Support our Pioneer Park neighbors

In response to the recent Democrat Herald article  stating that the City of Corvallis is removing people living in Pioneer Park on Dec 28th, a group has formed to help our marginalized neighbors deal with the egregiousness of the sweep. According to the article the city is requiring everyone living at the park, some of whom have been there since March, leave for so-called renovations to the parking lot and to make the space safer for COVID-19 and potential flooding of the Marys River. All well in good excuses, except the residents of the park were issued notices merely 18 days before the deadline to leave, and were given highly restrictive applications to be able to reenter the park once the construction is complete. Among key issues with this sweep happening now are the fact that it is taking place before the 1st of the month when folks who do receive regular money would have a better chance of finding somewhere to go, we are in the middle of the coldest and rainiest time of year, the applications subject people to background checks that signals those with felonies and without IDs will not be allowed to reenter the park, and many people do not have a way to move their trailers on such short notice. The city has also stated that fewer people will be allowed to live at Pioneer park once it reopens, leaving many of the current residents with nowhere to go. We spoke with some of the folks and they are worried about where they’ll go next, getting trailers impounded because they cannot move them before the 28th, what will happen to their belongings, and losing the safety of the tight-knit community they have built at the park.


From initial conversations with residents at the park we determined some immediate needs and support we can provide:

We are raising funds specifically for:
Please contact Kali at [phone redacted]  for donation questions and support.
Trailer parking fees at the Fairgrounds
-Hotel room for folks currently experiencing medical issues
-Cost of dumping septic tanks
-Sleeping bags, insulation, tents, and other gear
-Propane tanks
-Hay straw for bedding insulation for folks in tents
-Supplies for support on day-of-sweep: food, coffee, trashbags, sharpies, etc.

We are looking for direct support in the following areas:
Please contact Emmet at [phone redacted] if you can directly support in the following ways
-Donations of any of the above items
-Trucks with hitches available to tow trailers on or before the 28th
-Safe parking/storage spots (ie your driveway or back yard for trailer parking, your garage for storage)
-Generators

We will be distributing money directly to those affected, based on the guiding principles of self-determination and mutual aid (inspired by and adapted from Survived & Punished’s mutual aid values ).

Self-Determination: We center our unhoused neighbors, community members, and friends. We recognize that people know best how to spend and use resources based on their particular needs and circumstances — thus, what we gather and give has no strings attached. We believe strongly in self determination and see giving as not just an act of solidarity, but as an entryway to working together. We believe in giving that is voluntary and reciprocal in the service of supporting all of us in striving and thriving as best we can.

Mutual Aid: Mutual aid is premised on the idea that people are experts of their own lives and that the intended recipients of material support are the best judges of how, when, and in what form that support should be distributed. The money and labor we put into supporting our unhoused neighbors is not charity towards individuals, but a concrete expression of our solidarity with and responsibility for each other.

Any extra funds and supplies will go to support victims of future sweeps.