A group of non-profits in Corvallis is hoping to expand their efforts to provide permanent housing to homeless people in the community. They're focusing on "housing first", a model that's been successful in other cities.
Corvallis Housing First plans to build a permanent shelter on a site that's now a temporary warming center for men. Executive Director Gina Vee says focusing on *housing first can reduce rates of emergency room care and arrests for homeless people.
Vee: "Our goal for the homeless is permanent housing. We want to get rid of homelessness. We want it to be cost-effective. And we want it to be done with compassion."
The group opened a 14 unit apartment building several years ago with state funding. It provides transitional housing with case managers. Vee says it's been successful at bringing people out of homelessness. She's planning a larger building that would accommodate up to 75 people on property Housing First Corvallis purchased last year.