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Homeless Health Sanctuary Sponsoring Council’s Search
For Land to Operate Health Sanctuary

The Homeless Health Sanctuary Sponsoring Council [HHSSC] seeks land on which to operate and manage a health sanctuary. The purpose of the health sanctuary is to provide a safe place for unhoused people with physical and/or mental health issues to live and sleep 24/7 in a safe situation with healthy individuals also living there and available to assist them at all times. Many of the residents will be chronically homeless. Others will be patients discharged from hospital ERs, surgical units and ICU facilities. Many will be clients of Whitebird Clinic and/or Occupy Medical and will continue to receive treatment and support from professionals from those organizations.

Until a bricks and mortar shelter that meets the needs of individuals who are homeless and have physical and/or mental health issues is operational, our community needs a place for these individuals to be safe in community. These individuals can’t find shelter at the Mission, even if there were space.

We seek to operate a health sanctuary which offers shelter and community to the most fragile people in one of the most vulnerable segments of our society. Its residents would include both people with physical, mental, and substance use problems and people who are able to provide assistance and support to them.

What is needed?

What is needed to make the Sanctuary a reality is a parcel of land to be made available. The Sanctuary can be established in a footprint of approximately 10,000 sq ft. There are funds to cover the cost of a lease or purchase.

The following conditions will be ideal for the Sanctuary:

easy access to Whitebird Clinic, Dining Room, Library and other downtown services
easy walking access to LTD
wheel chair and walker accessible
privacy/security screening
access for portalet, garbage and recycle service
footprint to accommodate 30 tent platforms
footprint to accommodate 3 community tents: health clinic for 3-5 cots; kitchen; dining/social
tarp/cover for gate welcoming/security
24/7 access

Residents initially will live in tents on tent platforms. The Homeless Health Sanctuary will use several community tents/tarps in addition to the private tents. These community shelters will include an eating/social area and also a 3-5 bed clinic area so that those in crisis can receive more support from residents. The Sponsoring Council will provide for portalets, a handwashing station, and garbage and recycle removal services.

The Homeless Health Sanctuary will be open 24/7, permitting individuals to remain on site during the day. This provision is critical for the population we plan to serve as their health and special needs are best accommodated by providing them with a place to be during the day. Additionally, this eases the burden on the downtown area and greatly improves the security of the site.

All residents and visitors will sign and adhere to a set of Community Agreements that will create and protect a safe environment both in the sanctuary and in the neighborhood. A process will be in place requiring those failing to live within the agreements to leave if they do not, or cannot, abide by the Community Agreements.

The Sponsoring Council will provide neighbors with a phone number and email for neighbors to contact with any concerns or suggestions.

Who is on the Sponsoring Council?

The Sponsoring Council members and the group or expertise they represent are as follows:

Michael Carrigan, Community Alliance of Lane County, de-escalation and non-violent communications trainer, Egan volunteer
Nathan Showers, unhoused, Whoville resident and Site Council
Aurora Wight, unhoused, Whoville resident and Site Council
Jennifer Frenzer-Knowlton, attorney, professional mediator, de-escalation and non-violent communications trainer
Mary Broadhurst, attorney, professional life coach, Egan volunteer
Wayne Martin, retired pastor, counselor, Occupy Interfaith
Sabra Marcroft, Opportunity Village Eugene founding member, Houseless Solutions Support Committee member, Opportunity Eugene Task Force member, Egan volunteer
David Strahan, Whoville Logistics, Egan volunteer

The Homeless Health Sanctuary Sponsoring Council will have oversight of the Sanctuary and will enter into negotiations and contracts on its behalf. Additionally, the Sponsoring Council will be responsible for the ongoing availability of port-a-potties, handwashing stations and garbage and recycle service.

The Homeless Health Sanctuary, in addition to it’s Council, has many other community supporters including Dan Bryant of Opportunity Village and First Christian Church; Doug Bales, Director of the Egan Warming Centers; Susan Ban, Director of Shelter Care; and many volunteers from Occupy Medical and the community at large.

How much will this cost the taxpayers?

Nothing. The sanctuary will be funded by the residents and the individuals from local organizations such as Nightingale Public Advocacy Collective, Occupy Eugene, SLEEPS, CALC, and Occupy Interfaith, who will provide Porta Potties, handwashing stations, and garbage collection.

How much will this save the taxpayers?

Homelessness costs our society money. Consider the costs of some of the local services we provide or force on homeless people: the average cost of a visit to the River Bend ER is $420; the average daily cost for keeping someone at the Johnson Unit, where the average stay is 9 days, is $865; the daily cost for housing someone at the Lane County Jail is $237; and daily cost at the Springfield Jail is $75.

By offering people community, the health sanctuary will keep people out of the jails, out of the court systems, ease the burdens of police and CAHOOTS. It will provide toilets for human waste that might otherwise end up along the river or in the alleys, and will provide a handwashing station to help prevents diseases that could land people in emergency rooms. The bottom line is that a health sanctuary will save the community money.

How can you help?

There is an urgent need for a piece of land for the Sanctuary. We would greatly appreciate any thoughts you have on the best way to move this idea forward.
Contact Michael Carrigan at CALC 541-485-1755