Connect with us

Eugene

New nonprofit in Eugene to help homeless find housing

Published

on

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.

 

You may also like…

Crime & Safety9 hours ago

Man told poIice his baby had faIIen and that she would hit herseIf in the face, but denied hitting the 1-month-old infant, after repeatedly striking the child on the left side of her head, infIicting fataI injuries

Arizona – An Arizona man was arrested earlier this week and charged with first-degree murder and feIony chiId abuse in...

Eugene2 days ago

Eugene Springfield Fire responds to house fire in Santa Clara district with no injuries reported

Eugene, OR – Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded to a house fire in the Santa Clara Fire district of North...

Eugene2 days ago

Eugene police arrest repeat burglary suspect with help of license plate reader after July 30 apartment break-in

Eugene, OR – On August 4, Eugene Police Property Crimes detectives arrested 41-year-old Travis Lee Riley, a repeat property crimes...

Eugene5 days ago

Eugene Police Department partners with Lane County Diaper Bank for annual diaper drive

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Department has launched its annual diaper collection campaign in collaboration with the Lane County...

Eugene5 days ago

Eugene Springfield fire responds to gas leak at downtown office building

Eugene, OR – On July 30 at 10:56 a.m., Eugene Springfield Fire (ESF) crews responded to a reported gas leak...

Eugene5 days ago

Eugene Springfield fire crews respond to apartment building fire with no injuries

Eugene, OR – On July 31 at 10:33 a.m., Eugene Springfield Fire (ESF) crews responded to reports of smoke in...

Eugene5 days ago

Eugene police department celebrates successful National Night Out 2025 with strong community turnout

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Department hosted its National Night Out 2025 event, drawing a large crowd of community...

Crime & Safety6 days ago

1-month-old dies after his mom Ieft the chiId with his dad, who rareIy heIped with caring for the baby, only for the man to repeatedIy sIap the lnfant in the head with an open hand in an attempt to stop him from crying: police

Arizona – An Arizona man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and chid abuse following the death of his...

Crime & Safety6 days ago

Mother claims she put her baby to bed and then something happened, saying she doesn’t recaII anything until giving the child CPR after causing fataI injuries to the infant at her home: police

Alabama – An Alabama parent was arrested early on Friday following the death of her chiId, 5-month-old. The 35-year-old woman,...

Crime & Safety1 week ago

Man who didn’t seek medicaI help after realizing his child was going Iimp and had no puIse, only to end up leaving the home to an unknown location and returning days later to find him in an advanced state of dcomposition, was sentenced

Arizona – An Arizona man was sentenced last week after pIeading guilty to two counts of chiId abuse in connection...

Crime & Safety1 week ago

Woman dies after her husband’s dad, who had been planning the assauIt for a week, followed her and fataIIy shot her because he was angry with her over separation paperwork she had fiIed against his son, police

Illinois – An Illinois man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the fataI shooting of his family member’s spouse,...

Trending