US Forest Service recently made a courageous move that potentially goes a long way toward addressing wildfires. They evacuated hundreds of homeless residents from an encampment in the Deschutes National Forest in order to reestablish protected habitats. Early Thursday morning, officials pulled up a two-lane roadway—the last major route to the camp—effectively cutting off access to the camp. This new camp has been a temporary home for many others from the area for years. This decision follows an executive order from Donald Trump’s administration, released just two months ago. The executive order directed federal agencies to increase timber harvests and expand other forest management activities.
The normally pristine Deschutes National Forest, around the popular tourist destination of Bend, Oregon, has experienced an explosion of its own homeless encampments. Millions of people were pushed into homelessness as a result of lost jobs and increased housing instability due to Covid-19. The encampment acts as a sanctuary for many who are most vulnerable and in need. At the same time, the US Forest Service has been deploying crews around the country to reduce wildfire hazards while restoring natural areas compromised by sprawl.
This project has had years of planning go into it and was finally authorized in 2023. It centers on preemptively taking down smaller trees, clearing brush, and performing controlled burns on thousands of acres. According to the US Forest Service, these measures are key to keeping the longleaf forest healthy. Advocates for the homeless have blasted these types of laws for their detrimental effects on marginalized communities.
The closure rationale Kaitlyn Webb, a US Forest Service spokesperson, said the closure was intended to protect
“The closure does not target any specific user group and will restrict all access, including day use and overnight camping, while crews operate heavy machinery, conduct prescribed burns, and clean up hazardous materials,” – Kaitlyn Webb.
Residents of the encampment said they were blindsided by the sudden enforcement of the closure. Public domain Earlier this month, four unhoused residents of the encampment fought back. Among them a resident named Bryant, joined by two homeless advocates, all of them looking for a temporary restraining order to prevent the closure. Their request was denied by US District Court Judge Michael McShane on Tuesday. He doubled down with a written opinion on Thursday.
That timeline provides little advance notice, resulting in an immediate and dangerous disruption to the hundreds of individuals who used the encampment as safe refuge. An enormous sign posted on the metal gate across the road says it all. This sign cautions that this emergency closure will continue for a minimum of one year. Beyond the cultural impact, recreation sites and trails throughout the region will stay closed until at least April of next year. If you roam on this closure, the penalties will be harsh. Penalties involve fines of up to $5,000 or incarceration for up to six months.
“The public’s significant interest in restoring natural habitats, preventing catastrophic wildfires, and preserving the overall health of Deschutes National Forest is not outweighed by the interest of 150 or so individuals in residing on this particular plot of land,” – Michael McShane.
Homeless advocates have criticized the timing of the eviction as they relate to larger trends in environmental policy. Jesse Rabinowitz, one such advocate, stated,
For most of the people in the encampment, the eviction will result in them having nowhere to live. Administratively, this lack of clarity raises their own levels of stress and uncertainty. Mandy Bryant, a long-term resident of the encampment, poignantly explained why that step was harmful.
“The fact that they are doing this with such vigor shortly after they announced that the forests would be opened up for logging I don’t think is a coincidence,” – Jesse Rabinowitz.
For many individuals living within the encampment, the eviction represents not just a loss of shelter but also an exacerbation of stress and uncertainty. Mandy Bryant, a resident of the encampment, expressed her feelings about the situation.
“You could feel the heaviness in the air and just the stress and depression that people are feeling,” – Mandy Bryant.