EUGENE, Ore. — In the wake of the closure of the White Bird Clinic’s Front Rooms program last month, a new volunteer-driven initiative has emerged to support Eugene’s unhoused population. The group, called Radical Assistance for Vulnerable Eugene Neighbors (RAVEN), is working to fill the gap left by the clinic’s shutdown, offering essential services such as food distribution and outreach.
RAVEN was founded by former Front Rooms staff members, many of whom were deeply committed to continuing their work with the unhoused community. Stacy Bierma Welch, who serves as the volunteer coordinator for RAVEN, was one of the program’s original staff members. She said that after learning about the church’s outreach efforts, she connected with Pastor Zane at First Christian Church, who offered to host the group’s services.
“This is all the people that used to work at White Bird volunteering to do food service,” said Welch. “I immediately talked to Pastor Zane, and they were willing to host us because they do a lot of outreach for the unhoused.”
Jeremiah Perry-Weed, a former Front Rooms employee who worked with the program for four years, shared his relief in seeing the new initiative take shape. He described the closure of Front Rooms as difficult, leaving many workers uncertain about how to continue assisting their clients.
“It was tough,” Perry-Weed said. “We really fought to keep Front Rooms open. It was exhausting, but now I’m glad we can still provide some support through RAVEN.”
Since its formation, RAVEN has been able to serve upwards of 80 clients on days when local warming centers are operational. While the organization lacks the financial resources of its predecessor, other community groups have stepped in to offer food and supplies. RAVEN partners with organizations such as St. Mary’s, the Interfaith Food Hub, and Burrito Brigade, which provide meals and goods that RAVEN distributes to those in need.
“We’re still serving hot breakfast on Saturdays thanks to these partners,” Welch explained. “Their support helps us continue to care for our clients.”
Looking ahead, RAVEN’s leadership is focused on establishing a permanent, nonprofit status to ensure the longevity of their work. Welch said the group plans to secure grants and fundraise to support their efforts and compensate volunteers who have been working without pay.
“We’re looking at setting up our own nonprofit,” Welch said. “We’ve already started a GoFundMe, and we have a lot of good relationships with people who are donating supplies. We’re working hard to make this sustainable.”
In the meantime, RAVEN’s volunteers remain committed to their mission of serving Eugene’s unhoused population. Perry-Weed expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue supporting many of the clients he worked with during his time at Front Rooms.
“Doing this work has been really rewarding because I’m still able to see the people I used to serve and stay involved in their lives,” he said.
As RAVEN continues to grow, its volunteers are hopeful that the community’s support and their own hard work will enable the organization to expand its services and eventually formalize its operations into a fully-fledged nonprofit. For now, they remain focused on providing essential care and fostering connections with their clients.
