Bend to shrink “Dirtworld” homeless camp by half, dozens still need to relocate
Campbell Porter
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend is reducing the size of its “Temporary Safe Stay Area,” known as “Dirtworld,” by half. This effort aims to be completed by June 1 and affects approximately 30 people remaining in the area slated for closure.
The city intends to shrink the camp to mitigate fire risks, allow for more efficient patrolling of a smaller footprint and enhance access for service providers assisting people living there.
Matthew Stuart, Real Estate, Housing and Facility Director for Bend, highlighted the city’s consistent presence at the site. “That staff’s out there every day. We also have security that’s out there two or three times a day,” Stuart said. Stuart added that the city has established relationships with the residents.
“We’ve gotten to know the population quite well over the last year and a half that we’ve been operating. We’ve had success so far with a majority of the folks who are in the North, they’re already moving to the South. So we have a limited amount of people that are still left that need to move.”
The Safe Stay Area program is funded through June 2027. However, its future after that date is uncertain.
The city plans to complete the reduction of the “Temporary Safe Stay Area” by June 1.