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! Bloody Mary Sunday, All Day, 21+
MONDAY: Monday Madness, $12 CFB Growler Fills on 64oz
TUESDAY: Trivia w/ Gerald 6-7:30, All Ages, Teams up to Six
WEDNESDAY: 11/24, Acoustic Jam with Greg Biller
THURSDAY: Thirsty Thursday, Growler Specials All Day!
FRIDAY: 11/19, Kaleo Young Band, and Clam Chowder!
As always no cover charge and 20 and under are welcome until 8:30 p.m.
For more information call 541-942-8770.
Are you a Chamber Member?
Ask us how you can become a
member today!
Contact the Cottaeg Grove Area
Chamber of
Commerce
(541) 942-2411
info@
cgchamber.com
AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS!
S.T.E.A.M.
ROBOTICS
3D PRINTING
VIRTUAL REALITY
• Need a place to go aft er school? Th e Guild in the Grove’s
high tech aft er school program empowers kids to tap into
their true potential. With a robust maker lab and a variety
of fun and challenging games, kids have the opportunity
to explore their interests and develop their talents in a safe
and welcoming environment.
• Choose your own adventure: A gamifi ed approach to
learning is what drives our program.
Comprehensive
Eye Care and
Optical Services
Visit
Bradley J.
Lorenzen, OD
Dr. Lorenzen
offers patients
comprehensive
medical and
postoperative
care. He’s available
for consultation
and evaluation of
cataracts, glaucoma,
diabetic eye exams,
and dry eye care.
• Unplug and have a blast: Our aft ernoons are designed to
alleviate the pressure created by all-or-nothing thinking.
• Preparing kids for their future: Our students develop
strong community building and problem solving skills.
PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL FOR INFORMATION
538 E Main St, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
(541) 946-3132
PROGRAM RUNS: M-F 2-5:30 PM
theguildinthegrove.com
Call 541-942-5000
257 N. 8th St. • www.pcvi.com
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Official LASIK and
Eye Doctors of the
Oregon Ducks and
Eugene Emeralds