Federal officials plan to evict dozens of homeless individuals living in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon, to facilitate forest restoration and wildfire mitigation efforts. Over the years, the number of people residing in the forest has increased, partly due to pandemic-related job losses and rising housing costs. Legal actions by residents and advocates to halt the eviction, citing potential harm to more than 100 people, have been unsuccessful, as a federal judge denied a restraining order against the closure. The eviction, coinciding with May Day, highlights the struggles of the homeless who have nowhere else to go, as noted by resident Chris Daggett. The Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project, aimed at reducing wildfire risk and restoring habitats, necessitates the closure of recreational sites and trails in the area until April next year.

The U.S. Forest Service is proceeding with the eviction of dozens of homeless people living in an encampment within Deschutes National Forest in Oregon, as part of efforts to close the area for forest restoration and wildfire mitigation.

The number of homeless individuals living in the forest has increased due to factors like job losses and high housing costs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Jesse Rabinowitz from the National Homelessness Law Center.

Residents and advocates filed for a restraining order to prevent the closure, arguing it would cause irreparable harm to over 100 people, many of whom have disabilities, but the request was denied by a federal judge.

Chris Daggett, a forest resident, expressed concerns about the eviction, stating that it would make it harder for displaced individuals to rebuild their lives, as they would have nowhere else to go.

The Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project, which involves wildfire mitigation and habitat restoration over 30,000 acres, is driving the closure, with the aim of reducing wildfire risks and restoring natural areas.

The eviction aligns with May Day, symbolizing the broader struggles for fair wages and better working conditions, while the Forest Service aims for voluntary compliance but will enforce the closure if necessary.

Deschutes National Forest officials have announced that recreational sites and trails will remain closed through April of the following year to facilitate ongoing restoration efforts.