By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation,
The Deschutes National Forest along China Hat Road runs close to the City of Bend which has provided homeless campers a safe haven to escape the city to hide out in the campgrounds of the National Park.
The Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation did a tour of the area and found an apocalyptical wasteland of abandoned vehicles and camp sites. This area has been a hotbed of crime, drugs and vandalism.
Not being able to clear and clean the area has created a fire hazard problem. Also, the campers have blocked authorities from removing hazardous material found at the sites. The Trump administration has made fixing this problem a priority. They are closing off a 40-square mile area and warning of 6-month prison time and $5,000 fine for violators.
Previously, law enforcement has cited illegal campers only to have them move elsewhere on the vast property. Some have said this large encampment spread out over a large area remains as one the larger homeless refuges in the nation.
The large unruly encampments have made it hostile for families to enjoy the camp sites that their taxes pay for.
Homeless advocates who have filed over 80 disability lawsuits regarding enforcement issues.
