Temporary Stay Safe Area
The Temporary Safe Stay Area (TSSA) is 170 acres of county and city owned property designated for homeless campers at Juniper Ridge, which is located northeast of Bend. It includes 50 acres of County-owned land and 120 acres of City-owned land and is located east of U.S. 97 and west of the railroad tracks (see map).
During a joint meeting in Fall 2024, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners and the Bend City Council agreed to establish the TSSA and work collaboratively to address the health and safety issues associated with dispersed camping in the area. Individuals camping in and around Juniper Ridge were notified that city owned property east of the railroad tracks will close on May 31, 2025, and they must either leave the area or move to the established TSSA location.
The joint agency agreement allows for the continuation of services currently being provided at Juniper Ridge, including sanitation services like drinking water stations, trash removal, hand washing stations and portable toilets. It also includes fuels reduction projects to reduce wildfire risk and expands the presence of security in the area.
The Temporary Safe Stay Area is being jointly funded by the County and the City, with the County contributing $400,000 and the City allocating $731,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds, for a total project cost of $1,131,000. The funding will help provide housing-based case management services through partnerships with local service providers. To view data on the services provided at the TSSA, please visit the Temporary Stay Safe Area dashboard.
The TSSA is intended to be a temporary solution for homeless camping at Juniper Ridge, and is scheduled to close in December 2026.
For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
