The U.S. Forest Service initiated the closure of a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, to facilitate a fire-prevention project aimed at protecting nearby Bend from wildfires. This action, supported by a Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to impose anti-camping laws, results in the relocation of vulnerable individuals, many of whom lost their homes during the pandemic. Advocates worry about the lack of alternatives for those displaced and the broader implications for homelessness in the context of increasing wildfire risks due to climate change.
"I feel like we very much have left people with nowhere else to go," said Eric Garrity, an advocate, highlighting the relocation challenges faced by campers.
The action in Deschutes National Forest follows a Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to ban homeless outdoor sleeping, complicating the already dire situation.
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