The Oregon Department of Transportation cut costs for managing homeless encampments in highway right-of-way by nearly 70 percent in two years by shifting to a more proactive strategy centered on a single dedicated employee, the agency said. Spending on camp cleanup in the Bend area dropped from $440,000 in fiscal year 2024 to $134,000 in fiscal year 2026.
Camps in highway right-of-way pose safety risks and occupy space needed for maintenance and emergency response, according to ODOT. Around 2020, camps in the Bend area grew significantly in number and size, requiring larger maintenance crews and outside cleanup services. Beginning around 2024, ODOT changed its approach, assigning one employee to take the lead on camp-related work instead of mobilizing full maintenance crews for each cleanup.
The employee conducts regular monitoring, posts required notices, provides trash bags and water, and performs much of the cleanup work directly. This consistency allowed the department to address camps sooner and reduce the need to pull other maintenance staff away from their primary duties. ODOT also digitized documentation, reducing administrative overhead.
ODOT designated additional right-of-way locations as no-trespass areas, allowing camps in these zones to be addressed with 24 hours' notice rather than the 10 days required for traditional campsite removal. At some frequently used locations, ODOT placed boulders to discourage encampments.
"Having one person take the lead gives us consistency," said Jim Scholtes, ODOT District Manager. "They know the locations, they know what's changing, and they can keep the work moving instead of starting from scratch each time."
The savings come as ODOT faces significant financial constraints. The agency has reduced spending by approximately $500 million since 2019 to stay within available funding, citing a structural revenue issue caused by flattening gas taxes, inflation, and legal restrictions on available funding. The Bend camp management changes are one example of process improvements contributing to that broader effort, ODOT said.