Hlessness to Remain City's #1 Priority

 By Sarah Owens and Michael Livingston

November 15, 2021 Policy Agenda Work Session

"Addressing Homelessness" will continue to be the No. 1 priority in 2022, Council agreed this week during the work session on the Council Policy Agenda.  Tension continues between the City Manager's need for City programs to be financially sustainable and the Council's need to spend free homeless $$ before spending deadlines expire.  But their wish list* is fiscally breathtaking:  continue and expand organized pallet structure and vehicle camping programs, fund sobering center operations, implement a CAHOOTS-style program and hire dedicated City staff (e.g. social workers, homeless liaison).  Briefly recapping the financial realities:  the $10.5M from 2HB 5006 (2021 Session) must be spent by July 2023. The grant agreement provides the funds shall be used for "sheltering", defined as "site acquisition, preparation, and temporary or permanent shelter purchase" or "operating costs for potential shelter sites, unsheltered site cleanup, sobering center, or crisis response."  The $8.1M set aside from the City's ARPA funds must be spent by December 2024.  Of that $8.1M, $3M was spent to purchase the navigation center, $.5M was spent to purchase the Arches Inn (the name of the 80-room Project Turnkey hotel purchased by the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency), and the remaining $4.6 is designated for "sheltering programs" such as the two on Portland Road that offer pallet structure and vehicle camping.  See the work session staff report.  

Council spent one full hour of the two set aside for the work session in a rambling exchange that revealed unfamiliarity with key terms such as "affordable housing" (generally defined as housing on which the occupant is paying no more than 30% of gross income for housing costs including utilities**) and "Housing First" (contrary to apparent belief, hoping that people will move on to permanent housing from programs that provide, say, safe vehicle camping, a mat indoors on the floor overnight, or a pallet structure does not make those programs Housing First).  In the end, councilors resolved to try and get the word out through neighborhood and other civic associations about all the City is doing to address homelessness.  They really believe if only the public knew how "tirelessly" staff was working on the problem, we would stop being so mean about it.  

The influx of money + spending deadlines have apparently infused in Council (or some of them) a belief that the City has to "do it all" -- prevent, manage and end homelessness -- by any means that might be effective.  Questions of actual effectiveness (requiring metrics) and sustainability (requiring permanent funding sources) must be put to one side, they say, begging the additional question when, then, will these questions be taken up?  Those who donated funds ($250K) to purchase 50 pallet shelters, only to find out there is no place to put them, would probably like to know.  See 11/12/21 CMU Update.   

Council will take up the Policy Agenda again in January.       

* meaning programs not firmly agreed upon, such as the navigation center and the Arches Inn.

**Affordability calculations are pegged to Area Median Income (AMI) -- the income level at which  half the families in an area are earning more and half are earning less.  A housing unit that is "affordable at 80% AMI" is affordable (meaning rent + utilities cost no more than 30% of gross income) for a household earning at least 80% of AMI.  Housing that's affordable at 80% AMI is generally considered "workforce" housing whereas housing that's affordable at 30% AMI is considered "extremely low income" housing.   See Defining Housing Affordability.)  

11/16/21 Minutes

Members: Alan Mela 

Organizations: none

City, County and State Representatives: Virginia Stapleton, Ward 1 Councilor;  David Smith, Salem Police Department 

 

Guests: Laura Russo, Emergency Services Manager, The Arches Project

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

The agenda and minutes of the October meeting were approved by unanimous consent.

In public comment, Alan Mela reported that his tenant Grocery Outlet on Commercial and D Streets is considering closing because of perceived deteriorating conditions in the neighborhood e.g., the fencing around the self-storage in the lower level has been repeatedly cut, at a cost of $300-400/mo.  He would like to understand what the police’s SOP is in the area, and whether attention might not be increased.  He is seeking to reassure the tenant that conditions in the area are not deteriorating and will improve.  

Councilor Stapleton, responding to Alan’s concerns, acknowledged that there is room for improvement in the area and said she thought things would be improving.  She suggested it might be helpful to connect the tenant with various named city staff who can provide specifics as to the improvements in the pipeline.  Following which, the Councilor gave a report on her and Council’s November 15 work session on the Council Policy Agenda priority area “Addressing Homelessness”, said it was necessary for the City to make efforts to 1) prevent, 2) manage (which services range from case management to trash removal) and 3) “end” homelessness and answered questions.

Laura Russo with The Arches Project (laura.russo@mwvcaa.org) gave a presentation on Salem Warming Network and answered questions.  The City’s cold weather sheltering season opened November 1 and will last until March 31, 2022.  Sites are “activated” when overnight temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or or below.  The program is funded the City of Salem ($150K) and the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.  The shelters are low barrier and open to all regardless of disability status, household size, sobriety level, and whether they have pets.  There are currently two sites:  First Presbyterian Church at 770 Chemeketa St. NE and South Salem Friends Church at 1140 Baxter Rd. SE and will be operated by hired staff with a few volunteers.  Transportation to the sites is available between 6 and 11pm through Cherriots, and through the Arches shuttle service from 615 Commercial Street NE (6pm), Big Lots (7pm), Grace City Church (8pm).  To volunteer, visit https://arches.volunteerhub.com/.

Officer Smith (joining the meeting at 6:45) reported that police had been checking on people in the low-lying areas along the river, including Wallace Marine Park, in an effort to prevent their being stranded by rising water.  He said police have also been investigating the connection between the presence of camps and increased crime -- both serious and low level, quality of life crimes, which connection is assumed.    

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 7:05.

 

News from the Continuum

Campsite on Marion Street, est. fall 2021

Since the last News was posted (July 2, 2021), UGM opened its new men's mission. Alexander, R.  "UGM more than doubles space to get men off Salem’s streets."  (27 July 2021, Salem Reporter.)  The City wrapped up the camping "program" in Cascades Gateway and Wallace Marine parks and set about removing trash.  Ditto the tolerance program at Market Street.  Barreda, V.  "People vacate homeless encampments on Market Street ahead of sweep."  (18 July 2021, Statesman Journal.);  Alexander, R.  "ODOT will sweep camps on Market Street, Salem Parkway starting July 19."  (12 July 2021, Salem Reporter.)  As campers dispersed, homeless services providers tried to expand outreach efforts.  Lugo, D. "As homeless camps close, advocacy groups must adjust to maintain services."  (23 August 2021, Statesman Journal.)  And Council passed Resolution 21-451, extending the state of emergency relating to unsheltered homelessness to June 28, 2022.

Last July, the City thought its new navigation center would be open by now.  Harrell, S. "Navigation center for Salem homeless could open this winter."  (16 July 2021, Salem Reporter.) (quoting Sen. Courtney -- who was instrumental in securing the necessary state funding for the navigation center -- "We [Salem representatives] have been way behind compared to some places the state. Salem has been very conservative for asking for help.”)(Emphasis added.)  In fairness, Sen. Courtney was busy raising $1-2M for the new amphitheater at Riverfront Park, and $12M to build a new YMCA, while the City did not, until fairly recently, consider homelessness within its remit beyond law enforcement and annual contribution of $400K in federal matching funds.  The City now expects the navigation center to open in the spring, though the building or some part of it is slated for use as a warming center.  See here page 72.      

Salem Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher wait list remains closed.  Tabrizian, A. "Salem's wait list for housing vouchers dwindles, but years-long pause on new applications still stands."  (1 November 2021, Salem Reporter).  Vehicle-camping has continued to occur at Wallace Marine, as has enforcement action.  Cascades Gateway remains closed for restoration (restrooms shelters, parking lots, trees and green spaces) and the park will probably not open until Memorial Day or possibly July 4th. Campsites such as the one on Marion Street in the photo at top are again commonplace throughout the City, as are complaints/inquiries about them.  See Barreda, V. "'I got no place to go': Remaining unhoused campers cleared from Portland Road property."  (30 September 2021, Statesman Journal.)  But, the City recently put up a "Homeless Camping Complaint" portal so complaints can be dealt with more efficiently.  The City has also resumed trash collection or "cleanups" at Marion Square Park, the Rite Aid block, and the area around Marion Parkade, and cooperated with ODOT removing trash from five locations off I-5 (Hawthorne near Hyacinth, Portland Road, Fisher Road, Ridge Drive in Keizer, Mill Creek), and 12th Street at Shelton Ditch.  State and federal homeless funds are believed to be covering some if not most of the costs of clean up.    

The City's efforts since July to expand the "Salem Safe Parking Network" (rebranded presumably to make the name match the "Salem Warming Network") to meet need have not been successful, with 130 individuals currently on the wait list.  Similarly, efforts to expand the number of managed camps into every Ward of the City are falling short (so far just the 2 in Ward 6).  (Windows on the West and Wallace Road NW could not be made to work.)  The winter shelter at 2640 Portland Road has reopened (the last season DEQ rules will permit its use for this purpose) (25 mats indoors + pallet structures + vehicle) and there is the new site that opened as planned at 3737 Portland Road (60 mats indoors + 30 pallet structures + vehicles).  The 15-hotel-rooms-for-10-weeks program is operating, and the Project Turnkey hotel program, or the Arches Inn as it is now called, is or soon will be housing wildfire victims.  

Almost all of these folks were homeless before the wildfire, living in the Canyon in cars up forest roads, tenting in someone’s back yard, squatting in abandoned homes and such.  These are generally high needs clients.  We have a very large sum from the State of Oregon (about $3.5 million) just to work with this group, but we are dealing with severe income limitations, criminal histories, substance abuse problems and some level of mental health concerns, beyond the trauma associated with the wildfire itself.  It’s going to take some time.  We’re looking at selectively opening some rooms on the second floor for homeless persons who have serious medical conditions, and have a high risk of dying during the winter season. [Report of MWVCAA Exec. Dir. Oct 2021]

Referring back to the tally publicized last June in the "City Puts 8.1 Million Toward Salem's Sheltering Crisis" announcement, here's how things have turned out as we head into winter:

City's 6/15/21 press release

In addition to what remains of the unspent $8.1M in ARPA funds and the $10.5M grant under HB 2006 for "sheltering", private funds have been raised to purchase 100 additional pallet structures, but the City has been unable to identify any suitable sites for either camps (pallet structure or vehicle) or for indoor shelter.  Gretchen Bennett remains the City's homelessness point person, and since October, residents have been able to view and sign up for her brief weekly updates here.  Her November 8 update was presented to Council as an information report, allowing councilors to ask questions and further publicize the City's homelessness management efforts.  During that portion of the November 8 meeting, Councilor Hoy signaled a willingness to modify (relax) the site requirements given to Bennett (e.g. property is not in use).  Mayor Bennett asked about "sustainability", "how long can we do this" (i.e., pay for programs that manage vs. end homelessness).  Hoy continued to defend, sans evidence, management programs as an "investment", and asserted that such programs were what "the public" wanted.  Bennett (the Mayor) said what the public wanted was for the City to "make it go away."        

November 8, 2021 City Council Meeting

Tonight is the Council's "Policy Agenda" work session.  Hoy is expected to "visualize" the homeless services continuum and Councilor Nordyke has telegraphed she will advocate for some of the $10.5M state grant to revive her zombie CAHOOTS project.  See Tabrizian, A. "County officials point to crisis response services, crisis center as city tables plans for non-police program"  (13 October 2021, Salem Reporter.)  Tabrizian, A. "Salem, United Way halt plans for mental health crisis responder program"  (23 September 2021, Salem Reporter.)  Bennett indicated at the last meeting that he feels the need to "rationalize" to the public the vast sums being spent on homeless management.  See also Mayor Bennett's June 2021 "interview" of Councilor Hoy.  See also Harrell, S. "A managed homeless camp closes at fairgrounds, but provides lessons for social service providers"  (1 April 2021, Salem Reporter.) Will "addressing homelessness through crisis response, homelessness prevention and affordable housing expansion" continue to be the City's No. 1 priority going forward?  Or should the City keep doing what it's doing and call it something else?  Tune in tonight and find out.