The Eugene Police Department is threatening the non-profit Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, a service to the unhoused previously called Breakfast Brigade, with arrest and citations due to “permit violations.”
According to Lisa Levsen an NFN board member, NFN’s permits were expired.
The nonprofit was met by police on Dec. 5 while volunteers served meals to the community at Washington Jefferson Park.
According to EPD Public Information Officer, Melinda McLaughlin, the reason for the police interaction was because of the permit violations and NFN’s failure to comply with event requirements in the park.
“They have refused to work with the city for alternative locations, lost their appeal in court for the permit, are blocking the sidewalk and are violating park rules,” McLaughlin said.
Volunteers from NFN said they will continue to serve food to the unhoused, despite the warning from authorities.
“We are not going to stop serving, but if they want to arrest us, we will go to jail if we need to,” Levsen said. “We have been serving for over 10 years and we’re not going to stop.”
According to McLaughlin, special use permits provide “critical” information to the city about the potential impact on traffic, trash, sprinkler schedules and other events in the area.
Levsen said that there were “minor” reasons why the permits expired such as miscommunications with city officials. NFN was asked for certification of insurance which included the entirety of WJ Park.
Levsen said the permit was denied because a financial sponsor did not respond back with the certificate within the allotted time.
According to Levsen, the original permit price of $40 per month was raised to $40 per day.
Levsen said NFN will be going back to the city council to contest the fees.
“We are at the center of Eugene where there are no other food services,” Levsen said. “They [EPD] like to drive the homeless out to Highway 99 and there are places there, but in the center of Eugene, there’s no other place that is under cover.”
Diana Estrada, a volunteer for NFN, was at WJ Park and said she felt “really bothered” about the police encounter on Dec. 5.
“We are giving the best that we can to the people that are hungry, that are living and dying on the streets, that we don’t hear about because local papers don’t post,” Estrada said. “Why are police draining money, wasting their time here, when all they’re doing is eating?”
According to Levsen, NFN serves around 1,000 meals to 500 people per week.
City Councilwoman Emily Semple was walking her dog at the neighboring dog park when she came across the event.
“We have very warm hearts, but we also have to have warm hearts for the businesses and the people who get inundated, because it’s a vital service and an attractive nuisance. It’s a really difficult time to figure out,” Semple said.
