Infrastructure upgrades at Nightingale Hosted Shelters made possible through powerful public-nonprofit partnership
Guests explore "Pat's Kitchen" at the Nightingale Hosted Shelters Celebration. The newly constructed kitchen features a sink, two refrigerators, and countertops to prepare meals.
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A collaborative effort between the City of Eugene, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), and Nightingale Hosted Shelters brought permanent water, electric, and sewer infrastructure to the shelter site.
Located on City-owned property at Hilyard Street and 34th Avenue, Nightingale Hosted Shelters is a nonprofit organization that provides temporary shelter and fosters a healthy, safe, and supportive community for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), EWEB gained easements across City-owned property adjacent to Nightingale, allowing for staging of equipment and efficient installation of water and electric facilities for the Hilyard water transmission main project.
As part of the agreement, EWEB and the City of Eugene partnered to install essential water, electric, and sewer infrastructure at Nightingale Hosted Shelters. EWEB's water and electric service improvements were made possible through cost savings achieved by routing the pipeline across city property, rather than tearing up the 34th and Hilyard intersection, reducing paving and traffic control expenses.
Before the EWEB pipeline project, infrastructure improvements have been years in the making. “We’ve been raising money for years to build bathrooms and a kitchen, so we were more or less ready when water, electricity, and sewer were installed,” said Susie Andrist, Nightingale Hosted Shelters board member.
With the support of one-time State Shelter and Housing Grant funds provided by the City of Eugene, additional grant funding, and donations from hundreds of Nightingale supporters, the project delivered electricity to individual sleeping huts, a fully equipped kitchen and shower house (constructed by Square One Villages), a renovated warming and cooling shelter for year-round comfort, and permanent water and sewer connections, replacing temporary portable services and time-limited generators.
The upgrades drastically improve safety, sanitation, and year-round livability for residents experiencing homelessness.
“Now that residents can cook meals comfortably and shower, we can now focus on creating a community by utilizing the warming and cooling shelter building,” said Alana Folsom, Nightingale Hosted Shelters board member.
Project partners, contractors, donors, and volunteers gathered at Nightingale Hosted Shelters on April 27 to celebrate the milestone. The event offered tours of the improved facilities recognized the many hands that made it happen.
“It's been a community effort!” said Norma Grier, Treasurer of the Nightingale Hosted Shelters, about the process and the many contractors and partners involved. “The celebration is an opportunity to thank everyone who worked on the infrastructure projects and showcase what was completed.”
With the infrastructure now in place, Nightingale Hosted Shelters can shift its focus from survival to stability and build a more connected community for residents on their path to permanent housing.
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