8A | DECEMBER 31, 2020
Pallet
from A7
Beds for Freezing Nights
Board President Ruth Linoz
pointed out in an October
Cottage Grove City Coun-
cil meeting that the group’s
criterion for activation at 29
degrees or below encourages
priority use of Eugene’s Egan
Warming Center and thus
reduces the shelter-seeking
traffic from outside areas.
The city council had pre-
viously voted to purchase the
shelters from Lane County
using the city’s federal coro-
navirus relief funds. Howev-
er, it later came to light that
because the county had al-
ready purchased the shelters
using CARES Act funds,
Cottage Grove could not use
the same funds to procure
them from the county.
Currently the county
retains ownership of the
shelters and is lending the
facilities to other cities such
as Florence and Oakridge as
well.
Meyers said that despite
not owning the shelters out-
|
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
right, he was confident the
county would allow them
to remain in the city long-
term.
“I’ve already got a num-
ber of people that are saying,
‘That makes a lot of sense
for you just to store them
and keep them,’” he said.
“Because then if there’s an
emergency or some situa-
tion, it’s easier for [the city]
to keep them rather than
[the county] bring them all
the way down to Eugene and
bring them back.”
Instead of using the fed-
eral relief funding to pur-
chase the shelters, Meyers
said the city has found other
COVID-related uses for the
money.
Site preparation and in-
frastructure setup for the
shelters themselves came
out to around $100,000, he
said, while other relief funds
were used for projects like
upgrading the air purifica-
tion systems in city build-
ings.
The funding must be used
by the end of the year or it
will be returned to the coun-
ty, said Meyers.
The shelter’s season runs
from Nov. 1 to March 31.
At the end of the season,
the Pallet Shelters will be
housed with the city and
the site will be opened up to
other possible uses during
the off-season.
Meanwhile, the shelter
structures will be standing
by in case a need for them
arises.
“These are going to be
available if there’s a wild-
fire or there’s some kind of
emergency,” said Meyers.
Though
transitional
housing has been addressed
as a need in Cottage Grove,
Meyers said he envisions
more solid structures for
that purpose.
“I’d want to build an actu-
al stick building with better
insulation which is more du-
rable,” he said. “So you can
have transitional housing
that’s the more permanent
stuff that people can move
into and live in until they
are ready … and move into
a tiny home or something.”
The Community Sharing
Warming Shelter also satis-
fies a standard established
by a circuit court decision a
year ago.
On Dec. 16, 2019, a Su-
preme Court decision to
deny a petition to review
Martin v. City of Boise fi-
nalized a significant holding
by the 9th Circuit Court of
Appeals which protects the
right for homeless people to
sleep in public spaces with-
out reprisal.
The circuit court ruling
held that if a homeless per-
son has no option of sleep-
ing indoors, a city cannot
cite or punish him or her for
violating an ordinance disal-
lowing sleeping outside in a
public space.
With the establishment
of the Community Sharing
Warming Shelter, Meyers
said local police could now
use the site as a tool in di-
recting the city’s homeless
population to a safe and
warm place.
Providing
Community
Sharing’s training schedule
for new staff stays on target,
the warming shelter may be
PHOTO BY DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Curious community members turned out for the
Community Sharing Warming Shelter open house
event on Tuesday.
ready to open for freezing open.”
nights as early as Jan. 7.
Like any nonprofit, Com-
Making sure there are munity Sharing is welcom-
enough volunteers and staff ing of more volunteers and
on hand when a freezing is still looking for people to
night comes around has fill paid staff positions.
been a persistent challenge
“We would love volun-
for warming shelters, how- teers,” said Community
Sharing Executive Director
ever.
“When I talked to Beds for Mike Fleck. “We would also
Freezing Nights, they had a love for community groups,
volunteer pool of about 80 if they wanted, to bring food
volunteers,” said Communi- in to give folks.”
Check online at commu-
ty Sharing’s Site Coordinator
DeForest Rolnick-Wihtol. nitysharing.org to view the
“And even with that large of warming shelter’s activation
a pool, they often struggle status or find more informa-
to get enough volunteers to tion about volunteering.
BECAUSE SAFETY IS KEY,
PLEASE DON’T
DRINK AND DRIVE!
“Key” Strategies For A Safe
New Year’s Celebration:
I
t probably comes as no surprise that more traffi c
fatalities due to drunk driving occur at the New Year
than any other time, but of course, you should never
drink and drive. With your safety in mind, these community
sponsors urge you to review these important tips for
hosting or attending a safe celebration!
A New Year is coming bringing much celebration,
With good friends and good times and free-fl owing libation --
So party on hearty, but leave driving alone,
Because we want to see you get safely home!
WITH BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE
FOR A SAFE & HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Starfi re Lumber
Company
Ray’s Towing
Lane Electric
Brad’s Cottage Grove
Chevrolet
Fountain Gutters
Lane County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
• Plan an alcohol-free celebration – Host a fondue
or “make your own” ice cream sundae party as a fresh
alternative. Add some fun party games to keep guests
entertained without drinking!
• Check your keys with the host – This is an
effective strategy for giving the host some control
over inebriated guests.
• Keep the number of a taxi company handy –
A good tip for both party guests and hosts alike.
• Offer to drive a guest home – Start the
New Year off right by performing a good deed
and help keep drunk drivers off the road.
• Appoint a designated driver – Use the buddy
system and you can return the favor next time.
• Provide lots of snacks to party guests –
Drinking on an empty-stomach rapidly
increases alcohol’s debilitating effects.
• Post transportation info on party invites –
Include information for public transportation,
car pools and taxi company phone numbers.
• Don’t let a friend drive drunk – Take the car keys
away or use one of the strategies above to see your
friends safely home.
South Lane Wheels
Dave’s Pump &
Construction
Hitch Pro & Tow
State Farm Insurance
Homestead Furniture
White Water Well
- Matt Bjornn
Boyce & Son’s
Drilling
The UPS Store
Landscaping &
Gabriele Wellness
King Estate Winery
Building Materials
Center
South Lane County
Fire & Rescue