The City of Eugene and Lane County officials are throwing their support behind an ambitious proposal aimed at effectively ending homelessness in the region.
Zero homeless. That’s the goal of a series of recommendations provided by the Boston-based consultant, Technical Assistance Collaborative. Their roadmap to end homelessness includes construction of a 75-bed public shelter, more units of supportive housing and expanding existing programs.
The Eugene City Council have directed City Manager John Ruiz and Lane County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky to develop a plan by May 1st.
Mokrohisky says there is a collective desire to meet the challenge.
“The reality is there‘s a moral component. There’s an element of helping individuals who are struggling,” he says. “There’s also the element of financial responsibility. There are individuals that are unhoused that are costing our systems a lot of money.”
Mokrohisky says there is no dispute about what needs to be done to get the area homeless number down to none. The question is how to pay for it.