Opportunity Village
A scalable model for developing resident-owned, infill housing on typical residential lots, permanently affordable to people with low-incomes.
Location: 1075 C St, Springfield, Oregon
Type: Limited Equity Co-op
Size: 6 one-bedroom suites on 0.1 acres
Status: Open since 2021
Carrying Charge: $825/month
Permanently Affordable for: 80% area median income or under
Project Background
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.”
$602,442
Total Project Cost
$100,000
Cost per Unit
$60,000
Total Resident Equity
Ownership Model
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).
Finance Model
Start-up costs were funded with around $98,000 in private cash donations and small grants, plus an estimated $114,000 of in-kind materials and labor. City-owned land is leased to our non-profit for a nominal fee of $1/year.
In 2016, our annual operating budget amounted to around $30,000 for the year—including expenses for utilities, maintenance, bus passes for all residents, insurance. While the first couple years in operation were supported by volunteers, we also added $15,000 in annual personnel expenses in 2016—including a quarter-time village coordinator, a social work intern from Portland State University, and a small amount of our executive director’s time.
In the News
Housing & Site Design
The homes were built by volunteers and the residents themselves. Each home is composed of a set of 4'x8' modular panels, designed for simple and quick assembly. These individual sleeping units are complemented by shared facilities, fostering a sense of community in a village-style setting.
This design contrasts traditional dormitory-style shelters, which lack the privacy and security needed to provide relief from the trauma of homelessness. Over the years, many residents have expressed the profound dignity they feel from having their own private space—a room with a door that locks—where they can experience safety, rest, and a sense of home.
