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Heather Quaas-Annsa:

New Philanthropy Director Pursues Creative Funding Strategies

Jan. 26, 2022

Heather M. Quaas-Annsa, the new Director of Philanthropy for CSS, has hit the ground running in that important position with many ideas to expand the financial base of the organization.


The increase in the number of clients served during the past year and the hiring of new employees to accommodate the expansion means CSS will be finding creative ways to establish strong and stable funding—which is nothing new for this community-based nonprofit.


Heather M. Quaas-Annsa comes to CSS with a wealth of experience in nonprofit board development, grant writing, planned giving, stewardship, event planning, and major gift fundraising. She has an extensive track record of successfully managing for profit-based as well as nonprofit organizations, most recently as Executive Director of Peace Harbor Medical Center Foundation in Florence.


“I love what CSS is all about,” says Heather. “I feel very fortunate to have an  opportunity to be a part of this amazing program.

“This organization does so much more than just provide a place for someone to sleep. We help our residents work through the issues that caused them to become homeless in the first place– things like food insecurity, trauma, addiction, medical or dental issues, and joblessness.


“By addressing these underlying issues and creating a safe, welcoming peer-support network within our Safe Spot Communities, residents can finally focus on the future. This can mean improved health, long-term employment, and stable housing opportunities are no longer just dreams, but real possibilities!”


“These opportunities can really make a huge difference in people’s lives that will create real and lasting change.”


Heather will be building on the work of previous development staff members including Kristin Fay de Buhr, Tara Hubbird, Annie Herz, and Pujita Mayeda, who have created a strong financial foundation for CSS. She will be leading the CSS Development Team in seeking out additional funding sources, including grants, and expanding the donor base.


Heather’s professional background outside of the nonprofit world includes work as a paralegal and county court clerk, debt collection manager, and call center supervisor.

She’s a frequent volunteer and constant advocate for a variety of community organizations including the United Way of Lane County and Parenting Now. She has also served in several capacities for the Bethel School District, including the Budget Committee and the Superintendent Search Committee. She is currently president of the Bethel Education Foundation Board of Directors.


Heather resides in Springfield with her husband, Craig, their three kids, and a plethora of pets and plants.

Community Court Program

04 May, 2024
Community Supported Shelters’ Roosevelt Safe Spot Community has been transformed into a shelter community aligned with the City of Eugene Community Court program. Beginning in January, people charged with minor misdemeanor offenses who have opted into the Community Court system (rather than Municipal Court) can opt into the CSS shelter program and move into one of 16 available Huts at Roosevelt.

Volunteers Boost Energy Systems at CSS Communities

03 May, 2024
During the ice storm that brought Eugene to a standstill in January, all the batteries that stored the energy from the solar panels at CSS’s Lot 9 Community went dead, meaning no lights and no way to charge cell phones. Dave Reuter knew that because of a monitoring system he had set up to keep track of the status of the solar energy systems at eight CSS communities. Dave, a volunteer who has led an effort to upgrade and standardize the CSS power systems, and his wife Janel Erickson, who has worked with him on this project, are intrepid outdoors people. While most of us struggled to get out of our front doors, Dave and Janel loaded a couple of fresh batteries on their Flexible Flyer sled and attached Yaktrak spikes to their shoes and a rope to the sled. With Dave in front and Janel in the rear, they guided the sled the five miles from their Friendly neighborhood home to Lot 9, near Autzen Stadium.

UO Interior Design Creative Storage Collaboration

02 May, 2024
A sixty square foot area. Six feet by 10 feet of space covered by an unconventional Conestoga shaped canvas. This is the simple description of the Hut basic to all CSS communities. How can a safe, comfortable, and efficient habitat be created within this framework using common and inexpensive materials? This was the question posed by Assistant Professor Solmaz Mohammadzadeh Kive to her Architecture 484 class this winter term at the University of Oregon.

Volunteer Spotlight: Sandy and Percy

30 Apr, 2024
For the past several months, a couple of long-time donors to Community Supported Shelters have joined us for two hours a week at our main office to do whatever needs doing. While this may sound like a modest amount of time, Sandy and Percy’s consistent, constructive, and upbeat engagement demonstrates a truth that is often overlooked: big issues can be meaningfully addressed in small increments of time.

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.
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