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.