A program allowing homeless people to camp in their vehicles on private and public property with the landowner’s consent may grow if supporters can generate enough enthusiasm among Lane County property owners.
The city owns 21 campsite properties in the county designated for homeless residents, and faith-based organizations own another eight. These sites are mostly located on public land or church property, and private landowners provided some additional spaces.
Those working to expand the Overnight Parking Program say more camping spaces are necessary to keep people from parking overnight in places that aren’t legal.
Richie Weinman, urban services manager for the city of Eugene, said the 12-year-old program is working pretty well, but the number of displaced homeless citizens is overwhelming what urban services can accommodate.
“We’re actively looking for more legal places for people to sleep. We know they’re gonna sleep somewhere one way or another, and we’d rather have it be somewhere legal,” Weinman said.
Keith Heath of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County oversees the 29 public sites around Lane County and said there are about 60 people on the waiting list for campsites every night. In a meeting with the Eugene City Council last Friday, Heath and others informed the council of the demand for more space.
Heath said that after meeting with the “powers that be … it’s just a wait-and-see thing right now.”
Some critics say current city policy does not do enough to advocate for the homeless, specifically because the park-and-camp assists only homeless people with vehicles.
Jessica Green, Eugene resident and member of an upstart group calling itself ACT (A Community Together) Lane County, presented a case to expand the city’s program at a Feb. 22 City Council meeting. She urged councilors not only to find more places for homeless people to park, but to include in the program homeless people who do not own vehicles.
“There’s a heck of a lot of homeless people who don’t have a vehicle and shouldn’t have to have a vehicle to get into that program, which itself doesn’t have enough spaces for the people who need it,” Green said.
She added that the city should reduce restrictions that may prevent landowners from allowing people to camp on their property.
Campsite hosts must adhere to certain program requirements.
“If someone wants to, they can allow up to three campers on their property, but they must provide sanitation,” Weinman said.
In addition to following other rules regarding garbage, landowners cannot charge rent.
“It shouldn’t be a tenant-landlord relationship,” he said.
Weinman said the city is doing what it can to mold policy in such a way that suits everyone.
“Our community is constantly struggling with this issue. It’s a problem for the homeless people and for the community,” Weinman said. “The problem is greater than we can handle right now; we’re trying to find more spots.”
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