Item B: Council Priority Issue - Homeless Strategy

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ATTACHMENT B City of Eugene Chronological History of Homeless Efforts & Actions 1947 to Present 1990 Interfaith Emergency Shelter Program began when the Opportunity Shelter closed due to both funding shortfalls and recognition that this model was not successful. Following a public protest, the City provided seed money for the Interfaith Emergency Shelter Program rather than implementing the proposal by the community members which would have allowed camping at the site of the former Jefferson Pool. Status: This program continues to operate. (St. Vincent dePaul) 1990 Family Access Center established. (now called First Place Family Center) Status: This program began when the Opportunity Shelter closed due to both funding shortfalls and recognition that this model was not successful. This was a critical companion program to the Interfaith Shelter. This program continues to operate at 1990 Amazon. (St. Vincent dePaul) 1991 Special cold weather/snow emergency shelter opened at Whiteaker School during winter vacation. Status: This was a one-time compassionate response. It did result in what may have been the most accurate local homeless census ever – 599 people at various shelters on Christmas Eve. 1992 Department of Public Safety camping policy revised. Status: Police enforcement actions became more complaint-oriented, rather than proactive. 1993 Centennial Car Camp created (following a Human Rights Commission recommendation). It operated during three winter seasons ending in June 1995. Status: Eugene became, perhaps, the first city since post World War II to try a homeless camp. It focused attention on this community problem and provided a legal alternative to illegal camping on the streets. It also helped the State of Oregon close an illegal homeless camp at Armitage Park; the reasons included eroding intergovernmental financial support, management challenges, and siting concerns. The camp was envisioned to be used by adults, but households with children lived there as well. 1993 Shelter Work Group looked for a permanent campground and other solutions. Status: No solution identified, but the outcome was a great deal of education about the extraordinary challenges of siting and operating an urban campground for homeless people. 1993 New Roads School and Youth Access Center opened in December. Status: This program still operates (Looking Glass). 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 47 passed. 1995 Eugene Service Station, an access center for adults, was established with City seed money. Status: This program still exists at an expanded facility. The building is shared by the Bethel Police 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. Page 2 of 4 11/21/2005