We are soliciting public comment in support of a delay in the closing of China Hat May 1st so that more than 100 unhoused residents do not get displaced, or arrested, jailed and/or fined if they have remained on the land or attempt to go back on it to recover their belongings.

Dear Concerned Citizen,

The Forest Service will close the China Hat area on May 1st, locking out more than 100 homeless people, most with severe disabilities, who have lived on the land, many for between 3 to 8 years. These people have only been given since January 15, 2025 to move and most have been unable to do so because of winter weather conditions.

We are asking concerned citizens like yourself to contact the Forest Service and community leaders to express your support for a delay over the course of the summer and early Fall while the weather is good so that these people have a chance to relocate. 

If you would like to write directly to the Forest Service asking that the project be delayed write to:  Holly Jewkes, Supervisor, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, 63095 Deschutes Market Road, Bend, OR 97701

If you are willing to do so, following is a script you can use for a letter, or an email or a voice message to a city or county official:

Dear _________________, 

I am contacting you requesting that you support delaying the closure on May 1, 2025 of the China Hat area where more than 100 homeless people live, and contact Ms. Holly Jewkes, the Forest Supervisor, about your support for a delay.  This request is made because I believe that as these people were only notified January 15th that they would have to leave by May 1st, the winter weather conditions have made it impractical for them to have been able to relocate by May 1st.  Thank you for your consideration.”

If you are willing to make a public comment to the Bend City Council you can email the full Council at council@bendoregon.gov or attend a city council meeting on the 1st or 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 pm.  In person public comments are limited to two minutes.

If you are willing to make a public comment to the Deschutes County Commissioners, you can email them at citizeninput@deshutes.org or call (541) 385-1734 to leave a voice mail or attend a commission meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 9 am.  Comments are limited to 3 minutes.

If you are willing to write a Letter to the Editor to The Source, email it to editor@bendsource.com.  If you are willing to write a Letter to the Editor to The Bend Bulletin, email it to letters@bendbulletin.com.  Bulletin letters are limited to 150 words.”