By Berkley Carnine Published in the Eugene Weekly, July 23, 2026 - This week I learned of a community member lost to suicide after seeking help. He n eeded timely, attuned support that he or a loved one once could’ve called in. I felt a similar grief as when over the winter a veteran died by suicide in front of St. Vincent de Paul in Eugene after three years on a housing waitlist. As a CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) worker laid off in April 2025, I texted with my...

Our bid for a community response remained true to three key elements that define the community responder model. 1. We are dispatched for welfare checks, public assists, and other forms of support as an alternative response to Fire/EMS and Law Enforcement. 2. Services are consent based: we never take peoples’ rights away. 3. The alternative response is made up of a crisis worker/ peer and medic allowing teams to assess and provide care for the whole person. Our bold proposal to expand...

Under the light of the full moon eclipse, we submitted our bid proposal for Eugene’s Peer Navigation Alternative Response Contract. We wouldn't be here without your support. Your contribution is bringing us one step closer to returning community responder services to Eugene. Thank you for giving today. At the end of January, the City of Eugene Issued a Peer Navigation Alternative Response request for proposals (RFP). We're excited to announce that we teamed up with Restored Connection Peer...