New nonprofit in Eugene to help homeless find housing

Eugene has the highest homeless population per capita in the country, according to 2018 studies from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

And with so many people in need, resources are in high demand.

The founder describes it as a cross between the dollar store and St. Vincent de Paul.

Meaning, her store will take in clothing donations and be sold for only one dollar each.

Eventually, those proceeds will go towards finding permanent housing for those most in need.

“I don’t like watching people suffer,” says United Threads founder, Brittany Jones. “If there’s a way I can help…just because I struggle doesn’t mean they have to struggle like I did.”

Jones, a former homeless veteran, is turning an empty storefront into much more.

“When I was homeless, I could not get any help from the VA as a single parent, as well as St. Vincent de Paul; the wait-list was long, Catholic Community Services was long, Section 8 was long – so the wait-list was just overrun.”

Serving in the Army Reserve but not in combat, the VA denied her request.

So, she decided if she couldn’t find the help she needed, she wasn’t alone.

After getting back on her feet she eventually had an idea – now actualized.

“It’s a resale thrift store where everything that is donated is re-sold for a dollar and all the profits go towards the homeless veterans and single-parent families in our community.”

United Threads will sell each piece of clothing for one dollar, then use the funds to get people off the street and into permanent housing.

“I want them to be in the house and stay in the house,” Jones says, “not be in the house and have to leave.”

The plan is to buy condemned homes and pay down the mortgage to as little as $25 depending on whatever income they have.

“I want to buy the first house in the first year or two for the first person,” Jones explains, “then once the house is bought, renovated, the person moves in – and then the mortgage that’s paid to the nonprofit will go towards buying the next house.”

Jones hopes United Threads will be much more than a store, but a path towards a better life.

The store is located at 255 E. 18th Ave. in Eugene.