Shoutouts & Gratitude: Spring 2026
By Amanda Lang • April 16, 2026
News & Events
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“This is our home,” says Whitney, looking around the new 560-square foot Community Room at the CSS Roosevelt Safe Spot Community, where she lives in a Hut, “I think it really pepped up all of our moods.”
“I’ve been in some bad moods, down and depressed or just sad or angry even. Out of curiosity, one day I decided to stop by NAMI, and I never had felt so much happiness and relief. Every time I go, I just feel lifted up. I feel like everything’s going to be OK. Yeah, I love NAMI a lot,” says Jennifer W., a CSS community
As our organization continues to grow and evolve, we’re preparing for an important transition in the year ahead.
In 2026, Community Supported Shelters will close our two Communities near the Eugene Mission. This change comes as the Mission expands its Life Skills Program, an investment in services that aligns with ou
Recent research by the University of Southern California shows that homeless people with pets get placed into permanent residences more than those without animals.
A new workforce development program in Eugene is teaching people living in shelters how to become bicycle mechanics.
People like Delanya Clarkson, who came into the program with no mechanical experience. She rides bikes, but has never had the chance to learn more about how they function.
Jason Krueger has been in plenty of bands over the years: college bands in Eugene when he attended the University of Oregon, here-and-there jam sessions and Craigslist advertisement tryouts in Portland.
His latest band, Shantytown, might be his most important yet.
On a sunny January day, Dan, 58, and Robert, 60, worked together on the CSS Maintenance Crew doing restoration work at the Empire Pond Safe Spot Community. Another typical workday for both of them in some ways, but one that neither could have imagined just a year and a half ago. Dan and Robert are brothers who had not
The "starving artist" stereotype is well-known. Housed folks often struggle to make an income through art. That difficulty is magnified for unhoused artists, for whom many basic resources are out of reach: good-quality supplies, studio space, and art classes. For that reason, when CSS launched our new Arts Entrepreneur
Right now is a scary time for many of the people we serve. Freezing weather brings real and immediate danger. Increased enforcement and the presence of ICE create fear and instability, particularly for immigrant community members. And harmful language and policies at the federal level continue to further criminalize ho
Major gratitude to the following local businesses: Slice Pizzeria & Bar, Claim 52 Brewing, High Street Tonics, Venue 252, Chambers Grill & Taphouse, and The Embers. Collectively, they've filled about 100 BottleDrop Blue Bags since Thanksgiving, giving us a financial boost while recycling bottles and cans.
