Opportunity Village Eugene

Location: Eugene, OR

Website: www.opportunityvillageeugene.org

Opportunity Village is a pilot project that will provide transitional micro-housing for 30-40 homeless individuals and couples at a time.
br> Design and organization of the village will be based upon best practices derived from a comprehensive study of long standing “tent cities” in the United States, lessons learned from local encampments, and a creative understanding of permaculture principles.

The transitional micro-housing will be compact (60-100 square feet) and transportable (less than 8 feet wide).

The idea is to combine a sense of ownership over a small, private space with an abundance of shared, common spaces that include cooking facilities, gathering areas, restrooms, and micro-business opportunities.

The village will be built through a collaboration between village residents, community volunteers, and skilled builders.

The Village will be self-managed with oversight provided by a 501(c)3 Board of Directors.  Basic rules will be upheld through a community agreement that prohibits stealing, violence, and drug or alcohol use.

Furthermore, it requires that all residents contribute to the operation and maintenance of the village through participating in security shifts, fundraising events, construction projects, cooking, gardening, or any number of other supportive activities.

This encourages both skill and relationship building, emphasizing the transitional aspect of the village.

The purpose of the project is to bridge the existing gap between the housed and the unhoused, create a place for that collaboration to occur, and build social capital.

This is how we believe we can effectively transition people off the streets, through the village, and into more permanent living situations.