In a heartfelt letter to the editor of Lookout Eugene‑Springfield, retired police officer Sarah Koski reflected on her experience managing Eugene’s 410 Garfield Safe Sleep Site. Koski, who also credits a local faith community for helping her overcome a painful past, argues that labeling people experiencing homelessness as “choosing” an easier life ignores the deep‑rooted trauma and systemic failures that often precede a tent on the street.
From law‑enforcement to frontline service
Having spent a career on the police force, Koski says she initially approached the safe‑sleep site with assumptions common among many citizens. “I believed there were two groups: those suffering from mental illness or substance use, and those who were ‘transient by choice,’” she wrote. “My time at the site proved that view was far too simplistic.”
During her tenure, Koski encountered individuals whose stories were marked by childhood abuse, family instability, addiction, and a cascade of failed support systems. She describes the tent as merely the visible part of a much larger, often hidden, narrative.
Upstream factors demand attention
Koski urges the community to look “upstream”—to the conditions that lead to homelessness in the first place. She highlights a litany of contributing factors: childhood trauma, sexual violence, foster‑care experiences, overprescribed opioids, and broken family structures. “When we fail to protect children and families, we set the stage for future homelessness,” she wrote.
She cites a 2006 Princeton study that found people viewing images of homeless individuals and those with drug addiction experience a brain response associated with dehumanization. Koski warns that such psychological distancing makes it easier for society to dismiss responsibility.
Faith as a safety net
Beyond her professional role, Koski emphasizes the pivotal role her local faith community played in her own recovery from severe mental illness and family abuse. “Without them, Lord knows where I would have ended up,” she says, underscoring the importance of churches and faith‑based groups as vital support networks for vulnerable residents.
She calls on fellow citizens, faith leaders, and policymakers to recognize that compassion and personal responsibility are not mutually exclusive. “We must resist black‑and‑white labels and instead address the moral reckoning that comes from caring for our most broken neighbors,” Koski concludes.
What’s next for Eugene?
The letter arrives amid ongoing discussions in Eugene about expanding safe‑sleep sites, increasing mental‑health resources, and improving coordination among social‑service agencies. While city officials have not yet announced new initiatives, Koski’s testimony adds a personal, faith‑grounded perspective to the conversation, urging leaders to prioritize upstream solutions that protect families before they fall into homelessness.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
