SquareOne NEWS | March 2020
In these extraordinary times, it's more important than ever to keep connected.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Nonprofits like SquareOne have a huge role to play during and after this crisis. Typical ways we build community, mobilize people, and raise funds will not be available for an indefinite period of time, so we have to develop creative ways to connect, learn, inspire, and keep moving forward in our important work.
We hope you will prioritize taking care of yourself and your family’s health while also realizing the dire situation our unhoused, low-income, and other vulnerable neighbors are facing.
SquareOne Villages is currently coordinating with local public health officials and community partners in responding to the COVID-19 virus. Thanks to many of you, Emerald Village residents have homes with bathrooms and kitchens where they can quarantine if necessary. This is not the case at Opportunity Village where bathroom and kitchen facilities are all shared.
To prevent the spread of the virus, protocols based on the CDC guidelines for shelters have been delivered to every villager and posted on site. All village meetings have been cancelled until further notice. A port-a-potty and handwashing station has been ordered to improve our capacity to practice social distancing at Opportunity Village. We have provided a list of particularly medically fragile villagers to the County and City to see whether it will be possible for them to be provided with a motel room or similar accommodations as a preventive measure. We are waiting to hear back.
As for now, the build team at Cottage Village is working hard to complete the first 9 houses in Cottage Grove, with hopes of still getting people housed this summer. We're currently working on finishing the drywall, and our carpenters are able to adhere to social distancing by working in separate units. Sidewalks and the parking area were poured early in the month, so landscaping and interiors are all that's left to get to occupancy on the first 9 homes.
During these uncertain times, if you are able, please consider a gift of support to SquareOne Villages.
If you are not able to give a financial gift, but would like to support SquareOne and other vital nonprofits, consider writing to our legislators and elected officials—local, state and federal. Share the impact of our work, why our work is vital during this time, and emphasize that nonprofits need to be included in relief efforts in order for our community to deal with the economic losses that are continuing to worsen. THE TIME IS NOW!
As things continue to change by the day, SquareOne is monitoring and following recommendations provided by the CDC and Lane County Public Health in order to keep our staff, village residents and the community at-large safe.
Lastly, please remember we are all in this together and to be kind during this time of great stress. It will go a long way.
With great appreciation,
SquareOne Villages
Opportunity Village
A BIG thank you to the Parsley Family & the Eugene/Springfield Newcomers Club who donated a (much needed) refrigerator to Opportunity Village last week!
