Operation365Veterans – Landlord Partnership Project

Over 1200 homeless veterans applied for a variety of support services here in Lane County between July and November, 2014, ranging from food baskets to emergency shelter. Of those, almost 800 were disabled as well as homeless. Eugene’s one-night count last winter found 270 veterans camped in emergency shelters, sleeping in cars or huddled on the streets in our community.

Many of these men and women wrestle not only with disabilities and bad weather, but with serious personal demons, including alcoholism and PTSD. Somehow, many survive. Others do not. Major Thomas Egan froze to death during a winter storm here in Eugene in 2008, shaking the conscience of our community.

No one should put their lives at risk in foreign lands only to return home and find themselves abandoned to life on the streets. When we allow this to happen, we dishonor not only these soldiers, we also dishonor ourselves as a community. We can do better.

Taking this to heart, the City of Eugene, in cooperation with the City of Springfield and Lane County, has taken on the White House challenge to eliminate veterans’ homelessness in our community by the end of 2015. To that end we have established Operation365Veterans.

Our aim is to find permanent shelter for 365 veterans here at home – one veteran per day – over the next year.

Fortunately we have some extraordinary help. Lane County has pulled together dozens of key social service representatives and elected officials to form the Poverty and Homelessness Board, including a Veterans Homelessness subcommittee to coordinate responses to this challenge. The Veterans Administration and the Housing Authority and Community Service Agency (HACSA) are working hard at helping veterans find homes. Saint Vincent DePaul has received a $3 million grant that will go a long way in helping to prepare, place and support veterans – if we can find willing landlords to provide them with permanent, affordable shelter. That last part is proving particularly challenging -- and that’s where you all come in.

What we’re seeking, and what we’re offering in return

What we’re seeking:

Landlords willing to rent to low or no-income veterans who face additional challenges, including everything from PTSD to behavioral, mental or physical health problems. Specifically, the greatest need is for units costing $530 plus utilities.

What we’re offering in return, for starters:

  • Reliable Rent Payments. While supplies last, VASH vouchers stabilize rent payments of up to $600, minus $70 set aside for utilities. You would have no worries about receiving rent payments, which would be posted directly to your account by the Housing Authority. Even veterans without VASH vouchers can be placed, with financial and other support provided by Saint Vincent DePaul’s, thanks to a federal grant.
  • Case managers. All veterans placed through the program come with case managers who check in on them at least monthly, conducting random drug and alcohol screening, and helping them with everything from medical appointments to general life skills. You would be able to turn to the case manager at any time for assistance if anything went wrong.
  • Motivated veterans. All agree to safe, respectful communication and interactions with others, to use the housing as a personal residence, and not to house unrelated persons or to conduct illegal activities.
  • Personal fulfillment. An opportunity to extend yourself to veterans in a meaningful way.

And if that’s not enough, please help us out with your advice:

What can we do to convince more landlords to help out?

Please send your thoughts, donations, or questions about the overall initiative to:

Tod Schneider, City of Eugene, Veterans’ Homelessness Analyst at 541-682-8442, or

If you are ready to take in a veteran or would like more information, please contact:

Cindy Leming, Veterans Administration, at541-242-0445,

Timothy Angle, St. Vincent de Paul, at 541-687-5820 or

Anne Williams, St. Vincent de Paul, at 541-687-5820 or

Jacob Fox, Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County (HACSA) at 541-682-2527 or