EUGENE, Ore. – The homeless community has many layers, and housing to support them does not have a “one size fits all” solution. That’s why the HIV Alliance, Square-One Villages and the City of Eugene are partnering on a new micro-safe sleep site, called the Rainbow Corner.
HIV Alliance officials said Rainbow Corner will primarily serve unhoused individuals who are in services at the HIV Alliance. Officials said HIV infection rates are 16 times higher for people who are unhoused, and multiple studies show housing status is a stronger predictor of contracting HIV than gender, race, age or drug use. Brooks McLain, the development director at HIV Alliance, said Rainbow Corner will have features to help its residents manage their HIV.
“Our clients here at HIV alliance are virally suppressed, which means they cannot transmit HIV to the community, but housing is a big barrier for folks,” McLain said. “You see those lockers behind me, that’s why we have those, it’s so folks that don’t have housing can store their meds there.”…