A developing “safe sleep” site in Eugene called Everyone Village aims to house 30 people by year’s end.
On a 3.5 acre space in West Eugene, a tow truck moved an RV onto the pavement, next to a Conestoga shelter and tiny house on wheels.
“We were so fortunate to have this donated,” said Heather Sielicki, co-lead for the site. “The motor doesn’t work anymore but the interior’s beautiful and will allow to us to have more couples being able to stay together.”
Organizers plan to have 17 RVs and 13 mini-shelters installed by late December. There’ll also be overnight security and a monitored entrance at the front of a newly-acquired warehouse on Janisse Street.
Co-lead Gabe Piechowicz says support and donations have been strong.
“Honestly, I’ve never been so blessed and felt so overwhelmingly connected to a community as I have during the arc of Everyone Village story,” he told KLCC. “It’s just overwhelming to see what we’re capable of when we all lift together as a community, it’s really beautiful.”
Next year, 60 to 100 more units will be available. Planners hope to work with the City of Eugene and Lane County on further development, and to have students from eight school districts building those additional micro-shelters.
“Once they’re built, they’re gonna take them back to Everyone Village, and we’ll set them up, with people living in them. So it’s pretty exciting,” said Sielicki.
“It’s a great unit for people to get their feet wet on construction. So we’re hoping to help with that industry. It’s a great way for them to get involved with some of the problems that we’re facing in our community in a very practical, hands-on way.”
A shelter designer with Carry It Forward will help school district technicians learn construction basics to pass on to students. Sielicki says they plan to work first with the 4J District.
Partners involved in launching Everyone Village also include PIVOT Architecture, the Rexius Family, and Builder’s Electric.
More information and applications can be found here.
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