Lane County Officials say they will start testing homeless

Lane County Officials say they will start testing homeless

We have an update tonight on that controversial bill that would have forced hotels and motels to house homeless people with covid-19.

Tonight... that bill appears to be dead in the water.

Kezi 9 news reporter emma withrow is live in south eugene where a local organization has stepped up to help the homeless.

That's right chynna.

The non profit group "sponsors" --- which normally works with recently released prisoners --- has volunteered to lend their tiny homes to house homeless people recently confirmed with covid-19.

The tiny homes are located in south eugene, off highway 99, and can hold up to 10 people total..

Providing each person with their own unit.

Paul soloman with sponsors said each unit is stocked with a bathroom, kitchen, and living space.

He said while they originally planned to use these units for their clients in the sponsors program... they havent had anyone get sick, so they decided to let lane county utilize them amid the hotel controversy.

The county is going to be responsible for providing daily medical case management services, they will be required to clean the units when they're done and deal with any damage or replacement that occurs.

Soloman said for now they are allowing lane county to use 5 tiny units until the need is greater with more reported cases among the homeless population.

Coming up at 5 we will hear about the new testing locations for homeless people that lane county said they have in the works... reporting live in eugene... emma withrow kezi 9 news..