Image credit: Laura Alier / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Housing Justice
Take Action for
Housing Justice in Eugene
Eugene is in a housing emergency. Thousands of our neighbors are unsheltered while the city council debates budgets. The time for half-measures is over. Demand real solutions now.
The Reality
The Crisis
Homeless in Lane County
More than 4,000 people are homeless in Lane County on any given night. Of those, roughly 3,100 (69%) are unsheltered—sleeping in tents, cars, or doorways. More than 2,000 are chronically homeless with a disability.
Rent Burdened
Six in ten Eugene renters pay more than 30% of their income on housing—the highest rate in Oregon. One-third pay more than 50%. A single missed paycheck can mean eviction and the street.
State-Funded Shelter Beds
That’s the total for all of Lane County—down from 574 after recent cuts. The Eugene Mission adds roughly 250 privately-funded beds, but even combined, shelter exists for a fraction of those who need it. Most people have no guaranteed place to sleep.
Follow the Money
The Budget Gap
$748,525 Shortfall for Shelter Services
Lane County’s shelter funding drops from $10.8 million (FY26) to roughly $10 million (FY27)—a 7% cut and a gap of $748,525. The county asked the state for $11 million to maintain existing services. The state allocated $7.6 million. The result: 60 shelter beds eliminated, 32.3 full-time staff laid off, three shelter programs closed entirely, and Egan Warming Shelter’s funding slashed 50% (reduced to 3 sites).
$30,700 Per Bed for a For-Profit Operator
While the county claims it can’t find $748,525 to keep shelters open, it pays a Kentucky-based for-profit company, Equitable Social Solutions, $2.3 million to run the 75-bed River Avenue Navigation Center. That’s $30,700 per bed. Meanwhile, Everyone Village—a local nonprofit—operates 70 beds for $722,000 ($10,300 per bed). The for-profit provider costs three times as much per bed. County commissioners voted 3–2 to renew the contract anyway in June 2026 without issuing a competitive request for proposals.
Tax Breaks vs. Services Funding
Eugene’s urban renewal districts and multi-year property tax abatements divert substantial property tax revenue away from the general fund. Every dollar directed to a tax abatement is a dollar not available for housing, rent assistance, and street outreach.
Accountability
The Scandals
For-Profit Shelter Operator Costs Triple the Nonprofit Rate
In June 2026, Lane County commissioners voted 3–2 to renew a $2.3 million contract with Equitable Social Solutions, a Kentucky-based for-profit company, to run the 75-bed River Avenue Navigation Center. The cost: $30,700 per bed. Everyone Village, a local nonprofit operating a comparable 70-bed shelter, receives $722,000 ($10,300 per bed). The for-profit operator costs three times more, and the county did not put the contract out for competitive bidding. Commissioner David Loveall said he was “disappointed we’re not there” on a new RFP process and voted no.
60 Beds Cut, 32 Workers Laid Off — While the Gap Was $748K
The state allocated $7.6 million for Lane County shelters this year. The county needed $11 million. The shortfall: $748,525—about one-third of what the county is paying the for-profit operator. Instead of reallocating, the county cut 60 shelter beds, laid off 32.3 FTE staff (including housing-focused case managers), closed three programs (ShelterCare Medical Recuperation, Garden Way Medical Respite, and The Sandbox), and slashed Egan Warming Shelter funding by 50%. People are dying on the streets while the county pays $30,700 per bed to a Kentucky corporation — nearly three times what local nonprofits charge for the same service.
Public Land Sitting Idle
The City of Eugene and Lane County own vacant lots and underused properties across the city. While parcels sit fenced and locked, people sleep within sight of them. We have the land. What we need is the will to use it.
Our Platform
What We Demand
Permanent Dedicated Funding
Establish a dedicated, recurring revenue stream for affordable housing and homelessness services—not subject to annual council discretion or one-time grants.
Audit and Publish Shelter Spending
Full public accounting of every dollar spent on shelters, including per-person-per-night costs broken down by provider. Require competitive RFPs for all contracts over $500K. No more no-bid renewals for for-profit operators at 3x the nonprofit rate.
Redirect Tax Abatements to Housing
Require that any property tax abatement or urban renewal subsidy include an enforceable affordable housing set-aside or contribution to the housing trust fund.
Unlock Public Land for Housing
Inventory all city- and county-owned vacant parcels and fast-track suitable sites for quick-build affordable housing within 18 months.
Establish a Housing Justice Commission
Create a permanent citizen oversight body including people with lived experience of homelessness, empowered to review budgets, contracts, and outcomes.
No More Criminalization
End the practice of sweeping encampments when no shelter is available. Stop using police and code enforcement to displace people who have nowhere else to go.
Competitive Bidding for Shelter Contracts
Require competitive requests for proposals for all county homeless services contracts. No more no-bid renewals for for-profit operators charging three times the rate of local nonprofits.
Make Your Voice Heard
Email Your Elected Officials
One click opens a pre-addressed email to every member of the Eugene City Council and the Mayor. Edit the message below to share your personal story.
Edit this message to share your personal experience. Your name and email will be appended automatically.
Email will be sent to
- Kaarin Knudson (Mayor) — kknudson@eugene-or.gov
- Eliza Kashinsky (Ward 1) — esemple@eugene-or.gov
- Matt Keating (Ward 2) — mkeating@eugene-or.gov
- Alan Zelenka (Ward 3) — azelenka@eugene-or.gov
- Jennifer Yeh (Ward 4) — jyeh@eugene-or.gov
- Mike Clark (Ward 5) — mclark@eugene-or.gov
- Greg Evans (Ward 6) — gevans@eugene-or.gov
- Lyndsie Leech (Ward 7) — lleech@eugene-or.gov
- Randy Groves (Ward 8) — rgroves@eugene-or.gov
- Lane County Board of Commissioners — lcbcccom@lanecountyor.gov
- Lane County Poverty & Homelessness Board — Eve.Gray@lanecountyor.gov (HHS Director) — Call 541-682-3798
📋 Help Count Our Community
Lane County isn't conducting a Point-in-Time count in 2026. We're organizing an independent volunteer count to capture the real picture of homelessness in our community.
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