New housing opportunities open up for Eugene's homeless
EUGENE, Ore. -- There are currently an estimated 2,000 people living in Eugene without a home.
On Saturday, two of those people were helped by a group of generous volunteers in built their own homes at the Resurrection .
One of the people getting shelter on Saturday was Mark Hubell, who said he’s been homeless since he was 17 years old.
“This is not an easy life for anybody whether they choose it or not,” Hubell said. “The weather can be, lets see, it can age you quickly."
Hubell's used to getting by with just his clothing, a bag, and a blanket.
Soon, however he will be living in a shelter called a Conestoga hut in the Resurrection Church parkinglot.
Dan Bryant, the president of Opportunity Village of Eugene is organizing this pilot project that provides the efficient and inexpensive housing solution to some of Eugene’s homeless citizens.
“We have enough now to build at least 20 of these, we need sites,” said Bryant.
The project is part of Saint Vincent de Paul's car camping program, which already allows the homeless to stay in tents or RV's in designated areas around the city.
A completed Conestoga hut costs around $5,000, depending on the materials that get donated by businesses and organizations.
The shelters resemble Conestoga wagons, which were used during early American expansion westward on the Oregon trail.
Hubell said that the program, while still in its early stages, can be a huge benefit to Eugene’s homeless community.
“Which really will be about bridging both communities, the houseless and those that are housed,” said Hubell.
Hubell added that it is a basic human instinct to find safe, secure housing, and he's honored to be one of the first people to call one of these huts his home.
“This is unfortunately a lifestyle that I’m used to, so this is gonna be quite a change,” Hubell said.
A large portion of the project was made possible by a number of businesses around Eugene that donated $18,000 worth of materials to assist in the building of the Conestoga huts.
It's a misprint. Please correct this ASAP, KVAL! The cost is $500 per structure.
Thank you to the folks involved in this project. What a wonderful place with so many caring people! I'll be looking for more places to put new homes.Â
I like it. Keep all the bums in Eugene. Kitty  is a moron. How someone as dumb as she is gets elected is amazing.
IÂ think they are assuming Public Works will take over the construction of these bum-huts, then just wages alone will run about $5000 each.
Interesting that those in Lane County continue to think of innovative ways to provide crap for those that don't contribute to the future of our community, but we see nothing with regards to jobs for the private sector. Then the same worthless politicians cotinue to get elected....drives me nuts!
 @flor3nc3 Bums are like stray cats, feed them and you can't get rid of them. Eugene is attracting the homeless from around the country. It is ridiculous.
$5000.for one of those? a little price mark up eh?
 @Whitehawk This is an error by KVAL. What they meant is $500.
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eugene rocks.
We use to call these Okie shacks, the only difference was the Okies were not afraid of hard work.
Actually each hut costs $500 -- or less depending on supplies donated -- not $5,000.
 @Majeska yeah, i was wondering about that sum. thanks for the correction.
This is really great Dan, lets do whatever we can to make sure these individuals who contribute absolutely nothing to our local society continue to hang around and be a complete nuisance on street corners and wherever else they can get something for nothing. You should feel so very proud !!!!!!!!!!!!
 @R W i know. i live on alley (i have a home:)but uh, due to the high-volume of bums travelling up and down night and day, i am with you regarding the attitude. i've had stuff stolen by them, including my bike. we had to have our alley dumpsters locked down to keep them away yet the mission is the real problem. the BIG ENBABLER EUGENE MISSION. i live nearby the place and it puts out mostly tired and worn out bum types.
no offence, been on the streets once myself but there's two types of homeless out there...
one is not so good either and it's gotta go. some are trying to get home but some don't know how to make it home once they get there....SCARY TIME TO BE HOMELESS I MUST SAY
 @R W enabler, the eugene mission protects felons straight out of prison., chimos, rapos, pervs...sexual predators abound in that building. some come out.
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 @MrKjC1010  @R W The lack of funding for the jail beds means that addicts are released from the jail right when they are just starting to really feel the lack, and walk on through Whiteaker ( and Jefferson Westside, and Trainsong) to everywhere else (river, highway, freight train, fair grounds and bike paths, Mission). Some steal. They steal to survive. We are the ones they steal from, because we are in between their point A and point B. I don't like it either
Unfortunately, it only takes a few thieves and opportunists to enable people to make sweeping generalisations about thousands of human beings they have never met. I know both of the people who are housed in those 2 huts, and they are both good people who have worked hard to help others.
What the heck kind of a sentence is this:
On Saturday, two of those people were helped by a group of generous volunteers in built their own homes at the Resurrection . ?
This is extremely poor writing/reporting.