Not too long ago, a gentleman by the name of David Robertson walked into the Eugene Community Service Center, accompanied by a homeless man who appeared to be very unhealthy—very sick. Robertson was a familiar presence at the ECSC, known for his calm yet determined demeanor. He wanted to help his companion get a bus ticket to southern California. Requests for bus transportation are a frequent occurrence at the Community Center where staff work with churches and other agencies to address specific needs. But this one was different.

The homeless man was dying from terminal cancer, and Robertson had made it his mission to help the man get home to see what remained of his family before passing. When the calls to churches did not come up with the full ticket price, Robertson reached into his own pocket to make up the $20 difference.

It is just the kind of thing he does, and had been doing for the last 18 years, generally with the help of his wife of 41 years, Susan. He has ministered to the homeless without pay and without a formed organization to support him for that 18 years. He is one of those treasures—a person who toils in relative anonymity, giving practical effect every day to the core principle of Catholic social teaching that every human being counts, that there is a sacredness and dignity to every life, and that there are no exceptions to that rule.

CCS is proud to announce that David Robertson is the recipient of the 2010 Murnane Social Justice Award.

People in the social services system in Lane County know of David Robertson’s work with the homeless; but not many people outside of it do, other than the homeless themselves. Although he has been ordained as a minister in a few unconventional churches, Robertson considers himself an informal Christian minister to the homeless. He regularly conducts a brief Sunday morning service, followed by coffee at the Washington-Jefferson skate park. He conducts a Sunday evening service at Lamb Cottage in Skinner’s Butte Park for the homeless, followed by dinner and fellowship. He conducts memorial services for our homeless friends who have passed away.

Along the way he works with county officials in planning and operating the Egan Warming Center and in Project Homeless Connect annual event. The residents of Eugene Springfield are fortunate to have him in our community.