Grants That Create Pathways to Stability, Creativity, and Community

By Heather Quaas-Annsa - Jan 20, 2024

Community Supported Shelters is thrilled to share news of the incredible support we received from our community partners in 2024. These grants have allowed us to expand our programs, enhance our services, and make a meaningful difference for the individuals we serve. Here are the highlights:


Lane Arts Council: Thanks to their generous grant, CSS partnered with Oregon Supported Living Program (OSLP) to host a Client Art Gallery. The summer-time gallery showcased the creativity and talent of our clients while fostering community engagement and artistic expression.


Guitarists for Good: Their gift of 10 new guitars made our new music enrichment program a reality, bringing the joy and therapeutic benefits of music to our clients.


Oregon Community Foundation: With funding dedicated to capacity building, outreach, and advocacy, we can amplify our voice in the community.



Autzen Foundation: This grant allows us to continue and expand our vital collaborations with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and OSLP, creating a support network for mental health and creative empowerment.


Lane Community Health Council: Their investment in workforce development will help us provide new opportunities for skill-building and employment readiness, empowering individuals to achieve stability and independence.


PacificSource SHARE Fund: With their assistance, CSS can focus on capacity building and address critical capital needs, ensuring we can continue to grow and meet the demands of our community.


These grants are more than just funding—they represent partnerships built on a shared commitment to supporting those in need. CSS extends our heartfelt gratitude to these organizations for believing in our mission. Together, we’re creating pathways to stability, creativity, and community.

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The Future: A New Building For CSS!

July 26, 2025
Because of your support, we’re growing into something bigger—two new spaces designed to better serve our unhoused neighbors. Community Supported Shelters is in the middle of an exciting transformation. After over a decade at our Grant Street location, we’ve purchased a new building that will allow us to bring our in

The Present: CSS to Make a Big Move

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Erik de Buhr fell in love with the building at 1160 Grant long before there was a Community Supported Shelters. He was involved with a group that built things out of salvaged materials (Resurrected Refuse Action Team), including huts that would turn out to be precursors to the CSS Conestoga Huts. “I’d been eyeballing t

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The Eugene REALTORS® Young Professionals Network had their yearly ‘Sip of Summer’ event to raise money for Community Supported Shelters. A good time was had by all with games, a raffle, BBQ, and great networking at Alton Baker Park. This was their 5th fundraiser for CSS, and they raised $3,300 this year to Adopt-a-Hut.

Volunteer Spotlight: UO Duck Corps

July 21, 2025
This summer, we've been collaborating with UO Duck Corps, who have been giving Hut exteriors some good scrubbing. Dustin (the staff member taking the selfie), says, "It's so encouraging to see a younger generation work against stereotypes about the unhoused and have such an interest in helping their community."

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Community Supported Shelters (CSS) has been proudly selected as a 2025 Lowe’s Hometowns project, one of only 100 community-nominated, large-scale renovations nationwide. This recognition is part of Lowe’s five-year, $100 million commitment to revitalizing the spaces that serve as the heartbeat of hometowns across Ameri

As Eugene's unhoused numbers rise, Blake Burrell helps struggling people dream

June 15, 2025
In the warmth of a late-spring day, in front of the Community Supported Shelters office on Grant Street, Blake Burrell strikes up a conversation with a familiar face. He gives a warm hug and kind words before unlocking the front door to the social service office. The office is full of resources like clothing, surviv
I didn't want to participate in the 5K. Too early on a Saturday morning, and besides, I don't love c

The first-ever Team CSS runs at the Eugene Marathon

April 30, 2025
I didn't want to participate in the 5K. Too early on a Saturday morning, and besides, I don't love crowds. Then I learned that CSS wasn't only buying tickets for staff to participate, but we were also buying up to 10 tickets for our clients to join the first-ever Team CSS for the 5K run at the Eugene Marathon.

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