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BACKGROUND <br /> <br />In February 2005 Eugene City Council identified “Helping the Homeless in Eugene” as a priority <br />initiative. A cross-departmental staff team, augmented by members of the Human Rights <br />Commission and staff of the Lane County Human Services Commission, studied the problem, <br />reviewed past efforts and visited with groups of homeless people in order to formulate <br />recommendations. <br /> <br />Initial recommendations resulted in the City of Eugene providing temporary funding for <br />homeless prevention programs, transportation assistance, daytime shelters and assistance for <br />homeless youth. The City also initiated staff training and reviewed existing policies. One policy <br />change enabled more homeless people to obtain library cards. <br /> <br />City Council renewed its goals in 2006 and 2007 and expanded the homeless initiative to <br />implement Lane County’s Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Acknowledging that a <br />significant local funding source is needed to address the problems associated with homelessness, <br />Council empowered Mayor Kitty Piercy to appoint a committee to identify a stable funding <br />source. The first meeting of the newly established Blue Ribbon Committee on Homelessness <br />occurred on May 2, 2007. The committee’s charge was to “examine the local impact of <br />homelessness, identify strategies and make recommendations to the City Council related to new <br />funding and finance options.” The committee was comprised of 20 members representing a <br />spectrum of private, nonprofit, religious, and public interests. It included elected officials from <br />the three local jurisdictions and an ex-officio member of Congressman Peter DeFazio’s staff. <br /> <br />The Blue Ribbon Committee received presentations about the causes and impacts of housing and <br />homelessness from numerous perspectives in order to better understand the problem. There has <br />been a growing intergovernmental and community awareness about these issues over the last <br />twenty years. These responses, while of critical importance, are inadequate to even keep pace <br />with the growing needs. The Human Services Commission and the Housing Policy Board (both <br />include elected officials from each metro jurisdiction) have studied the issue and funded <br />responses. Lane County has been instrumental in providing funding. The Eugene City Council <br />has consistently adopted low-income housing goals during the past 20 years. As a result there is <br />a significant degree of local expertise and prior experience. <br /> <br />Committee presentations included: <br />Role of United Way and Human Permanent and transitional housing <br />Services Commission Children, youth, and school impacts <br />Housing and Community Services People with disabilities and supported <br />Agency (HACSA) programs housing <br />Impacts on police and public works Tour of low-income housing <br />Crises Assistance Helping Out on the developments <br />Streets (CAHOOTS) Tour of First Place Family Center <br />Public health impacts “Community Pulse” (political realities) <br />5 <br />Blue Ribbon Committee on Homelessness, Recommendation April 2, 2008 -- Page <br />