The City of Eugene will open a second overnight smoke respite shelter today at noon at 717 Highway 99N. St. Vincent de Paul is being contracted to operate the site. The site also houses a Dusk to Dawn daytime shelter site run by St. Vincent de Paul.
Capacity at the overnight respite center is 16 vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness. The duration of the shelter will be determined by assessment of need on an ongoing basis.
This new shelter is in addition to the 24-hour respite center operated by the City of Eugene at the Lane Events Center/Fairground. The Lane Events shelter is open until 8 a.m. Friday. Staff will assess the need for continued clean air shelter space as air quality forecasts are updated.
Access to both overnight respite centers is available through referral through White Bird, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 341 E. 12th Ave., or their 24-hour crisis line 541-687-4000.
In addition, the Hilyard Community Center is open as a daytime clean air shelter from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday.
In addition to the smoke respite shelters operated by the City of Eugene, the American Red Cross today has set up a shelter at Churchill High School for evacuees of the fire. The Red Cross is the lead organization in providing space for fire evacuees.
Learn More
Read about the 24-hour respite center at Lane Events Center (see Smoke Respite Shelter Info tab) and see additional resources for the McKenzie/Holiday Farm Fire.