News from the Continuum

by Sarah Owens and Michael Livingston

Council Policy Agenda Work Session January 23, 2019

On January 23, CANDO hosted a community conversation about the City's refusal to allow meals to be served under the Center and Marion Street bridges.  The primary unanswered question for many in attendance was whether the City was willing to reconsider its decision.  See "re Meals Under Bridge." (26 January 2019.) 

The next day, the City issued a staff report for the January 28 City Council meeting that included a work plan outline for the Food and Sundries Distribution to the Homeless Community Task Force, and clarified that the City is not open to reconsideration by stating that the purpose of the task force process was not to allow, or find ways to allow, food distribution "in areas posted 'no trespassing'" (i.e., under either of the bridges).  The outline also extended by another 30 days the expected completion date for the Task Force's work.  The decision and the way it was communicated were not well received in social media, and the City Council may be hearing more about this Monday during public comment.

The Mid Willamette Valley Council of Governments (MWVCOG) announced that the recruitment for a new Homeless Initiative Program Coordinator has failed, but there is a plan "B."  See "Homeless Program Coordinator Position Empty, Iffy."  (25 January 2019.)

Council agreed at the Council Policy Agenda work session to move forward with acquiring 615 Commercial Street NE and setting up the CPTED small grant program (see items I., III. and VII.b.) recommended by the Downtown Homeless Solutions Task Force and to schedule a work session for February 19 (in conjunction with work on the Downtown Streetscape Plan) to consider the remaining items.  See "News from the Continuum." (19 January 2019.)

During the work session, the Council tacitly agreed to proceed with building out the sobering center in the Commercial Street building, despite having no plan for closing the current gap in funding for the annual operating costs.  See "City to Build Despite Ops Funding Gap."  (25 January 2019.)  Also See Brynelson, T. "Besides budget concerns, construction delays added to sobering center woes." (25 January 2019, Salem Reporter.)  

The Hillcrest development idea was referred to the City Council Finance Committee, with cautions from the City Manager and Urban Development Department Director Kristin Retherford about undertaking such a project.

The Mid Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) is hiring a Client Care Specialist to assist day shelter staff respond more effectively to consumers' disruptive behavior, often caused or complicated by serious mental illness.

On Wednesday, January 30, MWVCAA will coordinate the annual Point in Time Homeless Count, which includes organizing teams of volunteers who attempt to survey all unsheltered  households in Marion and Polk Counties.

In Polk County, there will be a "Homeless Connect" event that will cater exclusively to  unsheltered households and individuals, in an effort to survey as many as possible.  (Marion County conducts its Homeless Connect event in March.)  This is the second year that the Polk County Connect has focused exclusively on the  unsheltered.  In prior years, the Connect was open to anyone needing a meal, clothing, camping supplies, health insurance, or basic services like dental care, health screenings, hair cuts and pet care.  The change has been a source of controversy in the provider community, especially when people experiencing homelessness are turned away.

BAM Agency (L), Mike's Electric (M), Vacant (R)

The Union Gospel Mission (UGM) has acquired Mike’s Electric at 275 Division NE and BAM Advertising at  255 Division NE, on the south/courtyard side of the site of the new Men's Mission.  See "Glennie Appeals UGM Permit to Council." (20 April 2018.)  UGM's Executive Director, Dan Clem, reports that the capital campaign, "Hope Has a New Address", is on track with $8.7M pledged/committed/collected towards the total of $15M."