Item B: Homeless Strategy Issue - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT B City of Eugene Chronological History of Homeless Efforts & Actions 1947 to Present 1994 New Shelter Work Group created. Status: Another committee, chaired by a State Representative (and former City Councilor) tried again, with little success, to identify options to address the impacts' of the growing homeless population. 1995 "Cracking the Housing Crisis," a blueprint for housing action and responses, adopted by Council. Council set housing goals and identified subsidies to encourage the creation of low-income housing and homeless assistance programs. Status: These goals' and actions continue. 1995 Council Committee to Finance Affordable Housing recommended a utility tax to address housing and homelessness. Status: The measure failed at the polls' in 1996 and a potential revised measure, worked on by a reconstituted committee, was tabled after Measure 47passed. 1995 Eugene Service Station, an access center for adults, was established with City seed money. Status: This program still exists' at an expanded facifity. The building is shared by the Bethel Pofice Substation. 1995 Station 7, Looking Glass Youth Shelter, opened with City assistance to replace a smaller shelter that Looking Glass had operated since 1970. It was named Station 7, because the building was formerly a fire station. Status: This program continues to operate as the only youth shelter in Lane County. 1996 Utility Tax to support housing and homelessness rejected by voters. Status: Funding for homeless programs has not kept up with increased demands'. 1997 Council Homeless and Shelter Task Force created by Mayor and two Councilors. This task force was later renamed the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth (CCHY). Status: Local c~vareness of the complex issues related to homelessness and the growing problems associated with homeless youth increased. Council adopted a variety of CCHY's recommendations. (See below) 1997 Homeless Action Coalition's "Campaign for Legal Places to Sleep" issued. Status: CCHY recommended an ordinance change. (see below) 1997 Ordinance approved by Council to allow camping on streets in industrial areas, at churches, and at private residents as a result of CCHY's recommendation. Status: Significant camping problems in some residential neighborhoods' were dramatically reduced, but new problems were created in industrial areas. Lessons were learned. 1997 Safe Place Project initiated to provide transportation to emergency services for youth in crisis. Program received support from the City of Eugene. Status: The program still operates. 1998 Council approved CCHY's recommendation for special funding for program expansion at Station 7 and Eugene Service Station. Status: Station 7 was able to help more youth, until the funding ran out. Station 7 was able to permanently expand its' services. The program had a shelter capacity of13, but it is now at 10 due to budget cuts' in 2003. The program also had to cut its' daytime non- school hour activities. Page 3 of 3 7/6/2005