6A | NOVEMBER 11, 2021 | SHELTER from A3 “So we try to provide some opportunity for some dignity for them, as well as reduce the impact on others,” he said. However, Meyers added that one disappointing as- pect has been the way some in the community have treat- ed those camping in the area, such as backing vehicles up the tents and pumping fumes at the homeless. Others have pulled up, shining their lights or flash- ing them on and off at the at the tents “and just mistreat- ing and harassing these indi- viduals,” said Meyers. “Some of them have had crises oc- cur in their lives and that’s why they’re in the situation. They’ve never been in this kind of situation before.” The reasons for each per- son’s predicament can vary, and in this lies the problem of building solutions. While some may struggle with ad- diction, others may have mental health problems. Each poses its own set of challenges. Meyers hopes that, instead of bullying or mistreating, people would strive to find ways to help get them back on their feet. “So that’s what we’re trying to do, in a nutshell,” he said. Despite the ill treatment by some, city staff have not- ed that there are others who have been coming by and bringing food at night and checking in on their welfare. Police officers will also make regular rounds. Some success has already been found on some fronts, too. In at least one case, one of the people camped at the site was able to get a job and move on. Another is in line to get housing. Many barriers still remain, however. Cottage Grove’s low hous- ing vacancies is an ever-pres- ent high hurdle for many. COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL “There are a couple of the individuals that are on the list to get housing, but they can’t because there isn’t any- thing in the county let alone need other housing,” Meyers said. Other resources are avail- able for those struggling to grab a foothold, too. “Living under a canopy in the back of the parking lot doesn’t quite get there,” he said. “But at least we’re trying to treat them in a way that that such facilities will only act as a magnet for more homeless, effectively turning Cottage Grove into down- town Eugene. DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL The site at the Community Center is considered a temporary solution by the city to address homelessness. Cottage Grove,” said Meyers. While the city’s strategy is to provide a way for people to get back into traditional modes of living like a house or apartment, other deeper problems sometimes must be addressed. Obtaining identification, for instance, is a common problem for many. This was the case for an individual at the Commu- nity Center site. The lack of ID was preventing him from getting a job. Determined to assuage his misfortune, a staff member took him to the DMV and obtained an ID with him so he could continue his job search. And because he didn’t have an address, the city allowed the use of the Community Center’s for the identification. “But it’s a long, difficult process and we desperately Peruvian storytelling comes to Opal Center Opal Center, Lane Arts Council and the University of Oregon present an afternoon of Peruvian storytell- ing and music, Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. at The Opal Center, 513 East Main Street. Beautiful, moving, romantic, traditional Peruvian music is a fusion of sounds and styles drawing on the country’s Andean, Spanish, and African roots. Hun- dreds of years of cultural mixing in Peru has formed a broad musical landscape. The event is free to those who attend. OPAL CENTER IS SEEKING… PROVOCATIVE, FUNNY, HORRIFYING, AND ORIGINAL PLAYS BY EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS FOR THE 2022 SEASON. CALL ABOUT OR EMAIL YOUR SUBMISSIONS AND PROPOSALS TODAY. OPAL CENTER for ARTS & EDUCATION 513 E. Main St. Cottage Grove opalcentercg.org For More Information: 541-623-0513 GROVE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT “B UILDING A H EALTHY C OMMUNITY ” Y OUR L OCAL P ROVIDER OF H OME M EDICAL E QUIPMENT ! Sales & Rentals, Insurance Billing, CPAP/BIPAP, Home Oxygen, Mobility, Walk Aids, Bath Aides, Power Chairs, Power Scooters, Aids to Daily Living. Friendly & Knowledgeable Staff Gateway Blvd (Bi Mart Plaza) 148 G laza) Cottage C ottage G Grove, OR 97424 541-225-5443 grovemedical@outlook.com Join us on Facebook On the Community Cen- ter site, individuals have ac- cess to a portable bathroom and wash station. Nonprofit Community Sharing also debuted a mo- bile shower trailer this year. Since opening in July with just 14 visitors, showers a month at the trailer rose to 39 in October. “And that’s one of the things we’ve seen, is getting them cleaned up, getting them to the showers, getting them back to where they feel like they’re starting to fit back into society,” said Mey- ers. “So we’re working those things out to try to make it a little easier for them to take advantage of other services.” Some problems may re- quire institutional assistance, though, such as with people whose drug addictions have incapacitated their ability to make decisions in their best interest. “That’s something the state has got to address, and we can’t address,” said Meyers. “But the ones we can address are those people that are just struggling to survive, and as a result of an illness, or an ac- cident, or a job loss, or some crazy crisis that occurred in their life, are now homeless.” The question of what to do to enact true problem-solv- ing, though, is why Meyers sees the Community Center site as only a temporary solu- tion. we’re going to help.” The list of challenges for one individual can run so deep, though, sometimes a great deal of attention is needed to navigate onward and upward. “You’ve got to assign one person to be with them and walk them through those steps as they try to get that squared away,” Meyers noted. As one approach, the city is looking at the “Housing First” model, which places shelter as a priority, remov- ing many of the stressors and hurdles that come with homelessness. “If they’re going to get out into the workforce and they’re going to get things taken care of, they need to solve the ones that are tough first, and the toughest one is housing,” Meyers said. “The ‘Housing First’ model will get them into something that’s stable … then some of the others start falling into place.” Lately, the city has been seriously considering the op- tion of setting up transitional housing, though conversa- tions on what that might look like have only just be- gun among various commu- nity channels. The idea of setting up a site for the unhoused does not sit well with all in the commu- nity, however, as even the Community Sharing Warm- ing Shelter has sparked fears However, the emergence of more homeless people is inevitable as facilities are built, said Meyers, “because as we do this, those people that are invisible in the com- munity that are homeless will come out. The ones that are hiding under the bridge, or the ones that are in some place where they are not visible, we will start to see them.” There are an estimated 40 people who are homeless in the Cottage Grove commu- nity. Meyers said he believed the numbers of unhoused youth is about 200, though programs like McKin- ney-Vento which work with such youth operate on a broader definition, which may account for the high number. But even if a transitional housing program were to at- tract homeless from outside the area, Meyers reasoned that the problem could solve itself if the program allows upward mobility which con- sistently makes space for new people. In the end, he said, it falls on the community to solve the problem. “The federal government has failed, the state govern- ment has failed, the county is struggling,” he said. “And that’s why the courts have pushed it to the only level of government that can real- ly do anything — that local government where it takes individuals working with individuals.” Free Appraisals I’ll Come to You! BUY & SELL Gold, Silver, Scrap, Men’s Jewelry, Costume Jewelry, Pieces & Parts. Even Junk! 25+ Years Experience 2001 Franklin #3 Eugene, Oregon The Jewelry Girl, LLC L ISA R USSELL (541)556-9598 EVENTS! SUNDAY: CFB Specialty! 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