Occupy Eugene Media Group » COMMUNITY SUPPORTED SHELTERS (CSS) – Providing Safe Shelter For Those in Need

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED SHELTERS (CSS) – Providing Safe Shelter For Those in Need

Community Supported Shelters (CSS) has worked hard to help their community by offering two ways to shelter the unhoused in Eugene.

— The Conestoga Hut Program

The hut program allows business owners to have city permission for a conestoga to be placed on their property. The hut is built by CSS from funds donated by the community. The program is administered by the St. Vincent De Paul Parking Program and they pay for a port-a-potty to be maintained there. The hut acts as both shelter for an unhoused person (or couple) and a means to provide night security for the business. It is a win win situation and many people have already benefited tremendously from the project. There are certain key features to the CSS huts:

A combination of reused, salvaged, donated, and new materials help keep cost low.
Structure can be altered to the needs of a variety of inhabitants (for example, can be made wheel chair accessible) and can be personalized for individual’s aesthetics.
Has a single lockable door with key.
Window in rear panel brings in light and offers emergency exit if needed.
Reflective insulation adds a minimal R-Value and increased natural heat retention to the space.
A six by 10 footprint makes it big enough for two people to sleep comfortably.
Built well off the ground to ensure a dry experience during rainfall.
Designed to be deconstructed and moved with relative ease.
Designed with reuse potential, either as another Conestoga Hut or its basic materials can be up-cycled.
Gives everyone interested in creating shelters for people something ‘to-do’ no matter what their skill level is. This concept is called “Community Supported Shelters”. For instance, a school wood shop class could take it on as a class project.

— “Rest-stops” are an initiative of the City of Eugene, OR to provide safe and legal places for up to 15 people to sleep at night.

Any non-profit organization involved in providing basic shelter needs is able to submit proposals to the City to manage a ‘rest-stop.’ Currently, CSS manages three rest-stops which are called the Eugene Safe Spots (ESS). Eugene Safe Spot camps have several features that make it a very basic, but livable environment for people without other shelter options. These include:

1. A set of rules that provide a system of support to it’s residents
2. port-a-potties
3. Trash/recycling service
4. A source of drinkable water
5. A fire pit
6. A small covered space for common use and meetings
7. Platforms for tents with covers for the winter months
8. Bi-weekly check-in meetings
9. A useable address, or documentable location (not for receiving mail)
10. An environment that makes peer and social support more of a possibility for peoples lives.

Photos by Jana Thrift