Forest Eviction
Dozens of homeless people who had been living in a national forest in central Oregon for years were evicted by the U.S. Forest Service, as it closed the area for a wildfire prevention project that will involve removing smaller trees, clearing debris and setting controlled burns over thousands of acres.
The project has been on the books for years, and the decision to remove the encampment in the Deschutes National Forest comes two months after the Trump administration issued an executive order directing federal agencies to increase timber production and forest management projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk.
Mandy Bryant walks to help Mike Shelton with his trailer as they load up their belongings at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, near Bend, Ore.
A person walks to a tent at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, near Bend, Ore.
A homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest is seen near a golf course on the night before an eviction order on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, near Bend, Ore.
Mike Shelton works to attach a hitch to a vehicle as he loads up his belongings at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
Mike Shelton works to attach a hitch to a vehicle as he loads up his belongings at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
A flashlight from Mandy Bryant’s shines on chairs propped up by trees at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
Nick Campbell vapes at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
Chris Daggett works to get an RV to start so that it can be moved at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
A tiara rests on a seat as a woman writes in a journal at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
Greg Bishop works to get an RV to start at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
A string of lights hangs on a tree above a memorial at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest Wednesday, April 30, 2025 near Bend, Ore.
A person looks out at a road closure along China Hat Road as U.S. Forest Service officials are seen behind the barrier that leads to a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, Thursday, May 1, 2025, near Bend, Ore.
Jessica Gamble, who started the nonprofit Home More Network in 2022, right, looks on after reading text messages she received when a road to a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest was closed on Thursday, May 1, 2025, near Bend, Ore.
Debris lies scattered around a trailer at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, Thursday, May 1, 2025, near Bend, Ore.
Debris lies scattered around a trailer at a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, Thursday, May 1, 2025, near Bend, Ore.
Greg Bishop, bottom center, who lived in a homeless encampment in Deschutes National Forest, walks along a dirt road to check on camp sites for residents who have not lefts the encampment on Thursday, May 1, 2025, near Bend, Ore.