homelessness update

My Quick Note this morning is dedicated to a topic impacting many of your businesses and that we are working on extensively right now.
 
We are acutely aware of the growing number of businesses dealing with criminal activity and unsanctioned camping on or near their property. It is one of our top priorities at the Chamber right now. I spent time Thursday driving around the West Eugene and Whiteaker area to take photos and see for myself the current state of affairs in those parts of the community. It was incredibly disheartening. These businesses and employees need relief, the homeless individuals need a sanctioned, safe place to be, and the criminals need to be held accountable.
 
We are committed to addressing these issues.

• Our immediate goal is two-fold, both as important as the other:
  • Stop the crime happening on these properties and to these businesses
  • Move illegal campers and find appropriate and sanctioned places for these homeless individuals to shelter
• Our long-term goal is also two-fold:
  • Increase the housing supply and availability of permanent housing options for those unhoused in our community
  • Move upstream and turn off the “spigot” of new individuals entering homelessness in our community, whether they are from here or traveling here from other communities

 
First, after dozens of conversations with elected officials, city staff and nonprofit and business leaders it is clear we have to reframe this issue.
 
Solving Homelessness by Saving and Increasing Jobs
To accomplish these goals, we strongly believe we need a shift in our way of thinking about and approaching this issue as a community. Historically businesses have been pitted against homeless individuals and advocates, suggesting there are two-sides to these issues and that we are not working towards the same goal of ending homelessness. We believe helping the businesses that are struggling with the impacts of criminal activity and illegal camping is a long-term solution to our current homeless challenge.
 
The businesses I have spoken to over the past few months are at a true tipping point. They are struggling to keep up with the challenges they are experiencing. They are worried about the safety of their employees; and several are having serious conversations about leaving our community. A rough calculation of the number of jobs represented by the employers I have spoken to is over 500. That means we have 500 community members at risk of losing their jobs- which is a leading cause of homelessness in our community and across the country. If we truly want to make strides in solving our homeless challenge in Eugene, we have to prioritize “turning off the spigot” by saving and growing jobs and keeping people off the streets in the first place.
 
Addressing the immediate criminal activity impacting businesses today IS a long-term solution to solving homelessness. It must be prioritized.
 
We are working on a detailed action plan for how to accomplish these goals above, but for now I wanted to share some immediate actions that we are taking or are aware of happening:
 

1. I am working hand-in-hand with Randy Groves, Eugene Ward 8 City Councilor to find answers to questions businesses are asking and to keep encouraging city staff to find quick solutions and take action. While I know we are all frustrated, it is important that we work in partnership with the city to improve these conditions. They are committed to addressing these issues.
2. Just this morning I heard from Randy that the city noticed 67 RVs and trailers as well as 33 cars on Owen Loop to move. EPD Street Crimes Unit recovered two stolen vehicles and made an arrest of a subject leaving the area with stolen tools and in possession of narcotics. Your reports are making a difference and we are very grateful for the city staff taking action.
3. The chamber is talking to local attorneys and researching possible legal action that could be perused by local businesses to influence quicker movement addressing these issues.
4. We are working to identify funding to support a staff person at the chamber fully dedicated to supporting businesses on this issue and pushing action at the city and county. If you are willing to support this position, please let me know.
5. We are urging businesses to PLEASE keep reporting any and all crimes that are happening in your area. Whether you believe you will get a response or not, we need to make sure the issues are logged, and the data reflects where the biggest criminal hotspots are located.
6. The county has located two temporary sites to move campers from the 11th and Beltline camp. They are preparing those sites now. We hope to see that camp moved in the next few weeks.
7. The city is shifting staff capacity to focus on cleaning up trash and debris from camps across the community.
8. The city staff is currently evaluating all of their vacant properties to identify spots that unsanctioned camps can be moved.
9. We are reaching out to private sector individuals who may have property that they would be willing to explore using temporarily for homeless services. No commitment is necessary, and we are working on possible incentives for offering up space. If you are even remotely intrigued, please let me know.
10. We are encouraging businesses to send an email to Eugene City Councilors prior to their April 12th work session on this topic to let them know exactly what issues your business, and in turn, your employees or customers, are dealing with related to crime and illegal camping. You can send that email to this address (please consider copying me on that email so we can track outreach): [email protected]
11. We are urging businesses to weigh in on the community safety funding discussion to show their support for funding the police department to increase personnel to adequately respond to and deter crime from happening
    
    • Please fill out the survey here before March 31st: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7TQYVFB
      
    • Please let me know if you are willing to testify at a VIRTUAL public listening session about these funds on Tuesday, March 30th from 6-8pm. Some community members believe we need to shift funding away from the police department, but we know they still need the resources and want to make sure the business community is heard.
      

 
While COVID has added a layer of complexity to an already overwhelming situation, we know there are things that can still be done now. We have a lot more to come, and I plan to keep providing progress updates along the way.