11/09/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Ms. Wooten moved, seconded by Ms. Bascom, to officially designate as the Maurie Jacobs Memorial Park the riverfront area between the Owens Rose Garden and the Greenway Bike Bridge. The motion carried unanimously, 7:0. III. EMERGENCY FAMILY HOUSING Mr. Bennett introduced the item. He said the Social Goals Committee has been working on the issue of housing which has been identified as the goal until June 1990. The committee hopes to have an impact on medium- and long-term housing concerns for low- and moderate-income people by addressing the issue of supply in Eugene and possibly in Lane County as a whole. Vacancy rates are currently in the one- to two-percent range. Mr. Bennett attributed the dramatic rise in housing costs, especially rents, to the strong demand and said low-income families are particularly affected by this housing environment. The committee's shorter-term objective is its commitment to influencing the issue of homelessness among families with children. Mr. Bennett said it was vital for the City to playa role in the solution of this problem. A comprehensive effort to address the issue in the community is being led by County Administrator Jim Johnson. Mr. Johnson asked the council to join Lane County, School District 4J, the e City of Springfield, and a number of private and nonprofit corporations to meet the community.s need. Mr. Johnson proposed a short-term solution that would involve financing a three-part program. First, the Opportunity Center located at 1995 West Amazon will be converted to a temporary shelter for 20 families for a six-month period. It appears that Eugene Emergency Housing will operate the facility, Food for Lane County will coordinate the provision of food, St. Vincent de Paul will be the depository for donated supplies, materials, and cash for the project, and the Lane County Housing Authority and Community Services Agency will supervise and coordinate the renovation work, and Lane County Health and Human Services will coordinate support services. The second part of the solution will consist of a voucher program for approximately ten families, using local motels to supplement the Opportunity Center situation. The third part of the program will involve local churches opening their facilities as housing. Mr. Johnson reported that Springfield is considering financing 30 percent of the program and the Lane County Board of Commissioners agreed to finance 50 percent of the total cost of the project less Springfield's share. The total cost is estimated at $140,000 over the six-month period, with $120,000 being operational costs and $20,000 being estimated as the cost of the renovation. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 9, 1988 Page 3