Carlson Pitches Plan to Marion County

Revised: January 2019

By Sarah Owens and Michael Livingston

[Originally posted under the title, "Mayor Announces Ambitious Plan for Chronic Homeless."]

Laura Walker and Janet Carlson 2/15/17

On February 15, 2017, Marion County Commissioner Carlson pitched to the other two County Commissioners pretty much the same MWHI Task Force presentation she had pitched to the Salem City Council the night before.  However, Carlson told the County that the City of Salem was interested in implementing a "Real Change" (anti-panhandling) program, which she didn't mention at the the City Council meeting.

Speaking about the proposal to put a project manager in the MWV Council of Governments to oversee implementation of the Task Force's strategic plan, Carlson said Mayor Bennett "jumped on the idea and said he thought it was a great idea."  That also was not mentioned at the City Council presentation. 

Carlson said she and Mayor Clark had "talked to each of the jurisdictions...about setting aside some funds so we can jump start this project manager position over at the COG", but did not mention the $40,000 each from Salem and Marion County that she had referred to at the City Council meeting.

Carlson said the project manager would report to an executive team made up of the executive directors of various agencies and "jurisdictions who would help guide the process" and "oversee the implementation, for example, the housing authority directors, the Community Action director, the Union Gospel Mission director, those people would be key in helping guide that work because they're the ones that are providing those services."  (UGM's and MWVCAA's directors were on the Task Force, so they might have consented to this, but it's doubtful any other agencies or "jurisdictions" even know about this plan.)

Same Brentano and Kevin Cameron 2/15/17

When Carlson asked for questions, Commissioner Cameron wanted to know what to expect to receive in the way of "reports."  Carlson said she couldn't yet say.  In a typically rambling response, she said she suspected that Salem and Marion County combined provide "the lion's share" of resources for the homeless, and that "thousands of people are housed in the City of Salem every day in programs by the Housing Authority."

Commissioner Brentano said he sensed Commissioner Carlson's concern and didn't want to offend, but he didn't know "what we're signing on for.  We need a better picture of the real dollars and the commitment long term that you're looking for, so, there's a lot of vagueness...so that's what I'll be looking for."  He also said that he was "always concerned about setting up programs that attract others to come into the area...I don't want to become the Mecca for homelessness.  I want to take care of our own, but not expand it."  In another rambling response, Carlson talked about Eugene's camping programs and the Home Base Shelters of Salem  proposal for a camping program in Salem or Marion County and indicated her belief that neither owned a suitable parcel.