Let’s look at these claims one at a time.
”Low Barrier” = No Barrier
At C@P, we allow people to remain with their partner, their pets, and their property. We also do not check income, backgrounds, or drug test people before they are allowed to move into our shelters.
There are other agencies and community partners that have different or higher barriers than us. We understand why those agencies have those expectations and we partner with those agencies on a regular basis.
Sometimes people need a safe place to sleep at night before they are able to work on a substance abuse problem. In fact, sometimes people are only using illegal drugs because they are trying to cope with the stress of living in an unsafe environment, or they don’t have access to medical care and so they are using substances to self-medicate. Once people have a safe and supportive place to sleep at night, those behaviors that might have kept them out of other shelters often disappear.
When it comes to background checks, unhoused persons are 514 times more likely to be arrested and charged with crimes when compared to the non-homeless population. For those exiting the criminal justice system, there are minimal housing options and they are far more likely to re-enter the criminal justice system if they are unhoused. Should a background check be the thing that defines a person?
Each year, over 600,000 people leave state and federal prisons. Everyone deserves to have access to safe housing, including people with criminal records.
“Low Barrier” = Low Safety
Safety is one of our top priorities at C@P. All of our sites are staffed 24/7. We have a Safety Team, which is trained at Oregon’s DPSST (Department of Public Safety and Standards Training) and they receive extensive training in de-escalation techniques, Non-Violent Communication, and Trauma-Informed Care. They are frequently stopping by at each of our sites and they are available to help peacefully resolve any issues that arise on site or in the surrounding areas. We have digital cameras at all of our sites to provide an extra layer of accountability for guests and staff. And we have fences around our sites so that our staff know who is on site at all times of the day.
Safety is what allows people to begin to heal from the trauma that comes from being unsheltered. Safety is what helps people to begin to address mental health issues and substance abuse problems.
“Low Barrier” = Low Expectation
When a person or a family first meets with a C@P Case Manager at one of our sites, they go over the “Community Expectations.” Those expectations are important for explaining what guests can expect of C@P staff and other guests, and then what expectations we have for them. Expectations include things like not bringing guests on site, not consuming alcohol or drugs on site, how often they will be checking in with a Case Manager, and numerous other items.
At least every 30 days, guests meet with their Case Manager to go over their goals and to “recertify” for another month that they will adhere to the expectations and they will continue to work on their goals.
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