Conestoga Huts and Rest Stops

NOTES from small group session, Sept. 22, 2016:

Provided by Community Supported Shelters www.communitysupportedshelters.org

What is Community Supported Shelters (CSS)?

• CSS provides basic shelter in Conestoga Huts or at designated Rest Stops. Both huts and rest stops cost about $2500 per year materials and maintenance.

• CSS is a 501(c)(3) organization reliant on donations from community members; it is not eligible for government funding because the shelters do not meet HUD standards.

• CSS offers its clients an address to get mail and for drivers licenses or other ID.

• CSS offers tours of huts and rest stops; contact CSS through its website.

Conestoga Huts

• Are built by volunteers and maintained by CSS or by a church which receives ownership and maintains the structure(s).

• Are limited to 6 per property in Eugene and 3 per property in Springfield.

• Residents are selected through St. Vincent de Paul’s car camping program; CSS is not involved in the placement program.

• Interested congregations may contact CSS for a presentation and additional information. 

Rest Stops: What are they?

• Platform-based campsites where people may live in tents of their own or those provided by CSS.

• A City of Eugene initiative also known as Safe Spot Camps allows any number of rest stops in city boundaries; this is still a pilot program.

• There are four rest stops in Eugene, three on City property, one on Eugene Mission property.

Who do they serve?

• Rest stops serve 15-20 people in each of four populations: (1) men with disabilities, (2) single women + a few couples, (3) young adults ages 18-35, and (4) homeless veterans.

• Additional camps are needed to serve LGBTQ individuals, youths ages 12-18, families, and the general population.

• There are about 50 applicants weekly and the average wait to acceptance is 2½ months.

What do the camps include?

• Physical: platforms for tents with covers for the winter months, porta-potties, drinkable water, trash/recycling service, a fire pit, and a small covered space for common use and meetings.

• Social: rules that provide a system of support for residents, twice-monthly check-in meetings, a useable address, and an environment that makes peer and social support more likely.

• Engagement: participation in work projects in city parks and gardens.

How do people get meals?

• Some community volunteers bring donations/meals to camps.

• Residents often get meals from church and other community resources.

• One site now has a kitchen manager who prepares about about 4 meals weekly from food boxes/food stamp purchases from campers. This is the only camp with a kitchen.

How long do people stay?

• Temporary residents are allowed to stay about 10 months.

• Volunteer residents may stay indefinitely. Volunteer jobs include camp coordinator, conflict mediator, transportation coordinator, and grounds keeper.

• Residents check-in monthly to ensure that they are making progress to overcome barriers to permanent housing.

• Rest stops served 140 people last year; 99 moved on, 69 to better living situations. CSS stays in contact with persons who are evicted to help them learn to get along with others and re-initiate the placement process.  A person’s past behavior at a rest stop or other facility is not a barrier to admission.

How can I help?

• Donate money, goods, or services through the CSS website: communitysupportedshelters.org.

• Volunteer to work on a cadre to offer 1:1 support to residents.