Homeless services in the state have gotten some much needed financial help, including some in Lane County. Oregon Housing and Community Services awarded over $1.7 million to organizations across the state to help aid emergency homeless shelters.
Lane County Continuum of Care received $150,000 to fund emergency shelter services for the winter. The funding will be given to St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County to support expenses such as increasing the number of shelter beds, expanding operating hours, and providing extended outreach.
According to Lane County’s 2019 Point in Time Count, of the 2,165 people experiencing homelessness, 1,633 were unsheltered.
As winter approaches, Lane County Public Information Officer Jason Davis says this funding is vital to provide shelter.
“If those temperatures fall below that threshold of around 30 degrees—then you know, really—life is on the line,” said Davis.
St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County will receive $129,000 for the First Place Annex Night Shelter, $10,000 for the Egan Warming Center, and $10,000 for an Egan Warming Center Volunteer Coordinator.
OHCS received these funds from a one-time allocation of $5 million, made during the 2019 Legislative Session to address statewide winter shelter capacity. Using the 2019 Statewide Shelter Study, OHCS will prioritize which organizations will receive the remaining $3.1 million in spring 2020.