Tribe holds meeting to discuss new tiny home village

By Kamiah Koch

Social media/digital journalist

The latest community input meeting offered attendees food, raffle prizes and the opportunity to speak on the new Grand Ronde tiny home village intended to provide shelter to Tribal members and parents of Tribal members experiencing homelessness.

The two-hour meeting moderated by General Manager David Fullerton was held Wednesday, Nov. 30, in Tribal Council Chambers, with 41 additional participants joining via Zoom.

Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe began the meeting with a short presentation describing the village and its Chinook Wawa name, which translates to “together we grow.”

A mock-up of the site showed a privacy fence will enclose 10 shelter units, a hygiene facility, a kitchen and an office. Each 64-square-foot shelter unit will be prefabricated for quick assembly and accommodate two beds.

Rowe said many locations for the village were considered, but ultimately the gravel lot adjacent to the Grand Ronde Tribal Police Station and the Food Bank west of Grand Ronde Road became the favored location.

“This will give residents access to the food pantry and within walking distance to all our Tribal resources,” Rowe said.

Additionally, it’s planned to provide guests with one meal a day and a case manager to assist them during the transitional time. The tiny homes are intended to be a temporary spot for guests, with a proposed limit of a one-year stay.

According to research in Rowe’s presentation, homelessness has a direct effect on health. The tiny home village was made possible by grants awarded to the Tribe to create programs for Tribal members experiencing homelessness, substance disorders and behavioral health issues.

“This is a solution for us to get them, not just into housing, but to integrate them into the services we offer,” Rowe said.

Community members then had the opportunity to speak on the matter or send a message in the chat over Zoom.

Many of the same concerns were reiterated by attendees: limited parking at the Food Bank, the guest screening process, proximity to youth and limited second-phase housing options for guests after staying in the tiny home village.

“A second phase needs to be set up before the first phase begins,” Tribal member Darla Reynvaan said regarding the already limited options in Tribal housing. “We need to set up future goals and get a start on them.”

Michele Volz also said she was concerned about placing a vulnerable population next to another vulnerable population: Elders.

Concerns regarding bringing people who are experiencing homelessness and who may have substance abuse issues to the Tribal campus were on many peoples’ minds.

However, Tribal member Monty Herron spent most of his allotted five-minute speaking time discouraging categorizing all people experiencing homelessness as people “in need of institutionalization.” He advocated there are many reasons someone may be experiencing homelessness, using his personal experience as an example.

Several people commented on their support for the tiny home village. Tribal members noted the immediate need for the shelter units as colder weather approaches.

Fullerton said the comments and questions recorded during the community input meeting will help Tribal staff make the remaining decisions on the tiny home village.

“When we talk about housing, this is a step along the way” Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said.

The meeting ended with a raffle drawing for gift cards, jam, necklaces and Pendleton blankets.

A full-time tiny village case manager position was posted on the Grand Ronde employment page on Friday, Dec. 2.