Memorandum
DATE
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Re:
February 18, 2009 Update
Human Services Commission
Pearl Wolfe, Human Services Supervisor
Summary of Response
Severe Weather Conditions and Assisting People Who are Homeless
December 2009 A local grass-roots organization, CALC-SAFER, with veteran community activist Marion
Malcolm, led the most recent response. It was as simple as her waking up one freezing and snowy
morning last week, and realizing that it was just too cold for homeless people to survive.
She quickly garnered the help of three Springfield churches: First Baptist, Ebbert Memorial and St. Alice’s.
They offered their buildings for six nights as extreme weather emergency shelters. FOOD for Lane
County delivered food to the doors of these churches for the people who came in from the bitter cold. The
Human Services Commission, the county’s anti-poverty program, quickly allocated $8,000 in motel
vouchers and funds for sleeping bags, blankets and other basics. Veterans Reintegration Services
brought cots and blankets. Malcolm, along with Janet Beckman, a homeless school liaison, and Dan
Rupe, from Veterans Reintegration Services, were among the volunteers who spent the night at these
churches. In addition, Tasha Brubaker Garrison, Rector, Church of the Resurrection and Dan Bryant at
the First Christian Church offered shelter from the cold in the Eugene area.
“With only a couple of hours notice, we hosted five people the first night, 16 the second night, then 24,
then 30, then about 40, and finally about 45 homeless people. Quite likely, this action saved lives. All
deserved shelter -- which is a human right -- but we were lucky no one was violent. It also should be
noted that there were some very considerate and helpful people among those who came for shelter. A
group of guests helped set up cots, washed dishes, swept and mopped floors, helped load equipment and
food to take to the next site, and even went along to help unload.“ (Marion Malcolm)
“People staying overnight included Dan Rupe, Shirley Gauthier, Marion Malcolm, Janet Beckman, Dale
Beckman, Jeannie Evans-Todahl, Pilot Jack, Sarita Lief, Michael Williams, Judy Brown, Tom Wilson,
Roger Grinstead, Steve Masone, and Rob Castleberry. Others providing significant help included Nancy
Golden, Gloria Griffith, Linda Kelly, Brenda Kosydar, Mark Molina, Jeff Savage, John Kintzman, Pearl
Wolfe, Marie Grinstead, Theresa Elliott, John Antone, Tasha Brubaker Garrison, Evelyn Anderton – and
more. We showed that where there is a will, there is a way!” With grassroots leadership, the community
quickly patched together a makeshift shelter. 128 people sought refuge in these churches, an asylum from
the cold.
December 22, 2009 One Night Homeless Count Planning Meeting: “Extreme Weather Planning” agenda
item. The group discussed the need for a formal protocol — a real plan to be adopted by local
jurisdictions that could go into action when temperatures dip to freezing or below.
January 13, 2009 Lane County Human Services Commission staff, Pearl Wolfe and Katy Bloch, followed
up with a formalized “ Emergency Weather Response Planning Meeting.”
January 25, 2009: Weather dipped into the 20s. First Christian Church was the site with Rev. Dan Bryant
providing a two-night shelter. CALC, Shelter Care, Veterans Reintegration Services, St. Vincent de Paul
and community members worked together providing cots, sleeping bags, staffing and volunteers to shelter
29 individuals from the extreme cold on January 26th (including three women who were pregnant).
January 26, 2009 A call to Action re: Extreme Weather Response for Homeless People was prepared
and grassroots organizers and HSC staff presented the HSC board which includes elected officials from
the jurisdictions of Eugene, Springfield and Lane County. Numerous community members gave public
testimony regarding their concerns.
February 9, 2009 Inter-jurisdictional Update Pearl Wolfe and Katy Bloch, Human Services Commission
staff met with Lane County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Manager Linda Cook and Lane County Public
Health Preparedness Coordinator Brian Johnson, along with City of Eugene Emergency Management
Program Manager Joe Rizzi, and City of Springfield Fire Chief Dennis Murphy. They had discussed
government participation in community preparedness and how this related to the grassroots organization
which mobilized to address the extreme weather conditions for vulnerable and homeless populations in
the community. The group discussed how government might support and/or hinder efforts and agreed to
begin incorporating homeless emergency weather concerns into Emergency Preparedness Planning.
February 10, 2009 Lane County Human Services Commission staff hosted faith community members,
grassroots organizers, homeless providers and Lane County Emergency Preparedness staff to review the
Extreme Weather Response for homeless people that occurred during December and January. The
Emergency Weather Process was reviewed the group began to begin to develop a formal protocol for
future extreme weather situations.
February 18, 2009 Presentation by Linda Cook, Lane County Emergency Preparedness Manager re:
board order to use the armory to house homeless people during extreme weather conditions through the
end of March. Board approved unanimously.
First Baptist, Springfield
12/16/08 -- 5 people (word only went out at 3 pm)
12/17/08 -- 16 people
Ebbert Memorial United Methodist Church Spfld
12/18/08 -- 24 people
12/19/08 -- 30 people
St. Alice Catholic Church Spfld
12/20/08 --.40 people
12/21/08 --.45 people
First Christian Church, Spfld
1/25/09 -- 29 people
1/26/09 – 44 people
Church of the Resurrection, Eugene
12/18/08 -- 2 people
12/19/08 -- 4 people
12/20/08 --.3 people
12/21/08 -. 3people