Housing & Homelessness

The unhoused population in the Eugene area has put the city first in the U.S. for homelessness, according to a new survey that used last year's federal data. 

As temperatures begin to drop, St. Vincent de Paul is continuing preparations for their Egan Warming Center program. This season they’re opening two new shelter sites, including one in Springfield. 

Next month, construction will begin on Lane County’s newest housing project to address chronic homelessness. The 51-unit complex, called The Commons on MLK, will go up across the street from Autzen Stadium in Eugene. KLCC’s Tiffany Eckert walked the site and has this report.

A memorial was held Friday for a 57-year old woman who died on the streets of Eugene. Her death has once again raised the question of why more isn’t being done to shelter homeless people. KLCC’s Tiffany Eckert reports from First Christian Church.

Scientists say there’s a 1-in-3 chance of a powerful earthquake hitting the Pacific Northwest in the next 50 years. Residents of the Cascadia Subduction Zone are advised to stockpile two weeks’ worth of water, food, and medical supplies should the “Big One” strike. But as KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, economic disparities already divide those who can readily prepare, and those who will struggle to.

In a move to symbolically reaffirm Lane County’s work toward addressing the issue, the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution, 4-1, Tuesday. The resolution declares a homelessness emergency in Lane County.

Hard drugs are driving up the numbers of homeless, says a non-profit group that helps the poor and unhoused. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, a shelter that isn’t normally at capacity until winter is already packed.

The vote on whether or not to rezone a Springfield mobile home park has been put off until possibly later this month. 

The City of Eugene continues to deal with homelessness.  Recently, this included sending out crews with the Lane County Sheriff's Department, Eugene Police, and the city's Parks and Open Spaces staff to gather and transport heavy amounts of waste that could endanger the environment or visitors.

The Executive Director of ShelterCare will retire at the end of this year. Susan Ban has led the human-services agency in the Eugene-Springfield community for over 28 years. As KLCC’s Tiffany Eckert reports, the announcement gives staff and volunteers opportunity to reflect on her work.

A Eugene Church recently broke ground on phase 2 of their housing initiative to help people in need of homes. The project comes a year after the congregation helped change a city land-use code. 

Business owners downtown are often tasked with cleaning up trash and waste left by transients. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, a new program aims to tackle that problem.

On Monday the Eugene City Council will consider changing an ordinance on overnight rest stops for the unhoused. The proposal would affect where the sites are located.

A small homeless camp could soon be set up on a corner of the Lane County Fairgrounds.

Homeless campers living in a row of tents in downtown Eugene say they are there in protest. The campers object to the lack of shelter in the city center and claim mistreatment by local business owners.

A community meeting will be held in Corvallis next Thursday in order to decide on bylaws for a homelessness advisory council. It’s designed to assess, plan and respond to homelessness issues in Benton County.

The latest point in time homeless count found that in Lane County more than 2,100  people are without adequate housing. People who are unhoused face challenges to their health, safety and well-being.