Bethlehem Inn, Redmond’s first transitional shelter for people facing homelessness has stopped its shelter operations in Redmond as it develops a new program focused on independent living it expects to debut in January. The shelter, located at 517 NW Birch, only opened in June 2022.

The news comes as Shepherd’s House Ministries is days away from opening its 46-bed shelter in Redmond, which is expected to pick up some of the slack while Bethlehem Inn prepares to reopen this winter. The ribbon cutting for Shepherd’s House, expected to be Redmond’s first low-barrier shelter, is set for Nov. 2. The shelter will begin operating on Nov. 15.

Bethlehem Inn, which had been a higher barrier shelter, said a lack of staff is partially responsible for its decision to halt operations. Guests who had been living at the facility at time of closure were transferred to the Bethlehem Inn shelter in Bend.

“We are excited that Shepherd’s House is planning to open their new shelter in the next couple of weeks in Redmond,” said Gwynn Wysling, executive director of Bethlehem Inn. “We are continuing to provide shelter services in the region, we’ve also been involved in a research and collaborative conversation.”

The inn was formerly known as the Greenway Motel. It was purchased and converted into the shelter as part of a $2.7 million state grant program known as Project Turnkey, which focused on turning motels and hotels across Oregon into homeless shelters.

Wysling said the inn is still open on weekdays to provide meals for Redmond nonprofit Jericho Road. And she said she hopes the inn, when it reopens, will be able to serve more guests than it did in its previous iteration. The inn had room for 90 guests, but a lack of staff didn’t allow the shelter to reach full capacity, Wysling said.

Wysling said Bethlehem Inn plans to reopen their Redmond operation in January with a new priority. She said Oct. 27 that facility would focus on a more long-term temporary housing situation for folks working their way into permanent housing. Wysling could not provide specifics at the time, but said the new program will provide more resources and a higher level of support compared to the traditional shelter model, she said.

“With Shepherd’s House coming online and filling that need we feel like the other part on the housing continuum is that more independent living,” Wysling said. “It is something new that we are doing. We are excited to be looking at this new level, but we don’t want to short change and make sure we have all the needed folks to help people succeed.”

Wysling said the new program will require fewer employees, which will help the organization keep the inn staffed. She did not know how many people would be needed to run the new program, but said the organization is seeking applicants.

“Staffing is always a challenge,” Wysling said. “That is a tough thing to project in this market. We are always hiring. That is going to take a little while to get that up and running. Certainly by the first of the year.”

Dave Notari, the director of development at Shepherd’s House, said he anticipates 44 beds at Redmond’s only low-barrier shelter will be available on Thursday, Nov. 2. He said those beds will not remain empty for long, especially since Bethlehem Inn is not currently providing rooms in Redmond.

“When people start to hear about a place that is stable and has services, we anticipate being filled pretty rapidly,” Notari said. “I think the challenge that is presented by one of the facilities nearby being temporarily closed is definitely g oing to have an impact.”

Bob Bohac, chair of the Oasis Village Board of Directors, said he too is concerned that Shepherd’s House will be fill their beds as soon as they open. He said he heard about Bethlehem Inn’s staffing struggles about a month ago, and that things have been difficult lately for Redmond’s homeless population.

“When people come out of recovery, which they have been, they have no place to go,” Bohac said. “That will change very soon with Shepherd’s House opening up.”

Bohac said fortunately both Bethlehem Inn and Oasis Village, a transitional housing project in Redmond, should both open again at around the same time in January. That will help ease the pressure and offer different options. Until then, however, demand for services will outweigh supply.

“It’s going to be a really difficult winter,” Bohac said. “I hope the weather isn’t rough. But in terms of finding beds for the unhoused, it is going to be really difficult in Redmond.”

Megan Loeb, senior program officer for economic vitality and housing for the Oregon Community Foundation — the organization that administered the Project Turnkey grant program — said each of the program’s site is locally owned and operated. That allows flexibility at the community level, so operators and change and adapt to new

circumstances.

“We’re glad to see Bethlehem Inn continue to meet the shifting needs of the Redmond community and ensure that more people have access to stable housing,” Loeb said. “There’s a dire need for additional rapid re-housing and this strategic transition will allow them to fill that needed gap in Redmond.”