Roseburg Reports Nearly $120,000 in Homelessness-Related Response Costs for September

The City of Roseburg documented nearly $120,000 in estimated costs and staff resources associated with responding to homelessness during September, according to a new report scheduled to be presented to the City Council on Monday, November 9.

The report places the city's total estimated resource commitment at $119,994.12 for the month, including police activity, fire department responses, municipal court operations, code enforcement, cleanup work, and other city services.

City employees outside the Fire Department recorded approximately 955 hours of homelessness-related work during September.

The figures are part of an ongoing effort by the city to better understand how much staff time and public resources are being devoted to homelessness-related activities.

Where the Nearly $120,000 Went

The largest portion of the September total came from city employee time.

According to the report, staff hours across several departments represented an estimated $72,366.95 in labor costs. Those figures use loaded hourly rates, which account for employee compensation and associated employment costs.

The remaining expenses were associated with emergency responses, cleanup operations, and materials.

The city's September breakdown includes:

• Staff labor: $72,366.95
• Fire Department responses: $36,730.45
• Work crews and disposal expenses: $10,400.50
• Materials and supplies: $496.22

Together, those figures total $119,994.12.

An important distinction in the report is that not all of this amount represents new spending by the city.

Much of the total reflects what city officials describe as an opportunity cost. In other words, it estimates the value of employee time and resources devoted to homelessness-related activity that otherwise could have been available for other municipal responsibilities.

The report combines those estimated labor commitments with documented departmental expenses to provide a broader picture of the resources involved.

Police Department Accounts for Most Reported Staff Hours

Of the approximately 955 hours documented outside the Fire Department, the Roseburg Police Department accounted for 630.5 hours.

That represents roughly two-thirds of the reported staff time.

Police activity included patrol responses, administrative work, Community Service Officer duties, supervision, and work performed through the department's Homeless Liaison function.

Other city departments also recorded time associated with homelessness-related responsibilities.

Municipal Court accounted for an estimated 194.37 hours, while the city's Special Projects Coordinator function documented 65 hours.

Community Development and Code Enforcement reported 42.12 hours, and Public Works and Parks accounted for another 23.5 hours.

These figures illustrate how homelessness-related work extends beyond law enforcement, involving departments responsible for public spaces, municipal regulations, court proceedings, and coordination of city services.

Fire Department Responded to 103 Incidents

Roseburg Fire Department personnel responded to 103 incidents involving unsheltered individuals during September.

Those responses represented an estimated cost of $36,730.45.

More than half of the incidents involved emergency medical services.

The department's breakdown included 56 emergency medical responses, 24 calls in which responding units were canceled while en route, eight fire incidents, nine calls classified as good intent, four unauthorized burning or smoke-related incidents, and two service or public assistance calls.

The Fire Department calculates its estimated response costs differently from other departments, using incident response expenses rather than separately recording employee hours for this report.

For that reason, fire personnel hours are not included in the city's 955-hour staff total, although the estimated cost of those responses is included in the overall financial figure.

Municipal Court Handled 589 Cases

Another significant component of the report involves the Roseburg Municipal Court.

During September, the court recorded 589 homelessness-related cases.

Using an estimated average of 0.33 hours per case, city staff calculated approximately 194.37 hours of court-related work.

At an average hourly personnel cost of $48.40, the estimated Municipal Court labor cost was $9,407.51.

That amount is included in the overall staff labor calculation rather than being an additional expense on top of the reported $119,994.12.

The report does not provide a breakdown of the types of violations or proceedings represented by those 589 cases.

Costs Were Lower Than July

While September's total represents a substantial commitment of city resources, it was lower than the amount documented earlier this summer.

The city reported an estimated $154,111.44 in homelessness-related costs for July 2026.

September's total of $119,994.12 represents a decrease of approximately $34,117, or about 22 percent.

According to city staff, the reduction was primarily the result of fewer reported police staff hours and lower Fire Department response costs.

However, the report does not establish whether the decrease reflects fewer homelessness-related incidents overall or changes in the amount of work required by city departments.

Additional monthly data would be needed to determine whether the lower September figure represents a continuing trend.

Why the City Is Tracking These Costs

The reporting effort began following an April 13, 2026, City Council work study, when councilors identified tracking homelessness response costs as one of their four highest priorities.

September marked the fifth month of citywide staff time reporting under that direction.

The goal is to provide a clearer understanding of the operational demands associated with homelessness and how those demands affect city departments.

By documenting employee hours, emergency responses, and direct expenses, city officials can better evaluate where resources are being used and how those commitments change over time.

The figures do not represent the entire economic or social cost of homelessness in Roseburg. They account for the specific activities and resources documented by reporting city departments.

They also do not provide a complete accounting of homelessness services delivered by county agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, or other community partners.

Council to Receive Report Monday

The September report is included as an informational item on the November 9 Roseburg City Council agenda.

City staff recommend that councilors receive the report for information.

The council may also request additional analysis or provide further direction about how homelessness-related staff time and costs should be documented in future reports.

Homelessness is also scheduled for separate discussion during Monday's meeting, as councilors consider how the issue should be addressed on future council agendas.

The September figures provide another set of data for those discussions, showing the amount of municipal staff time and resources associated with homelessness-related activity during a single month.

The Roseburg City Council meets Monday, November 9, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 900 SE Douglas Avenue.

The full report is available in the November 9 City Council agenda packet on the City of Roseburg website.