The City has been working throughout the pandemic to balance the needs of people experiencing homelessness to have a safe place to sleep. The goal has always been to slow the spread of COVID-19, and work inside of guidance of the CDC, Oregon Health Authority, and Lane County Public Health which calls for limiting the movement of people throughout the community. In order to support this public health effort, the City has adjusted its processes around urban camping while continuing to create and search for new shelter options. At this time however, many people experiencing homelessness are residing in Eugene’s parks and right of way areas. Since the beginning of COVID the City has used three basic principles when evaluating camps:       Health and safety – sites that pose health and safety issues for the housed and unhoused communities – including degradation of the environment.Location – near playgrounds, sports fields and paths, sites that block public access to properties, sidewalks, paths or roads, or limit ADA accessibility, as well as sites that block park facilities and paths.Criminal behavior – trespassing or known criminal activity. As COVID spread more broadly in our community over the past six weeks, we’ve adjusted our processes around urban camping. These new processes included specific criteria when identifying camps that may need to be cleared and cleaned. The intent is to provide the information to campers so they can clearly understand the expectations and allow them the opportunity to come into compliance. If they can meet the criteria, they would be allowed to stay. This work coincides with the City increasing its own ability to provide more outreach and compliance assistance to people who are camping. As for specific camping in Westmoreland Park, this is tied to the campers who were in the right-of-way on 18th Avenue. Out of safety…

Bloodworks Northwest provides the blood to 100 percent of the hospitals in Lane County. We need your help making sure they have plenty of blood. Blood donation remains an essential and encouraged activity as Gov. Kate Brown implements new coronavirus restrictions. Blood donors have a critical role in sustaining health care through the holidays and into the new year—there is an urgent need to save lives. Bloodworks Northwest is now testing all blood donations for COVID-19 Antibodies. Could you help COVID-19 patients? Give blood with Bloodworks Dec. 9 - 31 and they’ll test your donation for antibodies which are a key component of the immune system that appear in blood after fighting an infection. The testing will help identify people who may be able to donate to our convalescent plasma program and help COVID-19 patients directly. Be a COVID-19 hero and schedule your one hour appointment today. Springfield Faith Center, 600 Hayden Bridge Road, Dec. 2-4 First Baptist, Eugene, 3550 Fox Meadows Rd., Dec. 10 and 11 The Graduate Hotel, 66 E. 6th Ave, Eugene, Dec. 17 and 18 Besides helping the community, donors in December will automatically be entered to win a 75” HDTV.  Or donate now through January to be entered to win a Seaside Weekend Getaway courtesy of the City of Seaside. Or are you ready for a fresh look? Donate and receive a $5 off voucher for Bishops Barbershops. Please make and keep your appointment to donate blood today at https://schedule.bloodworksnw.org/DonorPortal/Default.aspx or call 800-398-7888.

Dec. 2, 2020. As we turn our calendars to December, we’d like to share gratitude for those who modified their Thanksgiving holiday - potentially sacrificing time with loved ones - and helped to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, region and state. We know it’s hard, but you’re making a difference for your family, friends and neighbors. Many thanks to those who continue shopping locally and ordering from our restaurants and breweries. We all need support this time of year, including our small businesses. For those remaining items on your holiday shopping list, check out the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce’s shop local guide. Read more here