News & Events

To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, subscribe to our quarterly newsletter and follow us on social media.


If you are a member of the media who is seeking information or would like to request an interview, contact community@cssoregon.org.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Queries & Quotes with Community Supported Shelters

Oct. 9, 2023 - By Heather Quaas-Annsa

Originally posted on the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce Open for Business website

How long have you been in business and what drives you to serve our community?

Community Supported Shelters (CSS) has operated alternative shelters for the unhoused in Eugene for just over a decade. Creating intentional communities is our focus. When individuals have a network of support, they are more likely to move from just surviving to thriving. CSS is one solution to the homeless crisis and we look forward to working with other shelters, businesses, and our government officials to develop realistic solutions to support those in crisis.



Are there new programs or initiatives you are investing in or providing for our community? 

In addition to providing temporary shelter for the unhoused, we are in the midst of creating a workforce development program. This new program will allow us to support our unhoused clients in developing new skills, building confidence, and eventually reentering the workforce. This starts with encouraging clients to volunteer with our staff in various roles, including maintenance, kitchen, laundry, and peer support work. Once have developed the skillset necessary to perform the functions of the job, they’ll be able to apply for a paid, part time position within our organization. Our goal is to support clients by providing training, encouragement, and a living wage so they will be more successful when they exit our program.

 

What is it about Eugene/Springfield that you enjoy the most or what do you enjoy most about what you do?

I absolutely love taking community members on tours of our Safe Spots. Talking about how our organization helps people provides a limited amount of information; the best way to truly understand what we do is to see it firsthand!


Tell us about some of the partnerships or success stories you may have with area businesses.

We’ve been quite fortunate to partner with many local businesses since our creation a decade ago. The partnerships and success stories are numerous and span across almost every business sector. 


How has your collaboration with the Chamber impacted your business or how do you hope to partner?

Our collaboration with the Chamber has enabled us to begin building our own workforce development program for unhoused clients. We’re excited to partner with other businesses to expand options for volunteerism, on-the-job training, skills development, and mentorship opportunities for our clients.


How can the business community support or engage with you?

Sign up for our newsletter, request a tour, follow us on social media, volunteer your time, make a donation (every dollar makes a difference!). Above all, we highly recommend you learn about the causes of homelessness, how local policies impact our unhoused neighbors, and how your business can be a part of solving this crisis.

Eugene Parking Ban Opposition Testimony

12 Mar, 2024
It's not too late to share your thoughts on this proposed update. Send your written testimony to mayorcouncilandcitymanager@eugene-or.gov .

Incarceration and Homelessness: Breaking the Cycle

15 Jan, 2024
Formerly incarcerated people are almost ten times more likely to be homeless than the general population, according to a study from the Prison Policy Initiative. Jack spent 27 years in prison, from the age of 33 to 60. “It is a long time. It's an entire lifetime,” he says. At first, he thought he might never get out and continued what he calls “bad behavior.” But he saw others who participated in educational programs and were successful in getting their sentences reduced. He realized if he started “acting right,” he might get out. He especially credits a program called “Nonviolent Communication” with helping him. He started using what he learned and realized that “the person we communicate worst with is ourselves.”

From Waste to Wonder - UO's Grey Water Conservation Project

14 Jan, 2024
Lima, Peru, and Eugene, Oregon, are worlds apart in many ways. But spend some time with Kory Russel, an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon, and you will learn there are communities in both places with challenges of access to sustainable and efficient water use. Kory has a photo in his office depicting a highly condensed neighborhood in Lima, a city where he and some of his students work on sustainable water projects.

New CSS Director of Community Impact: Black Burrell

13 Jan, 2024
Did you know CSS has a shared leadership model, with three directors? This November, Blake Burrell joined CSS as our new Director of Community Impact. His role supports all of our direct service staff, managing internal relationship-building, culture creation, program operation, mentoring, and conflict resolution. Read on for his introduction:

Volunteer Spotlight: Veronica Paredes

12 Jan, 2024
Veronica Paredes has been helping sew the weatherproof porch coverings ("scrims") for the Huts, recently working 26 hours to complete 34 scrims for us before the holidays.

Bike and Build Volunteers Assist in Refurbishing Huts

13 Oct, 2023
Bike and Build organization was established as a nonprofit in 2003. Its website summarizes its mission: “Bike and Build engages young adults in service-oriented cycling trips to raise awareness for the affordable housing cause. We advocate for the need for affordable housing in thousands of communities across the country.” As teams bike from town to town, they volunteer for service projects and give presentations about issues surrounding the lack of affordable housing. Since 2003 Bike and Build estimates that over 3,800 participants have biked over 11 million miles and donated over 255,000 volunteer community service hours to local organizations throughout the country.

October 2023: Letter from the Director of Philanthropy

12 Oct, 2023
In some ways, CSS is going back to its roots, including the re-engagement of clients as volunteers and the focus on hiring individuals from our Safe Spot Communities. In other ways, we’re continuing to branch out—engaging with the broader community in new and unique ways, partnering with outside organizations, and looking for chances to expand our reach outside of Lane County. We encourage you to follow us on social media as we frequently highlight our activities and outreach efforts there.

Not Quite All-in Funding

12 Oct, 2023
Seventeen Lane County organizations running 28 programs addressing homelessness recently received a total of $18.4 million from Governor Tina Kotek’s emergency homelessness program through an effort called “All-In Funding.” Community Supported Shelters was not one of them.

Chris Teasdale: Being A Neighbor

21 Jul, 2023
As Community Supported Shelters staff and volunteers have been busy creating the physical infrastructure for five new Safe Spots—preparing lots, providing access, building Huts and common buildings—the service team has been going through a transformation to better meet the needs of people in all the CSS camps, including almost 100 people who are beginning to move into the new camps.

Staff Spotlight: Dustin Foskett

20 Jul, 2023
The human component. It doesn’t take long into a conversation with Dustin Foskett, the new Facilities Manager at Community Supported Shelters, for him to bring that into focus. His path over the years—from Bolivia where he helped build shelters for children and orphanages to the island of Rota in the Pacific where he helped develop an aquaponics program—is full of examples of promoting shelter and food securities, which he considers core to nonprofit work.
Show More
Share by: