Helping Hands

City plans to put three lots up for sale

Written March 27th, 2025 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 7 responses.

Three small vacant lots in central Albany and owned by the city will soon come up for sale. What eventually happens there, if anything, seems very much up in the air.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: City of Albany, Helping Hands, Jackson and Ninth, Madison Street, surplus property, Van Vleet

Three city lots: Council wants an appraisal

Written November 24th, 2024 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 8 responses.

The Albany City Council has taken the first step before deciding to dispose of three city-owned lots on Jackson Street and Ninth Avenue near the Helping Hands homeless shelter, which already owns most of that block.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, city lots, Helping Hands, homeless lots, homeless shelter, Pacific overpass, surplus city land, Van Vleet Meat

Helping Hands floats proposal for housing

Written August 19th, 2024 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 26 responses.

For a reason shrouded in the mist of long ago, the City of Albany owns three lots in the same block as the Albany Helping Hands homeless shelter. The shelter has an idea of how the lots could serve a useful purpose, and it’s not to house people in ragtag tents.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: apartment block, Helping Hands, homeless, housing, Jackson and Ninth, Marvin's Garden

Albany’s homeless campsite gets a hose

Written August 11th, 2023 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 23 responses.

One of the necessities Albany’s designated homeless camp needed was a source of potable water. It didn’t have one on Wednesday, but now it does, thanks to Helping Hands.

Posted in: Bicycling, Commentary, News
Tags: Darol Davies, Helping Hands, homeless campsite, Marvin's Garden, Ninth and Jackson, potable water

Street appeal denied: Checking the scene

Written January 29th, 2023 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 13 responses.

Last week I wanted to see if anything had changed since the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals rejected an Albany homeowner’s appeal from a city decision to abandon a short section of public street so the Helping Hands homeless shelter can expand.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Helping Hands, Jefferson Street, land use board of appeals, LUBA, street vacation, Vanderburg

City vacates street to help Helping Hands

Written August 24th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

Three members of the Albany City Council plus the mayor Wednesday pushed through a move to vacate or abandon a short section of Jefferson Street, an action the Helping Hands homeless shelter needs to expand.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, Helping Hands, homeless, Jefferson Street, street vacation

Unhoused in cars: Looking for a place to park

Written July 18th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 7 responses.

People forced to camp in their cars because of homelessness are largely gone from the block of Ninth Avenue in Albany where the city has banned them. It’s not clear where they have gone, and an advocate’s plea for city council help regarding parking so far has generated no response.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany homeless, Helping Hands, homeless, Ninth Avenue, overnight parking