What We Are Doing

The City of Eugene is a partner in efforts to address and reduce homelessness, but no one entity can solve this complex issue alone. 

Use the buttons below to learn more about the City's work to provide more safe places for people to access shelter, teaming with regional agencies, increasing affordable housing throughout Eugene, and information from the past decade about how we got here. 

City of Eugene Unsanctioned Camping Posting and Removal Weather Protocols

 

When certain extreme weather and environmental conditions occur, the City of Eugene may pause or otherwise alter its process for assessing reports of unsanctioned camping in public spaces, posting those camp sites with legal notices for cleaning or removal, and removing those sites from public spaces.


Extreme Heat and Air Quality

  • When the National Weather Service issues a formal heat advisory of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit for two or more days in a row.
  • When Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) issues an Air Quality Alert for Air Quality Index readings of 150 or greater for at least 24 hours.

Extreme Cold

  • When the National Weather Service forecasts a low temperature at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, accumulating snow or other frozen precipitation.

When the above conditions occur, City staff will not post unsanctioned camps with removal notices (pursuant to City Code 4.815 and ORS 195.505) nor remove camp sites previously posted, during that weather event. When formal advisories end, or when forecasts do not meet the threshold for suspending postings and removals, standard practices will resume.


During extreme weather events, City staff may still contact individuals engaged in unsanctioned camping in public spaces, to provide information on local resources including warming centers, cooling centers, or clean air facilities, and may remove debris or biohazards from sites.


In some circumstances, individuals may be required to move from public spaces during these weather events, for exigent safety, sanitation or access reasons; or related to law enforcement concerns other than violations of the unsanctioned camping ordinance.

Some key efforts that the City is currently focused on include:

  • Working with Lane County to implement state ALL IN funding to improve and continue operations of City shelter programs, including Safe Sleep sites and Rest Stops. 
  • Implementing strategies outlined in the City's Community Safety Initiative, including increased support for alternative shelter programs.
  • Improving current programs and building strong, collaborative, community networks that are coordinated and responsive to different needs, including those around camp clean-up and response.