City of Eugene Unhoused Response for Nov. 4, 2021
The City of Eugene continues to pursue creating Safe Sleep sites and will deactivate the temporary camps at Washington Jefferson Park and 13th Avenue as Safe Sleep sites for tents and small shelters are available. The Safe Sleep sites will provide safe and legal places for people living in tents or vehicles.
This update includes information on the progress of Safe Sleep sites, as well as the two large temporary camps. These camps have created challenges for the housed, unhoused, and those who work nearby. We’ve taken steps to mitigate impacts, but it’s a continuous process.
For more information about Safe Sleep sites, including the two approved locations, visit eugene-or.gov/safesleep. For information about the criteria for temporary camping visit eugene-or.gov/tempcamping.
Washington Jefferson Park
A view of tents in Washington Jefferson Park in October 2021.
Park staff and Eugene Police park resource officers worked to remove a number of tents and campers persistently out of compliance with camping criteria, leaving 212 occupied grid spaces. Park resource officers will train other EPD officers who have elected to take shifts to support safe park operations, Mondays through Saturdays. The addition of NW HazMat for cleanup and abatement of hazardous substances has been a great help to park monitors and a great value to the City, as the NW HazMat crews are able to do a great deal very efficiently. Two new site monitors start the week of November 1.
13th Avenue
The 63 gridded spaces remain occupied. Two designated site monitors will again staff the site starting the week of November 1.
Safe Sleep Sites
The Safe Sleep site at 310 Garfield in October 2021.
Work is ongoing to firm up sites as soon as is practicable.
310 Garfield St.
The City of Eugene opened its first Safe Sleep site at 310 Garfield St. on October 4. The site reached capacity October 14 and accommodates up to 55 vehicles used for shelter, along with additional vehicles used by those residents for transportation. Most of the vehicles at the site have been in unsanctioned streets in west Eugene. St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County operates the site, which has a waiting list. The site currently serves 78 community members. Please note: this open site accommodates vehicle camping only and is therefore not an option for occupants of Washington Jefferson Park or 13th Avenue temporary camps, or those in other unsanctioned tent or shelter camps.
Chase Commons Park
Staff are still seeking a service provider for Chase Commons Park, which is expected to host up to 20 Conestoga huts. A draft site plan has been created, and staff will also engage more with the neighborhood and businesses to respond to questions and concerns related to this site. The site has water and electricity available for connection in the street.
2243 Roosevelt Blvd.
Approved as a Safe Sleep site by City Council on September 29; staff will begin community engagement and site and operator planning. To be operated by SquareOne Villages.
Dani Street
Approved as a Safe Sleep site by City Council on September 29; staff will begin community engagement and site and operator planning. To be operated by EveryOne Village (Everyone Church).
410 Garfield St.
Approved as a Safe Sleep site by City Council on September 29; staff will begin community engagement and site and operator planning. To be operated by St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County.
More information about the City’s response to homelessness is available online.