OVERVIEW
Over the past few years it has become increasingly clear that two complex, distinct, but at times related issues have become top priorities for the business community- declining public safety and the growing number of unhoused, and unsheltered individuals living at-risk in our community. As the concerns and requests for help from businesses escalated, the Eugene Chamber Board of Directors agreed that bringing the private sector to the table to accelerate our community toward permanent solutions to homelessness needed to be a top priority for the Chamber. In 2021, the Eugene Chamber set out to understand this issue better and determine how the private sector could effectively contribute to solutions.
At this phase in the conversation, the Eugene Chamber has four core objectives for our work in this space:
At this phase in the conversation, the Eugene Chamber has four core objectives for our work in this space:
- Understand & Educate business leaders and community members on the facts of our crisis. ACTION: In September 2021, we released The State of Our Homelessness Crisis Report
- Mobilize business leaders in to action. ACTION: In November 2021 we launched a Business Leaders Task Force + action committees
- Champion a cross-sector effort to formalize One Regional Plan to end homelessness. ACTION: We are currently convening leaders from across sectors to align our goals and actions, and collectively work on one community plan to end homelessness
- Organize resources from across the community in to one centralized location. ACTION: Along the way, we are creating and compiling resources for businesses and individuals
LATEST UPDATE
The Business Leaders Task Force (BLTF) launched four action-oriented committees in early 2022:
The Communications Committee (in partnership with the City of Eugene) has responded to several requests to compile resources including a Homelessness & Public Safety Resources for Employers and Employees flyer, as well as one with Help for Unhoused Individuals.
Finally, the Chamber has continued our conversations to determine how we can advance a shared community plan.
We look forward to sharing more progress soon. If you are interested in becoming involved or have feedback, please email [email protected].
- Data, Communications, Accountability, and Workforce Development
The Communications Committee (in partnership with the City of Eugene) has responded to several requests to compile resources including a Homelessness & Public Safety Resources for Employers and Employees flyer, as well as one with Help for Unhoused Individuals.
Finally, the Chamber has continued our conversations to determine how we can advance a shared community plan.
We look forward to sharing more progress soon. If you are interested in becoming involved or have feedback, please email [email protected].
STATE OF HOMELESSNESS REPORT
There is broad agreement among partners that a fundamentally different way to approach this issue is needed. It is essential that community stakeholders from all sectors align to more efficiently utilize our limited resources. Until efforts are better united, we cannot achieve success.
The State of Homelessness Report issued by our Chamber in September of 2021 offers recommendations, in no particular order, aim to establish homelessness as rare, brief, and non-recurring.
The State of Homelessness Report issued by our Chamber in September of 2021 offers recommendations, in no particular order, aim to establish homelessness as rare, brief, and non-recurring.
taking action
If you are interested in joining the business leaders task force, providing funds to help implement strategies to end homelessness, or offering specific technical expertise to help improve our system, please email [email protected].
