Ontario — Sometime within the last week, people living in a little known transient camp in Ontario have abandoned their makeshift home. Nestled in a rarely traveled spot near the Heinz Ore-Ida plant and the Union Pacific railroad trestle across the Snake River is a dirt-covered area pockmarked with fire pits and the occasional makeshift tin shelter. The spot was once populated by a small village of individuals setting up home – or as much of a home as possible. This was Ontario’s transient camp. It was a little known area that begins on the banks of the Snake River about a quarter-mile from Mallards Grocery and extends across the river to a privately owned island where transients have set up home for some years now. According to the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, the number of transients living there has varied over the years – sometimes as few as half-a-dozen to at least 20 at a time. The sheriff’s office verified Friday that they did not know about any police activity requiring the removal of the transients from the camp and neither did the Ontario Police Department. On Aug. 16, a Union Pacific police officer said that the company was planning on “doing something about” the transients residing in the area soon. Follow-up questions to the railroad company in the past few days have gone unanswered. Sometime during the past week, two additional no trespassing signs belonging to Union Pacific have been placed in the sole area where transients must walk through to get to the camp. The sheriff’s office stated that, while the transient camp is not on Union Pacific property, a portion of the trail to the camp may sit on the edge of their property line. Makeshift home Prior to the residents’ removal, The Argus Observer talked with one of the transients, took photos of their living conditions and spoke with several other people about the camp, including law enforcement officials. Michael Heck, 52, has lived in the Ontario area for about nine years now, but had been living inside a weather-worn tent at the base of the camp for nearly a month. Heck was recently released from Malheur County Jail after nine months in custody. “After my stepdad died, my mom kicked me out,” Heck said. “I was working until I went to jail, but I should be starting up my job again.” Heck was arrested nearly 10 months ago for theft in the third degree, probation violation and criminal trespassing, the sheriff’s office said. Due to the transient camp’s location, it falls mostly within the sheriff’s office jurisdiction. Patrol Sgt. David Kesey has perhaps spent more time at the camp – for emergency calls as well as regular jurisdiction patrols – than anyone else at the sheriff’s office. “There are probably three main camps there now,” Kesey said. This includes the one near the freeway where Heck currently resides. With the exception of the privately owned island, which the owners have told the sheriff’s office that it’s fine for others to live there as long as they stay out of trouble, the transient camp is not legal, Kesey said. The heart of the issue, however, is that there’s nowhere else for the transients to go. “The reality is, if we kick them out of there, they’d move into the city,” Kesey said. “There’s some old-timers out there, who typically keep the people there decent and law abiding.” Homeless population The U.S. Census Bureau counts the homeless population, including those living in both shelters and on the streets. However, when the final numbers are tallied, only those living in shelters are accounted for a representative said, so the number of homeless residing in Malheur County in 2010 was technically zero. States conduct homeless counts, typically annually, and according to Communities In Action, the number of people living on the streets in the county was at 14 in 2011. Communities In Action stated that the number of homeless was most likely not accurate due to the time of year the census was conducted, January, and simply due to the difficulty of counting people who mostly just want to be left alone. Kesey supported this statement. He said that with the exception of a couple people, those residing in the transient camp typically head elsewhere during the winter. Life in camp So what is life like in Ontario’s transient camp? “This place is all right,” Heck said. “Made a few friends.” Heck sleeps in a tent that he acquired from its previous occupant and a friend of Heck’s, who moved out of the camp, he said. In the tent, he has a small and worn-out mattress, a few jackets, a blanket he found, junk food and a few personal belongings – including a couple of cherished pictures of his 6-year-old daughter. Despite having no homes to speak of, Heck said that those there actually eat fairly well. “We eat good, ‘cause we’re all on food stamps and we work together for food,” Heck said. “We got fishing poles down (by the river), but I just catch a lot of weeds. Did catch a catfish the other day.” Random fire pits litter the area, but Heck said that they use only one small fire pit to cook some meals, and they have a sort of kitchen-type setup with a bucket, a pan and a few other cooking tools. Most of Heck’s days are spent trying to beat the heat, writing and “trying” to draw, he said. Harvest House Heck, along with most, if not all, of the transients finding shelter near the river bank, also spend at least some time at Harvest House Missions, 380 S.W. First Ave., Harvest House Missions Executive Director Ken Sheldon said. Beginning in September, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a full meal is served to those who enter their doors, including residents of the transient camp, Sheldon said. The non-profit organization also provides lunch year-round on Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with showers, Internet and phones. In addition to these on-site services, Harvest House Missions also provides tents, sleeping bags, food, cooking supplies and even rehabilitation programs. While Harvest House Missions does receive government funding for some of its programs, it receives no funding for the homeless, Sheldon said. “I think it’s almost like people think that if we don’t know about it, we don’t have to do anything about it, but these are human beings,” Sheldon said. “I also think that other people think that these people got what they deserve.” The majority of the homeless he encounters, including those who find shelter at the transient camp, are victims of the economy, Sheldon said. Many have also lived very difficult lives and now they’re at an age where they don’t see the point in trying to turn their lives around. ‘Like family’ Sheldon also backed up the claims by Kesey that, despite the occasional issue, those who reside at the camp don’t look for trouble and typically won’t panhandle either. “None of these guys are ever seen panhandling,” Sheldon said. “That’s usually people passing through or others who know how much money they can make.” Sheldon said that he’s seen Heck at Harvest House Missions often since Heck’s release from jail and that he’s doing well. “We know their names, and most of the time, we end up knowing their history, because they eventually become like family,” Sheldon said. “I was really impressed during a conversation with (Ontario Police Chief Mark Alexander). We had a guy about to go into rehab and (Alexander) asked if I could let him know when that happens and he said, ‘We care about these guys and when we don’t see them, we go looking for them.’” Good customers The owner of a local nearby business, Mallards Grocery, stated that the transient camp residents were considered regulars. “See them in here every day, all day long,” Shannon Aguiar said. “Most of them are really good customers. They’re mostly people who don’t want to live by the rules that others set and they’d rather be by the river.” Aguiar said that there’s rarely an issue with any of them and when there is, it’s typically someone who is not from this area and they never stay around long. A lot of the times when she sees them, it’s to cash in cans they’ve collected on the streets. “Most of them, we know their first names and we kind of know a little bit about what’s going on in their lives,” Aguiar said. “They’re just regular people. Some I’m sure have criminal backgrounds, but not all of them do. They’re just trying to live.” No support system With the exception of local organizations like Harvest House Missions and Communities In Action, as well as Mallards Grocery and an uneasy relationship with law enforcement, there are essentially no other support systems for the area’s homeless. “It’s one of those things where you wish there was somewhere for them to go,” Kesey said. “But there’s nowhere to send them, and community involvement at the camp is minimal.” What you can do Harvest House Missions is always in need of the following items for the homeless: sleeping bags, tents and mess kits with various cooking utensils. Executive Director Ken Sheldon said that monitory donations are always needed as well. Harvest House Missions is staffed with only two full-time employees and several volunteers. Call (541) 889-1905 or take donations to 380 S.W. First Ave.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:51:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015