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<br /> <br />Steve “Ziggy” Lawsha’s stay at the Community <br />Supported Shelters (CSS) Veterans Safe Spot <br />was relatively short, but it came at a critical <br />juncture of his life. Lawsha found support and <br />assistance from the CSS staff and was able to <br />move into a one-bedroom apartment in Eugene <br />with help from the HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs <br />Supportive Housing) program. He says of his stay <br />at the Safe Spot, “It was more like a community. It <br />was great to be there, trying to help out other <br />guys even at the same time I needed help.” <br /> <br />Aaron says his Hut at a <br />Community Supported <br />Shelters Safe Spot has <br />helped him stay clean <br />and sober. “This Hut and <br />the help I’ve gotten from <br />ShelterCare has given <br />me a reason to care and <br />a structure.” <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The people in these sites have been my neighbors for <br />a couple years now and I can say, unequivocally, that I <br />have not noticed them causing any problems or <br />having any deleterious effect on the neighborhood. <br />Overall, they've been good neighbors. <br /> <br />These sites are always clean and well organized when <br />I see them. I've noticed no increase in littering or <br />vandalism in the neighborhood. The police crime data <br />shows no increase since they've moved in. Given the <br />vetting process and the camp rules for the occupants, <br />I'm not surprised at the lack of problems. <br /> <br />I would say to my fellow Eugenians who might be <br />nervous about one of these sites moving into their <br />neighborhood, you have nothing to fear. The existing <br />sites have demonstrated their good citizenship. I <br />believe these residents are people who are serious <br />about trying to improve their situation. As such, they <br />deserve a little help from the rest of us, because in <br />these times it's too easy to fall into their situation. <br />Jim Stauffer <br />Eugene, OR <br /> Neighborhood impacts: <br /> No considerable increase in reported <br />criminal activity due to rest stops. <br /> 84% of neighboring residents and <br />businesses were supportive of rest stops. <br />Resident statistics: <br /> 86% indicated that they had an increased <br />ability to provide for themselves. <br /> 71% felt that staying at the rest stop is <br />helping them transition to permanent <br />housing. <br />Source: Providing for the Unhoused: A Review of <br />Transitional Housing Strategies in Eugene. 2015. <br />Community Planning Workshop. Community Service <br />Center, University of Oregon. <br /> <br /> <br />Over 110 people have transitioned from a <br />rest stop into permanent housing in the <br />last two-year reporting period, and over <br />60 have moved into other types of <br />transitional housing. <br /> <br />Samantha and Thomas, a mother and son team, lived <br />at the Nightingale Health Sanctuary (NHS) rest <br />stop for one year. Thomas is in his late 20s and has a <br />developmental disability. After diligently applying <br />and working with housing agencies to find stable <br />housing, Samantha and Thomas are now living in an <br />apartment, where Thomas has a case worker who <br />visits him regularly, and Samantha has found <br />employment as a caregiver. NHS site managers write <br />that “they are still working hard each day and so <br />incredibly grateful to be in a home that is their own.” <br />Rest stop residents also contribute <br />to the upkeep and maintenance of <br />City parks, with over 555 <br />volunteer hours logged in 2015! <br />NHS residents contributing to a City park <br />January 23, 2019, Work Session - Item 2