Nightengale Hosted Shelters – a place to call home

outhtowne’s Program on Thursday, October 26th was Nightengale Hosted Shelters

At Nightingale Hosted Shelters, we provide a home, community and support to our residents, helping them transition through difficult times with love, respect and guidance. Nightingale is a true respite shelter and rest stop, funded primarily by grants and donations from community members like you who are motivated to help the most vulnerable among us meet their basic needs.

Residents apply to join the Nightingale community. They are interviewed, trained and supervised by our on-site resident managers, who are Peer Support Specialists, knowledgeable and understanding of the needs and circumstances of people transitioning from the streets to a sheltered community. With a maximum of 20 residents, the community size is easily manageable. Camp rules are strictly enforced. Residents are required to attend camp meetings, participate in cleanup and take turns at gate duty.

Nathan and Tracy are the camp managers for Nightingale Hosted Shelter, the camp at 34th Alley and Hilyard. Both of them have lived experience and relevant skills in social services, advocating for vulnerable populations, counseling, and mediation. In the past, they both worked in the food industry: Nathan as a chef in a Best Western kitchen, and Tracy in Food for Lane County’s Dining Room. Nathan also holds a culinary arts degree. Both Nathan and Tracy are knowledgeable about food storage and preparation, treatment and handling of water, heating, waste management and illness prevention.