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WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025

Uniting for Solutions

How Local Nonprofits Like Elk Island Trading Group Are Pushing for Real Change in Homelessness Response By E. Ward Tackling homelessness is a complex challenge that no single individual or agency can solve alone. It requires collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment from the entire community. One organization hoping to lead that effort is Elk Island Trading Group, LLC, which recently submitted a grant application to the City of Grants Pass to fund a proposed emergency shelter project designed to offer structured, individualized care for the city’s unhoused population. On July 18, Elk Island formally applied for municipal grant funding to launch a facility capable of sheltering more than 150 individuals. Unlike traditional shelter models that often rely on large, communal spaces and generic services, Elk Island’s approach is rooted in evaluation, stability, and transitional care tailored to each guest’s needs. At the heart of the proposal is a belief in both accountability and dignity—focusing on helping individuals not just survive, but stabilize and eventually thrive. “Homelessness is a reality, and ignoring it will not make it disappear,” said Bernie Woodard, founder of Elk Island. “Our proposal isn’t about a quick fix or warehousing peo-

ple. It’s about building systems that work— because we’ve already done it before, and we know what it takes.” Elk Island has spent the last decade operating emergency shelters and city-sanctioned tent communities, including three successful sites in Roseburg, Oregon. These communities emphasized order, structure, and personal accountability while offering unhoused individuals a genuine opportunity to move forward. Unlike many nonprofit ventures, Elk Island accomplished this without government funding or city subsidies—providing more than 15,000 days and nights of shelter at no cost to Roseburg taxpayers. What sets their Grants Pass proposal apart is the promise of enclosed sleeping units with real beds, ADA-compliant accommodations, and a triage intake system that begins the moment someone steps onto the property. This immediate assessment process helps determine the most effective course of care—whether it’s substance abuse support, mental health services, or simply job readiness and housing assistance. While their expansion efforts in Roseburg have stalled due to bureaucratic delays, Elk Island sees Grants Pass as a city ready to

The Trump administration emphasized the need for institutional reform and a more balanced approach to international representation within the organization. This is not the first time the United States has withdrawn from UNESCO. In 1984, the Reagan administration pulled out over concerns about the organization's perceived anti-Western bias and questioned its effectiveness. The U.S. remained absent for nearly two decades before rejoining in 2003 under President George W. Bush, citing a renewed commitment to international engagement after the September 11 attacks. However, tensions resurfaced in 2011 when UNESCO admitted Palestine as a full member state, prompt-

Targeted Intimidation Threatening Emails Sent to Critics of Local Government

lead the way for others across Oregon. Woodard believes that with partial funding from the city, the model could make a measurable impact, potentially resolving homelessness within the city limits through a balanced mix of compassion, structure, and scalability. But the significance of this effort goes beyond shelter beds. Elk Island’s proposal highlights a critical reality: the homelessness crisis cannot be solved in isolation. It requires city officials, service providers, businesses, volunteers, and the public to engage in meaningful dialogue, share ideas, and implement realistic, sustainable systems. As Woodard emphasized, “The solution cannot be so oversized that it fosters dependence, nor so minimal that it fails to matter. It has to be smart, responsive, and built with a longterm vision.” The application arrives at a time when homelessness has become one of the most

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see LOCAL, page 3

U.S. Withdraws from UNESCO, Marking Shift in International Cultural Diplomacy By John Oliver The United States has officially withdrawn from UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, signaling a notable shift in its approach to international cultural and scientific cooperation. The decision, made under the administration of President Donald Trump, severs ties with an agency historically supported by U.S. leadership since its founding in the aftermath of World War II. UNESCO was established in 1945 with the mission of promoting peace and mutual understanding by fostering collaboration in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. The agency has been instrumental in global initiatives ranging from preserving cultural heritage sites to supporting education in developing countries and promoting freedom of expression. U.S. officials cited longstanding concerns over what they described as political bias and mismanagement within the organization. The decision to exit follows years of criticism that UNESCO has taken positions that the U.S. government has viewed as unfavorable or politically motivated, particularly in relation to Middle East policies.

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ing the Obama administration to halt financial contributions in compliance with U.S. law. The funding freeze eventually led to the U.S. losing its voting rights within the organization in 2013. The financial impact of the U.S. departure is significant. At the time of its withdrawal, the United States had been one of the largest contributors to UNESCO’s budget. The loss of U.S. funding will further challenge the agency’s financial stability, especially as it continues to implement global initiatives such as literacy programs, cultural preservation efforts, and scientific research partnerships. UNESCO leadership has expressed

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see U.S., page 5

By John Oliver A disturbing trend has emerged in Josephine County, where individuals who have spoken out against local elected officials or voiced support for recall efforts are now facing a new wave of intimidation—anonymous threats delivered via email. Writers for the Grants Pass Tribune are among those targeted, and the pattern is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The messages are sent from the encrypted email address truthjustice@tutamail.com, which originates from the privacy-focused platform TutaMail. Ironically, the service is often used by journalists seeking to protect their identities when reporting sensitive stories—yet in this case, it is being misused to deliver menacing messages to citizens, journalists, and activists who have publicly challenged the conduct and decision-making of certain Republican figures in local government. The common link among the victims appears to be simple: they’ve criticized a vocal and aggressive faction of Republican operatives—individuals who claim to represent conservative values but appear increasingly out of touch with the broader community. These political actors gained traction in recent elections, often using dishonest tactics, personal attacks, and misinformation to discredit their opponents and manipulate public perception. Now, anyone who continues to question their leadership or refuses to fall in line with their narratives seems to face retaliation. The Grants Pass Tribune has received several of these emails firsthand, and other communi-

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see THREATENING, page 3