Social Justice

Advocates for the Eugene homeless encampment known as Whoville are pushing for an extension of a deadline to close down the camp.  They expect the City will begin the process of evicting residents Tuesday.

Homeless advocates say a grassy area between a busy highway and the main line railroad in north Eugene is not a good place for the residents of Whoville. The City Council last week voted to approve a 3rd pilot "rest stop" for the people who've been at a camp near downtown for months.

It's a narrow piece along Northwest Expressway, near its intersection with River Road. No sidewalks. As vehicles whiz by, Ken Lainy sits in his wheelchair on a gravel driveway.

Immigrant advocates locked arms Monday morning at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA. Their goal was to physically block the feds from deporting people who are in the US illegally.  These blockades are part of an ongoing, nationwide campaign.

Angelica: "You guys, hey. This way."

Angelica Chazaro sprints down a side street near the Tacoma detention center.

Chazaro: "Run that way, run that way….run run run."

Roger Coffee is a Vietnam veteran and Occupy protester who's lived on the streets of Eugene. Fellow Occupy member Karen Moore talked with him about his struggles as a veteran and the help he's received. Roger now lives in a Conestoga Hut through CALC (Community Alliance of Lane County). To hear more stories from our community or to record your own got to storycatchers.org.  Edited by Evelyn Thorne

In an effort to attract more people, the Benton County Project Resource Connect has dropped the word "homeless" from the name of their event.
 

Nationwide, homeless connect events are held as a one-stop shop for people needing assistance accessing services. Benton County Project Coordinator Johanna Peerenboom says they've dropped the word "homeless" from the title of their event.