EUGENE, Ore. — Two crucial organizations in Eugene, Oregon, that serve individuals struggling with addiction, homelessness, and developmental disabilities are facing severe budget cuts that could force them to close their doors by July 1. The Restored Connections Peer Center (RCPC) and the Pearl Buck Center are both grappling with significant reductions in state and federal funding, and advocates warn that without immediate action, hundreds of vulnerable people may be left without the vital services they rely on.
The RCPC, which provides a zero-barrier recovery community center, has become a lifeline for those seeking immediate care and support without long waitlists or restrictive eligibility requirements. Last year, the center served nearly 5,700 individuals, helping over 600 people transition into housing. The center’s harm-reduction model offers a critical service to those in immediate need of addiction recovery care, many of whom cannot access other programs due to strict eligibility rules.
RCPC client Lisa Davis, who credits the center with helping her rebuild her life, shared her personal experience: “I am the mother that I want to be today. I am pushing to rebuild with my two older children – and I wouldn’t have that strength without them,” she said.
The funding crisis, however, threatens the very existence of the RCPC. A proposed 75% cut in its funding would severely limit the center’s ability to continue providing these life-saving services. Advocates fear that if the center closes, the community will face an increase in overdoses, homelessness, and a strain on emergency services.
“It’s a no-barrier, life-saving place, and I think Eugene would suffer extremely. There would be more overdoses because of the harm reduction here. It would just be detrimental for the community,” said Troy Large, another RCPC client.
The situation facing the Pearl Buck Center is equally dire. The organization, which provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is also anticipating substantial funding cuts. The center estimates that Oregon would need at least $558 million to maintain current levels of care, not accounting for potential reductions proposed under the Trump administration’s budget plan.
Stephanie Beeck, Executive Director of the Pearl Buck Center, explained the potential consequences: “The biggest majority of that is going to have to come from Medicaid spending, and the service-based supports for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities are greatly funded by that,” Beeck said. “What would happen is they would start seeing waitlists, so people would not be able to get any support. We’ll see an increase in homelessness. We’ll see an increase in people needing to have emergency care.”
Oregon is home to over 67,000 individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, many of whom rely on centers like Pearl Buck to gain employment, learn independent living skills, and receive the support they need to lead fulfilling lives. Without adequate funding, these individuals face the risk of losing access to critical services.
As both organizations fight to secure funding, they are urging the community to take action. RCPC has launched an online petition to encourage local government officials to provide the necessary resources to keep the center open. The Pearl Buck Center, along with other nonprofits, is also encouraging community members to reach out to policymakers to advocate for continued state and federal support.
The funding crisis affecting these organizations is part of a broader trend across Oregon, where nonprofits are facing growing uncertainty due to budget cuts at the state and federal levels. Advocates fear that reductions to Medicaid and Medicare will exacerbate the struggles faced by vulnerable populations throughout the state.
In response, both the RCPC and the Pearl Buck Center are calling on the public to help protect these essential services. Without community support, the future of these organizations, and the individuals they serve, remains uncertain.
