Vehicle Camping at Religious Institutions

Fast Facts about Housing and Homelessness in Benton County

• The number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Benton County has increased more than 95% since 2015.
• The 2022 Point in Time count report* estimates that there are over 700 unhoused people in the Linn, Benton and Lincoln tri-county region with about 300 unhoused people in Benton County.
• Some members of our rural communities use vehicles as their primary shelter, but have no fixed place to safely and legally park them.

How does Benton County Code Chapter 40 help?

• Enables Religious Institutions within the unincorporated areas of Benton County to provide safe and legal places for people to sleep in vehicles, campers, trailers, or micro-shelters.
• Establishes minimum standards including provision of basic sanitary facilities for guests and onsite parking and siting standards to reduce impacts to adjacent properties and uses.
• Provides an additional tool for rural communities to provide a safe and stable means to shelter for those experiencing crises.