Corvallis, Oregon is the location of a dispute concerning a homeless mega-shelter which could soon be settled through mediation.

Area communities are dealing with ongoing problems caused by the growing homeless population and now some of the efforts to help the homeless are under fire, including by some of the area’s homeless.

One group, Citizens Protecting Corvallis, have hired attorneys to help them oppose plans for a downtown mega-shelter. In response to the group’s first community meeting, County Commissioner Anne Schuster was called in to help mediate a solution to the disagreement over the shelter.

The group that wants to build the mega-shelter, Corvallis House First, operates a cold weather emergency men’s homeless shelter at their Fourth Street location. This shelter has been in operation for approximately three years. They now plan to expand the shelter from 40 beds to 90 beds in a new building and to open a year-round shelter for both men and women. The group is known for achieving success with the homeless population, especially those suffering from mental illness, and the group has gained a great deal of popularity in the press.

Critics of Housing First say services do not require sobriety. Members of the homeless population who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction have repeatedly stated they prefer to stay in dry shelters or would rather stay on the street. Housing First shelters also have a reputation for attracting clients that are not from the area. Some believe they increase crime in areas where they are located and Corvallis police data does show an increase in crime rates in the area since the shelter opened.

With citizens of Corvallis concerned about safety in the area, nobody is sure of the future of the mega-shelter.