Laserfiche WebLink
Other Contributing Factors. A number of other factors push people towards <br />homelessness including lack of affordable health care, long-term care resources for <br />social services, and supportive services for chronically homeless disabled persons, <br />domestic violence, mental illness, and addiction disorders. <br /> <br />Anti-Poverty Strategy <br /> <br />Introduction <br />For 30 years, Lane County and the Cities of Eugene and Springfield have worked <br />cooperatively to provide a comprehensive range of human services for Iow-income <br />people in Lane County. The HSC coordinates human services, anti-poverty programs, <br />community development efforts, and homeless services in collaboration with non-profit <br />organizations, and public human service and housing agencies. Elected and appointed <br />representatives from Lane County and the Cities of Eugene and Springfield comprise the <br />HSC, which is the regional policy board for human service activities in Lane County. <br /> <br />The HSC is the lead agency for implementation of the Continuum of Care Plan for <br />activities aimed at ameliorating poverty and homelessness in Lane County. The plan <br />involves joint policy development in the areas that have regional implications, including <br />human services, supportive housing and community facility development and <br />maintenance. The Continuum of Care Plan is the collaborative process, which identifies <br />human services, supportive housing, and community development needs and <br />establishes goals, priorities, and strategies for addressing those needs. The plan <br />identifies how funds included in the plan will be spent, taking into account various <br />regulations governing grant funding, to meet locally identified needs for Iow-income and <br />homeless persons. <br /> <br />Low-Income Elderly and Frail Elderly Persons <br />The HSC works in collaboration with the local Senior and Disabled Services Division to <br />provide food assistance and outreach services to Iow-income elderly and frail persons. <br />The Meals on VVheels program offers opportunities for seniors in Lane County to ensure <br />they continue to receive healthy, well-balanced meals. Outreach services stabilize or <br />improve people's levels of functioning and promote self-sufficiency so they are able to <br />remain independent in their own homes. <br /> <br />Housing Needs of Homeless Persons by Sub-Population <br /> <br />Homeless Singles with Special Needs and/or Chronic Mental Illness <br />The 2004 Lane County Continuum of Care strategic planning process and the gaps <br />analysis confirmed the community's highest priority need for additional supportive <br />permanent housing and access to mainstream supportive services for chronically <br />mentally ill homeless, dually diagnosed, and those with substance abuse problems. <br /> <br />As noted in the gaps analysis, chronically homeless individuals fall within the subset of <br />persons who present a complex set of multi-problem challenges for Lane County service <br />providers, such as persons with psychiatric and substance abuse issues. These <br />populations frequently exhibit a pattern of being disconnected from conventional <br />community life. Many have limited support systems, reflected in most being adults and <br />youth with weak family connections. Many have past experiences with mainstream <br /> <br /> <br />