REDMOND, OR -- Bethlehem Inn has moved residents out of its Redmond shelter, to Bend. Executive Director Gwenn Wysling says the nonprofit wants to consider ways to fill gaps in regional services, "We, at this time, are taking a moment to pause, to look at what is needed beyond that emergency shelter."

The nonprofit bought the former Greenway Motel in Redmond with Project Turnkey funds, renovating 22 rooms last year to house up to 88 people, "To meet what we saw as the need," Wysling tells KBND News, "But there, frankly, have been so many other shelters and safe parking programs that have come online that have been options for folks." Wysling says there were only about a dozen living there when the decision was made earlier this month to consolidate with the Bend facility. 

Bethlehem Inn's facilities are "high barrier," which means residents must be clean and sober, and agree to participate in case management services and other programs. Other area programs, like Shepherd's House Ministries' Redmond shelter set to open this week, are low-barrier - where programs and services are offered but not required.

Creation of a new Bethlehem Inn Redmond program is now underway, "One of the missing gaps on the housing continuum is that rapid rehousing, that place where somebody can be for an extended period of time to save up enough for rent. Not just rent, but the approximately $5,000 for deposits and everything needed to move in to permanent housing." But the details of such a program have not been worked out. 

For now, the former downtown Redmond motel is being used to prepare meals for Jericho Road, another local nonprofit, "They lost their kitchen, so we are preparing and giving that service on a weekly basis. And we’re looking at what the retro-fitting need would be for these rooms to be converted to longer term space; versus being in a shelter configuration."

Wysling hopes that revamped program will be ready to open by January.