Bobbie Stevens, a woman who has faced a lifetime of adversity, finds herself grappling with the loss of not just her mobility, but also her essential property. Having spent 12 years on the streets of Eugene, Oregon, Stevens recently had her leg amputated due to a prolonged infection sustained while living in the parks of the city. Her journey highlights the complex challenges faced by the unhoused community and the potential consequences of their belongings being taken away during cleanups.
Stevens, who was born in California and moved to Tennessee at the age of two, found herself "stuck" in Eugene after the loss of her husband, who was incarcerated and ultimately passed away behind bars. This left Stevens, who has been battling addiction for years, without a support system. Her life has been a series of struggles, from living in parks to enduring an open wound for seven years before it was deemed necessary to amputate her leg below the knee.
As she struggles to regain her footing, Stevens is finding that her most crucial property—a red mobility scooter—has become a point of contention with the city of Eugene. After multiple scooters being lost, Stevens now faces the daunting task of trying to retrieve her essential aid from the city's storage facilities. Her scooter, one of the few belongings she has managed to hold onto, has been taken from the local parks and open spaces several times.
Eugene Parks and Open Space, which maintains over 5,000 acres of parks and open spaces in Lane County, reports that illegal camping is a significant concern, with 1,353 complaints filed during the 2025 fiscal year alone. While the intention behind the cleanups is to maintain the parks, the process has had a profound impact on individuals like Stevens.
Stevens and her friend, Thomas Zoll, have been navigating the complex process of trying to recover her belongings. They have successfully retrieved her scooter from the storage facility twice before, but the third time around, the scooter has vanished. Without access to public transportation or the means to pay for a ride, Stevens is left relying on the kindness of others to retrieve her property.
The situation with Stevens' mobility scooter is not an isolated incident. The Eugene Police Department and Eugene Parks and Open Space work together on certain instances, with individuals sometimes left confused about which department is responsible for their belongings. This confusion can be particularly challenging for the unhoused community, who often have few resources and little understanding of the legal system.
Stevens' case brings to light the broader issue of how cleanups can affect individuals who rely on the parks for survival. The city's policy regarding property taken during cleanups states that it is stored at the City Personal Property Storage Facility. However, the location's remote nature, industrial surroundings, and lack of easy access make it nearly impossible for individuals like Stevens to retrieve their property without assistance.
Despite these challenges, Stevens remains hopeful. "We just need someone to believe in us sometimes," she says. "I have a 5-year-old granddaughter, I want to be something she's proud of." Her resilience is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
As the city of Eugene continues to tackle the issue of homelessness, the case of Bobbie Stevens serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved. It raises questions about how best to care for the unhoused population while also maintaining the integrity of public spaces. For individuals like Stevens, the struggle for basic dignity and access to necessary property is an ongoing battle.
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