Woman tries to help homeless but draws the ire of neighbors
ESTACADA, Ore. – Neighbors call it a blight on the community, but the woman who owns property with a veritable homeless camp says she’s simply sheltering people in need during tough economic times.
In this town of fewer than 3,000 people, getting 80 people to sign a petition against their neighbor, "Punki" McNamee, is a big deal. But McNamee says she's been sheltering homeless people for years. But those against her say that’s part of the problem.
People like "Pepsi" Rea live in tiny sheds behind McNamee's home and "it means a lot to me," she says. "Punki has – she saved my life."
Rea says her space is the best she could hope for while living with emphysema and Parkinson's disease and on just $200 a month in food stamps.
"There's nothing out here for homeless people, and she's the only resource that we have," she says.
McNamee knows a number of neighbors don't like what's going on.
"The only thing I have to say – if they don't like what I'm doing, let them take one in and see if they'd do it. They're not gonna take anybody in," she says.
Some of the 80 people who signed the petition asking the city to do something about the property complain about public drinking and pot smoking right across the street from Clackamas River Elementary School.
"It's one of those things that shouldn't happen in any neighborhood because it degrades everybody that lives around it," says nearby homeowner, Jim Sample.
Estacada's mayor, Becky Arnold, inherited the problem and says she's just as worried about it as McNamee's neighbors.
"Quite frankly, it's been allowed to go on for too many years," she says. "I think the city should have stepped in and followed through a long time ago."
Right now the issue's on hold. The city has taken McNamee to court to try and get her to remove those backyard shelters or face code violation fines.
McNamee, however, says the structures have been there so long they should be allowed to stay and she doesn't intend to remove them any time soon.
