Opportunity Village

Opportunity Village opened in August 2013  as a "transitional micro-housing" pilot project which provides non-congregate shelter for up to 35 adults experiencing homelessness and is a bridge to the stability of affordable permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness. OVE offers a safe place for residents to stabilize their lives and transition into permanent, affordable housing. Thirty basic sleeping units (60-80 sq ft) are supported by common facilities in a village setting. Shared facilities include bathrooms, shower room, laundry, kitchen, pantry, garden beds, and a yurt used as a gathering space with computers and internet access. As the first non-congregate shelter in Lane County and possibly in the state, Opportunity Village has provided an alternative model for shelter for people experiencing homelessness, a model that respects the autonomy and dignity of each resident.

OVE grew out of the Occupy Movement in the Fall of 2011, where an encampment of protesters allowed for many of Eugene’s otherwise housed activists to develop better relations with the city’s unhoused community. While the tent city was eventually shut down, its presence had galvanized public concern around homelessness, resulting in mayor-appointed task force focused on developing recommendations for “new and innovative” approaches to the issue.

The task force produced a total of eight recommendations, the first of which was to “direct city staff to work with community members to identify potential sites in order to establish a safe and secure place to be... independently financed with oversight by a not-for-profit organization or agency.”

A group called the Homeless Solutions Committee began to meet independently to ensure this recommendation was carried out, and in July of 2012, members of this committee registered Opportunity Village Eugene as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The organization has since changed its name to SquareOne Villages, after taking on additional villages. Following a series of concerted efforts to build broad political support for the village concept, our City Council passed a motion to “Authorize the city manager to take the steps necessary to locate a pilot project for a low-cost micro-housing project for homeless individuals at the city-owned North Garfield site for a period not to exceed October 1, 2014.”  OVE was relocated from its original site to 2243 Roosevelt Blvd in 2023.

The Village is self-governed, meaning residents use democratic process to make decisions about how the community is operated and managed. A contract with the City of Eugene regulates how the site may be used, and a Community Agreement and Village Manual outlines internal policies and procedures. SquareOne Villages provides ongoing oversight and support. Residents attend weekly meetings to communicate about needs and common issues. Each resident is required to work 10 weekly “participation hours” to share the tasks of maintaining the common areas of the village— kitchen, pantry, bathrooms, and the meeting space (large yurt).