally, physically, verbally, sexually and one’s identity would be safe as well.   All faiths are welcome, and sacred space will be provided for worship.

This is a clean and sober camp, and it would run on Native American and Narcotics Anonymous spiritual traditions and principles.  No public intoxication of any kind will be allowed, and substances will be restricted to ceremonial or meditative use. Some will come still struggling with addictions and this village will give them a safe environment to work on their issues.  Smoking areas will be established for tobacco and medicinal marijuana use.  

The camp will be capped at 10 (5 couples, or 10 singles) with spaces for emergency short-term shelter.  The camp might be larger or smaller, depending on the size of the property.

The camp must be self-sustaining and environmentally sound. The infrastructure of the camp would use solar, wind and bio power rather than gasoline or propane generators.  There will be rain catches for emergency water.  Housing will be small tiny houses or native longhouses.  Each structure will have their own solar power.  Every structure will be 6-8 feet apart.   There will be common use bathrooms and showers (not gender segregated).  There will be a common greeting station and a kitchen for everyone’s use with proper lighting.

Sample Code of Conduct:

1. No violence

No physical, sexual, emotional, mental, verbal or identity abuse of any kind will be tolerated.  There will be no taking hostages by any means, including shouting, screaming, name calling, belittling, intimidating whispering or psychological warfare.

Grievances will be dealt with one-on-one or with a third party acting as a mediator.  A mediation session must happen in private, or off the grounds. 

2. No guns

No firearms, no BB/pellet guns, and no crossbows or compound bows.  Swords, knives or machetes must be kept sheaved at all times in public areas, unless in positive use, such as cutting, trimming, or ceremonial use.

3. Theft

No stealing will be tolerated.  No walking into another’s structure without permission.  If a person is absent, they will have to make arrangements with security to allow a person in their structure.

4. Drug use

There will be no illegal drug use, selling or intoxication at any time in or around the property.  No open alcohol containers of beer, wine or hard liquor.  No LSD, cocaine, heroin, or over-use of prescription mediations will be tolerate. No needle use on the property, except for doctor prescribed use, which would be observed by the volunteer nursing staff. Ceremonial use of potentially intoxicating substances are allowed, such as wine or herbs, if they are used only for ceremonial purposes.   Tobacco and marijuana can be used in one’s personal home or in the designated smoking areas.

Women’s community

Only women, especially focused on those who are abused-- domestic or sexually. 

Clean and sober community

No drugs or alcohol allowed

"Wet" community 

Drugs and alcohol are permitted, as long as they are out of sight, but sobriety is encouraged and resources for sobriety are provided (e.g. AA meetings)