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e e - County. He noted that entire families make up the ranks of the homeless, in addition to the more mobile and conspicuous single adults. Among these single adults, up to 50 percent nationally are people who have been hospitalized for so-called mental illness; a large number of them are also alcoholics. The low-profile transients who wander in and out of Eugene without causing trouble constitute the homeless majority, said Mr. Ulhorn, but police have also iden- tified 50 or more IIpredatorll people within this community. Vietnam veterans make up a large number, about 17 percent, of the homeless population. Another group consists of single mothers whom poverty or abuse has forced out onto the street. People with marginal skills, such as migrant workers, often find themselves pushed into this class. Mr. Ulhorn blamed the conditions of these people on congenital poverty, alco- holism, harsh economic policies, and physical and mental disablement. He referred to a March 9, 1985, survey of Lane County undertaken by the Vagrancy Task Force which indicated the existence of 350 IIhousehol ds" of homeless people on a single night. He said the more correct number would be about 500 if the study had been able to reach those more concealed people. Mr. Ulhorn stated that his agency turns away an average of 50 "households" a month. Womenspace is continuously full. Organizations such as the Salvation Army and Catholic Services were once able to provide basic rent money to destitute money when FEMA funds were available. The Eugene Mission, with 275 beds, provided 61,000 nights' rest in 1984. During its last cheese distri- bution, Lane County Food gave away 58 tons of cheese to 20,596 families. This is about 25 percent of the population of Lane County which stood in line for surpl us food. Mr. Ulhorn showed slides of missions in Portland. He noted that the problem is not as visible in Eugene as it is elsewhere due to certain policies adopted by City Council. He commended the council for commissioning the Vagrancy Task Force; not all of his recommendations have been adopted. He also commended the policy of transferring joint funds into social services and using these as general funds. Recent money made available to capital improvements for non- profit groups has also been helpful. Mr. Ulhorn said such policies and the general readiness to address the problem have made it possible for social help organizations such as his to make themselves felt in the community. These organizations help reduce the visibility of local poverty and hunger. Mr. Ulhorn introduced Lon Laughlin, Program Director for Eugene Emergency Housing, who described his participation in an evening Police Department patrol of the Whiteaker neighborhood and part of River Road. He described encounters with groups of transient people at Monroe Park and near the river. The interaction was basically friendly. The IDs produced by the transients consisted mostly of criminal trespass citations. Mr. Laughlin called this a particularly good patrol program and encouraged others to try it on a "see-for-yourselfll basis. Outlining problem areas, Mr. Ulhorn said there was an ongoing need to address public safety in the parks. He hoped that further discussions might take place with Looking Glass and that owners of mall stores might take greater MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 8, 1985 Page 4