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collaboration from local, state, and federal agencies, this method is a cost-effective way to mitigating homelessness. Few individuals residing at Rest Stops or Opportunity Village are homeless by choice. CPW’s survey showed that only 8% of Rest Stop residents and no Opportunity Village residents reported they were homeless by choice. Moreover, CPW found that many of the respondents lived in Eugene at the time that they first became unhoused. Our research suggests that the causes of homelessness are as diverse as the homeless population and dispels the myth that all homeless individuals are “chronically” homeless. Nationwide, chronically homeless individuals accounted for 15% of all homeless people. CPW’s survey shows that 19% of Rest Stop residents and 8% of OVE residents had been homeless five or more years. Rest stops and Opportunity Village residents have more self-confidence, are better able to provide for themselves, and feel as though they’re part of a community. Not only do the legal camping programs provide a safe, legal place for the unhoused to sleep, but they appear to help the residents in other ways. Rest stop and Opportunity Village residents indicated that living in the communities increased their self-confidence (69%), made them feel more independent (81%), and gave them a sense of community (92%). Additionally, volunteer site managers expressed similar thoughts about how staying in the rest stops and Opportunity Village benefitted the residents. The rest stop ordinance is successful at providing a legal place for the unhoused to sleep. More than 70% of rest stop residents indicated that staying at the rest stop is helping them transition into permanent housing. While no formal evaluation of outcomes has been conducted, CSS and NHS collect data on residents. The statistics suggest the rest stop program is helping many residents transition to stable housing. CSS reports that 45 residents transitioned to rental housing), HUD VASH (housing for veterans), Shelter Care, friends or family. While incomplete, these figures suggest the program is having some level of success at transitioning residents into stable housing. The rest stop ordinance lacks a clear purpose statement. Based on review of the ordinance and other available materials, it is unclear whether the rest stop ordinance has an intent beyond providing the unhoused a temporary, safe, and legal place to sleep. In short, it is unclear whether the city intends the program to have a broader set of outcomes and how it fits in with other efforts in the region to address homelessness. Opportunity Village appears to be successful in transitioning individuals into more permanent housing. This reinforces the viability of micro-villages as transitional housing and suggests micro-villages as suitable, long-term housing for the unhoused. According to the Opportunity Village quarterly reports, of 47 residents that transitioned, 30 found housing. Fourteen moved into rental housing, 13 moved in with family or friends, and others transitioned into Section 8 housing or other transitional housing. While incomplete, these figures suggest the program is having some level of success at transitioning residents into stable housing. A Review of Transitional Housing Strategies in Eugene October 2015 Page | v