But the neighbors’ hostility has worn on the villagers.
“It’s not comfortable living in a community when you know you’re not wanted there,” said Bob Bremmer, who’s lived in Hazelnut Grove since 2015. “It messes with your own self-worth.”
Combined with the area’s environmental safety risks, this persistent pressure from OKNA encouraged Hazelnut Grove residents to begin meeting with the city in 2018 to discuss a move to a more welcoming plot of land. By then, the city had formed the Joint Office of Homeless Service (JOHS) with Multnomah County to oversee shelter development, including the possibility of alternative shelters like Hazelnut Grove. JOHS and the mayor’s office, now occupied by Ted Wheeler, offered to cover the costs of relocation to another property if the villagers agreed to allow a homeless nonprofit to oversee the program a structure mirroring the Kenton Women’s Village, opened by JOHS in 2017.
Ken Humberston reflects on term as Clackamas County commissioner
Building relationships, advocating on behalf of veterans mark elected official s top priorities
Ken Humberston believes the opportunity he s had to serve the residents of Clackamas County as a commissioner for the past four years has been the professional honor of a lifetime.
Humberston, who is set to exit the board of county commissioners in January, having been unseated by Mark Shull in the November election, took some time this month to reflect on his service to the 430,000 citizens he feels lucky to have worked on behalf of.
According to Humberston, he s proud of the fact he accomplished a number of things he promised to when he was elected four years ago. That includes working with his board colleagues to repair relationships with regional partners such as the county s neighbors in Washington and Multnomah counties, as well as Metro and the cities within the county.