The City of Eugene voted, 7-1, Wednesday to approve three Safe Sleep sites for the unhoused adding to two other sites approved over the summer. The new sites could provide up to 150 spaces for a mix of tents or vehicles.
The goal of the project is to prevent the unhoused from illegally camping and parking in the city by relocating them to Safe Sleep sites. The three newly approved sites are in addition to two other sites that were approved on July 21.
The 2nd and Garfield location on 310 Garfield Street is expected to come online on Oct. 4. According to the city, the site can hold up to 55 vehicles and will be operated by St. Vincent de Paul.
Meanwhile, the site at Chase Commons Park, which has enough room for 20 Conestoga huts, has not come online yet. The city said they're still searching for a social service provider to operate the site.
At the Sept. 29 council meeting, councilor Claire Syrett said the project alone won’t solve homelessness, but it’s a strategy to create legal safe spaces and help connect people with services to get out of homelessness.
“Leaving people to fend for themselves on the streets, sidewalks, and bushes is not going to provide for that same type of opportunity both for the quality of life for our housed community members and those who are experiencing homelessness,” she said.
The three new sites will be located on 2243 Roosevelt Boulevard, 410 Garfield Street, and on Dani Street. east of Wallis Street at the north end of Dani Street.
The city has been in talks with St. Vincent de Paul to operate the 410 Garfield Street site, and EveryOne Village, a group associated with Everyone Church, will operate the Dani Street site.
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