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The big, new homeless center

Badly needed! It's across from a health clinic. This facility will have a detox center and other services. It also takes people out of the center of downtown, where the current shelter is. Alcohol and drugs aren't allowed in the homeless shelter, so it might give less incentive to partake in substances with the homeless people who stay around Main St. and the park.

Families also come to eat at the Mission. There were approximately 500 homeless people in the Klamath Falls area in 2015, but I could not find statistics for 2016 or 2017. Only about half of the homeless accept help other than meals.

This was all made possible with cooperation and funding by the Klamath Falls Gospel Mission, Klamath Works and Sky Lakes Medical Center. The Gospel Mission is very similar to the Salvation Army. To participate, people have to attend church and Bible study classes. Some refuse to do this, so continue to live outside as is their right. But, if the Bible helps some get their lives back in order it's certainly fine with me.
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12 comments

Gudrun said:

By the size of this there must be many homeless people! A sad sign of our times...
Our homeless shelters also are full but some people would never use them even if there was plenty of room. Not because they'd have go to church like in your town but because they can't take their dogs inside (and it was other homeless people who complained about the dogs!).
7 years ago

Diane Putnam replied to Gudrun:

There will be more than a shelter there. Job training, an alcohol/drug detox center, counseling and other services will be included. It's already becoming a model for other cities in Oregon.

There are many who won't go into shelters here, too, but they might show up for meals (there is a small charge, or they have to help with serving and cleaning). Yes, the dog thing applies here, too. When I was doing mental health work I had some homeless clients. They could be frustrating and sometimes simply refused help. I learned to just stop trying at some point and let go!
7 years ago

Andy Rodker said:

Always isues within issues but a good thing is being done here if the bigger picture is the one considered.
7 years ago

Diane Putnam replied to Andy Rodker:

Yes, it's more complicated than some people want to know. Thank you, Andy.
7 years ago

kiiti said:

It looks better than ordinary Japanese buildings....
7 years ago

Diane Putnam replied to kiiti:

Ohhh, kiiti, I've been to Japan and these buildings are not better! Lol! Thank you for the star, my friend.
7 years ago

Keith Burton said:

It seems like some good work is being done here. Unfortunately a lot of homeless people suffer from other problems as well - drug addiction, alcoholism and various mental health problems. At the end of the day you can't force people to accept help, you just have to do your best to help those that will accept it.
7 years ago

Diane Putnam replied to Keith Burton:

Exactly. I would say they all have underlying problems besides homelessness. If they didn't start out with the problems you mention, having lost job, home, etc, they develop them after living that life for awhile. One stumbling block is that most of them hate rules and refuse to live where there are any! Well, that means they can't live anywhere but outside, so that's what they do.
7 years ago

aNNa schramm said:

work on the buildings is progressing!
The problem of rich and poor is growing! ... and the number of homeless is increasing
7 years ago

Diane Putnam replied to aNNa schramm:

Oh yes, we can expect to donate more and more to the rich! They must be kept in style!
7 years ago

Steve Bucknell replied to Diane Putnam:

We’re meeting in Davis to work on it. We’re all very impressed by President Trump.
7 years ago

Diane Putnam replied to Steve Bucknell:

Oh, I know you are. He was so very nice! I'm sure it melted the hearts of all in attendance to see that even a spewing gargoyle can improve his demeanor with enough adoration from the crowd.
7 years ago