The Lane County Commissioners followed in 1989 by appointing a 23 member task force to study the need and recommend solutions. In its most extreme form, this crisis is manifest in the high demand for emergency shelter and the number of homeless families and individuals that must camp or survive on the streets. The report documented staggering needs and recommended an action plan and funding strategy. Although ongoing local funding source was not ultimately approved new resources from the State and Federal governments became available. Now, nearly ten years later, many of recommendations are implemented but needs are much greater.
Homelessness is an accepted condition in society and transients are no longer the stereotype.
Rather, people with families and long term roots in our community survive on the streets. Many homeless people hold down jobs, but the wages aren't adequate to pay for housing. One third of those without homes are children. In the last ten years some parts of the housing equation have drastically changed. Interest rates are much lower and rental vacancy rates are somewhat higher.