( 6 7,~_ 1 ) <br />Cathedral Park Testimony <br />Eugene Planning Commission <br />August 23, 2016 <br />Richard Weinman <br />55 W. 31 st Avenue <br />Eugene, OR 97405 <br />My name is Richie Weinman. Prior to my retirement, I worked for the City of Eugene Planning <br />and Development Department for decades as the point person for low-income housing and <br />homelessness issues. I'm going to share why the proposed housing is needed and why it is <br />important to act in the applicant's favor. <br />I think we all know about both the documented need for low-income housing and the numerous <br />adopted policies - both local and statewide - that address the importance of this issue from a <br />planning standpoint. I can reference Goal 10 of state land use goals adopted in 1970, past City <br />Council goals, Envision Eugene's 2nd pillar and even the Planning Commission's by-laws which <br />state in <br />Article 2, item C: "To cooperate with private developers and public agencies in their <br />effort to provide an adequate supply of housing for low income families". <br />These adopted goals and policies are not meant as aspirational lip-service. Rather, each of <br />them and all of them recognize the critical importance of ensuring that housing is available for <br />our family members and neighbors. These are not isolated policies that are gathering dust on <br />an obscure shelf. Sadly, we have a housing shortage and way too many local residents are <br />paying obscenely more than they can afford for housing --which we know puts them at real risk <br />for homelessness. <br />The City of Eugene also has an adopted Housing Dispersal Plan. I know it well because I wrote <br />the current version and submitted it to the Planning Commission and City Council for approval. <br />It was adopted with only minor changes. This policy states that low income housing will be <br />dispersed throughout the community. The least represented area in town has always been <br />south Eugene. <br />Hard working people deserve to live in a decent place at an affordable cost. It's tragic that two <br />parent families, with both people working full time, can't afford their housing. It's only fair that <br />seniors and people with disabilities have affordable housing. If not, what kind of a community <br />are we? Children, if they are expected to succeed in school and life need a stable home a <br />place they can be safe, do their homework, and have their basic shelter needs met. This <br />proposed housing will serve these populations. It is not even a "very-low income" housing <br />development. It will be targeted to those who work and often still struggle People who ring up <br />our purchases at Macy's or the grocery store, people who take care of our children at preschool <br />