Warm, clear spring nights provide relief from the cold rain that plagues the 2,763 Eugene citizens who are homeless. However, a $567,404 donation from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will provide financial relief for the community organizations that have endured harsh budget cuts but continue to care for the growing homeless population.
The funding to the city, which is part of the new federal Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program, must be used to provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals from being homeless or provide homeless individuals with a place to live as they stabilize their lives.
“The economy has led to an increase in the amount of people who need our services. We have 500 people on waiting lists to move into one of our 900 affordable housing units,” said Amy Harwood, a spokesperson for St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane Co. Inc.. “It is really hard when you have to tell people they are just going to have to wait for housing.”
The city is proposing to distribute the new funds by September through a competitive grant process. Organizations that already provide housing relocation and stabilization services and financial assistance for housing-related services are likely recipients.
Erin Bonner, the assistant executive director for operations at ShelterCare in Eugene, said she is anticipating that ShelterCare will receive some of the funds.
“We don’t have the resources to help everyone. Our staff has been empathetic to families who have had been turned away in recent months and have directed them to other assistance services in the area, but it is still difficult for families who need the services now,” Bonner said. “We don’t know where the money will go yet. However, it is likely we will get some part of the funds because we have had to turn so many families away in recent months.”
More than $387,000 will go toward helping families in need cover utility bills, rental property payments and hotel vouchers.
The proposed budget will also allocate $140,000 toward housing relocation and stabilization services, including helping people find stable housing and professional advice for those struggling with legal and credit issues. “These funds are coming at a critical time for our community because the level of need is so great,” Eugene Urban Service Manager Richie Weinman said.
Support organizations will receive $28,000 to cover administration costs, and the last $10,000 will go toward evaluations of the assistance programs in Eugene.
The Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee will conducProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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a public hearing on the distribution of the funds Tuesday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss what organizations will receive stimulus money.
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