Building a Conestoga hut June 1, 2013
Channel: Homeless Action
Date: 05/06/2013

On Saturday, June 1, Community Supported Shelters assembled the first Conestoga hut for homeless people located in a private residence backyard.

Previously they've placed nine huts in church parking lots around Eugene, with more on the way. Springfield has a goal to place "30 huts before the first snow falls" after passing an ordinance to allow the Huts in the SVDP's Car Camping program.

For private residences, backyard huts, campers or similar accommodations are legal in Eugene as long as the host provides bathroom facilities and trash disposal. This would be one way to find more sites for the huts. Finding sites has been the main limitation on the program.

CSS Program Director Erik de Buhr said that so far they've been working on a shoestring budget to make the program possible, a situation which will have to change soon. With some planned upgrades to the design, he estimates the cost of materials and labor to build a hut at around $1800. This cost can be lowered through business and private donations of materials, volunteer contributions, and possibly subsidizing grants.

They will be having an Fundraising Sale on July 19-20 and will be accepting donations for the sale until then. 

The whole month of September will be a fundraising drive to build up an inventory of huts to be placed in the local community. To help boost the funding power of the community CSS has a local donor that will match ALL DONATIONS 2:1. Donations for this drive will be tax-deductible. 

CSS can be contacted at 541-606-3480 or 541-683-0836.
c.s.s.eugene@gmail.com
http://communitysupportedshelters.org