No one deserves to live in ‘The Dirt.’

A person walking down a dirt and gravel driveway with a small pig at their feet, near a RV trailer and a red vehicle, with a background of grass, trees, and houses.

In Redmond, they call it “The Dirt.” In Bend, it’s “Dirt World.” They’re the places people set up tents or park broken down RVs and cars when they have nowhere else to go.

It’s scary. You can’t secure your stuff, so it gets stolen. You try to sleep, but it’s impossible when people are yelling the middle of the night.

People have their reasons for not wanting to stay in a shelter, especially women with children and assault victims. So they wind up in a car or an RV, but it’s hard to find a place to park legally.

That’s where our Safe Parking & Microshelters Program comes in. We provide a safe, legal, sanitary place for people to stay.

Not forever. And not without support.

a person reaching out to hold another person's hand. One is wearing two bracelets, a yellow shirt, and a jacket. No faces are showing.

Case managers meet regularly with participants to work toward housing goals.

More than a place to park

Participants in Safe Parking & Microshelters work with our case managers. They set goals, and together, they achieve them.

As long as they’re making progress and following basic rules to keep the community safe and their spaces clean, they can stay.

“Meeting the Redmond Safe Parking personnel was providential if anything has ever been in my life. The assistance I’ve gained from Safe Parking has been emotional and spiritual, right along with a safe place to put my trailer.”

— Jon S., Safe Parking participant

FAQs

A motorhome in a parking lot with a fence and a portable toilet

  • Apply for our Safe Parking & Microshelters program by clicking here.

  • A microshelter is a garden shed-sized structure with heating and cooling, a mini fridge, a bed, and a side table.

    Most of our microshelters, like those pictured to the right, sleep one person. Those at our family site can shelter up to six people.

  • We have security cameras at all of our sites. And our participants are required to agree to certain rules that make for a good community.

    We don’t allow drug or alcohol use on site, pets have to be on leashes, and we prohibit unauthorized guests.

  • Our case managers meet with our participants weekly. They work together to create housing goals, and they connect participants with social services.

  • Safe Parking is the most cost-effective form of sheltering.

    Not everyone is comfortable in a dorm-style shelter, especially survivors of assault and people with children or pets, and some people have an RV to shelter in.

    Safe Parking is a healthy alternative to parking on the street or in unauthorized camps.

  • We are always looking for new sites. Please reach out to info@mvcdoregon.org, and we will get back to you.

A row of microshelters, small structures with a step in front, white doors with window, and a pitched roof on gravel.

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