Housing & Homeless News

 

 Local Housing & Homeless News 

(Cumulative from Nov 2021 to Nov 2024)

Koumoué, C. "Salem microshelter project showing early signs of success."  (17 November 2021, KGW)

Council approved a grant of up to $26K for 10 storage lockers staff report (6 December 2021)

Woodworth, W. "'Less a hotel and more of a home': Shelter opens at a former Super 8 motel in Salem."  (7 December 2021, Statesman Journal) 

Barreda, V. "Volunteers needed for Salem-area warming shelters as overnight temperatures start to dip."  (10 December 2021, Statesman Journal)

City Manager's 12/13/21 Update (City asking for $562K from state, fed emergency mgmt; for  > $5.2M from Marion County etc, completion Sep 2022;  CDBG)

Van Beusekom, M. "COVID-19 much less likely in homeless house in hotels: study."  (14 December 2021, CIDRAP News.)

Harrell, S. "New Warming shelter opens as snow falls in Salem") (28 December 2021, Salem Reporter.) 

Hutcherson, E. "Domicile Unknown." (30 December 2021, Eugene Weekly.)

Barreda, V. "One year in, Police Chief Trevor Womack talks trust, staffing, data and body cameras."  (2 January 2022, Statesman Journal.)

Harrell, S. "Homeless people could soon be protected class under city law."  11 January 2022, Salem Reporter.) 

Woodworth, W. "Homeless camping grows at Marion Square Park in downtown Salem."  12 January 2022, Statesman Journal.)

Harrell, S. "Help count the number of people experiencing homelessness in Salem area."  20 January 2022, Salem Reporter.)

Woodworth, W. "Salem City Council approves 3 sites to house homeless in micro-shelter villages."  (25 January 2022, Statesman Journal.)

Tabriziam, A. "Street outreach team delivers medical care social services at Salem homeless camps."  (10 February 2022, Salem Reporter.)

Harrell, S. "Salem to evict homeless camp at Marion Square Park Thursday."  1 March 2022, Salem Reporter.)

Tabrizian, A. "Salem area gets federal housing funds for homeless, domestic violence victims."  (31 March 2022, Salem Reporter.)

Tabrizian, A. "Once again, crews clear homeless camp at Wallace Marine Park, residents, dispersed."  (31 March 2022, Salem Reporter.)

Woodworth, W.  "Work begins on new Salem microshelter location despite legal challenges."  (11 May 2022, Statesman Journal.)

Alexander, R. "One year in, about half of Village of Hope residents move on to somewhere better."  (24 May 2022, Salem Reporter.)  

Tabrizian, A. "Annual homeless count shows 15% increase in 2022."  (29 June 2022, Salem Reporter.).

Woodworth, W. "Council approves funds for South Salem microshelter village on Turner Road SE."  (22 August 2022, Statesman Journal.)

Tabrizian, A. "New micro shelter village for young adults to open on SE Turner Road."  (23 August 2022, Salem Reporter.).

Tabrizian, A. "Federal grants could help get dozens of Salemites off the streets."  (23 August 2022, Salem Reporter.). 

Tabrizian, A. "City ending homeless rent assistance program to make way for federal housing money."  (1 September 2022, Salem Reporter.). 

Tabrizian, A. "New city team frequents homeless camps for outreach, cleanup."  (7 September 2022, Salem Reporter.). 

Woodworth, W. "'New Salem team is trying a different response to homeless encampments."  (7 September 2022, Statesman Journal)  

McDonald, A. "Salem's community satisfaction survey shows discontent over homelessness, city services."  (20 November 2022, Statesman Journal.).

Woodworth, W. "Unsanctioned camps cleanup closes sidewalks surrounding Marion Parkade in downtown Salem."  (22 February 2023, Statesman Journal.).  

Lynn, C. "Melisa Blake was discharged from Salem Hospital to the streets.  Hours later, she was dead."  (23 February 2023, Statesman Journal.).

Shumway, J  "Oregon House passes $200 million for housing and homelessness, call it a start." 16 March 2023, Oregon Capital Chronicle.).

McDonald, A.  "Local organizations in line for $10 million for more action on homelessness."  12 April 2023, Salem Reporter.).

Shumway, J. "New state-funded homeless shelter opening in former Salem hotel."  (12 April 2023, Oregon Capital Chronicle.).

McDonald, A. "Yet to open, Salem's homeless navigation center could be out of money by 2025."  19 May 2023, Salem Reporter.).

Sharp, N. "Salem won't be getting state help for key homeless services out of 2023 session."  25 June 2023, Salem Reporter.).

Alexander, R., Sharp N. "'A fighting chance': Salem on track to have 1,000 shelter beds this year."  7 September 2023, Salem Reporter.).

Sharp, N. "A guide to Salem's expanding homeless shelters." (7 September 2023, Salem Reporter.). 

McDonald, A. "Warming Shelters to rely on volunteers to keep people sheltered on freezing nights."  (19 October 2023, Salem Reporter.).

Hart, A. "'Street medicine' providers who care for homeless will get federal dollars under new rules." (19 October 2023, Oregonian.). 

Woodworth, W. "Lack of funds hinders Salem Warming Network for homeless people ahead of forecasted freeze."  (27 October 2023, Statesman Journal.). 

McDonald, A. "Community Action plans to end child homelessness in Salem region with new grant."  (21 November 2023, Salem Reporter.).

McDonald, A. "ARCHES seeks volunteers as weekend temperatures forecasted below freezing."  27 October 2023, Salem Reporter.). 

McDonald, A. "Tenants to start moving into Sequoia Crossings." (30 January 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

McDonald, A. "Salem Needs a cohesive strategy, better data to address homelessness, study finds." ( 21 February 2024, Salem Reporter.).

Poehler, B. "Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency to expand homeless shelter in Woodburn." (5 March 2024, Statesman Journal.).

McDonald, A. "What the Supreme Court's Grants Pass ruling means for Salem" (28 June 2024, Salem Reporter).

Woodworth, W. "Millions in state funding saves three homeless shelter sites." (25 July 2024, Statesman Journal.).

 McDonald, A. "As Salem's homeless services grow quickly, disagreements emerge on overhead spending" (1 August 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

McDonald, A. "Building Salem:  Veterans housing opens in Grant Neighborhood" (9 August 2024, Salem Reporter.).

Woodworth, W. "Salem approves grant for downtown security fence to address homeless camping." (12 August 2024, Statesman Journal.).

McDonald, A. "Salem man loses life attempting Willamette River rescue." (19 August 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

McGuinness, H. "From camping to a dog park:  Cottage Grove evictions expose Oregon's homelessness crisis." (23 August 2024, Eugene Register Guard reprinted in Statesman Journal.). 

McDonald, A. "Simonka Place renovation will add space for 11 homeless women, children." (27 August 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

Crombie, N. "Oregon's drug decriminalization experiment Saturday.  Here's Measure 110's story by the numbers."  (27 August 2024, The Oregonian.).

McDonald, A. "Church at the Park to expand adult micro shelter site." (29 August 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

McDonald, A. "ARCHES hopes new day center fence will help clients feel safer, deter after-hours gatherings." (5 September 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

Woodworth, W. "Why the Marion County Transition Center closed and what's next." (6 September  2024, Statesman Journal.). 

Moore, M. "Salem clinic combines medication and counseling to treat opioid addiction." (10 September 2024, Salem Reporter.).

McDonald, A. "Grace House to add more beds for homeless women." (10 September 2024, Salem Reporter.).  

McDonald, A. "What Salem is doing to fight homelessness." (25 September 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

McDonald, A. "The problems and promise of downtown Salem." (26 September 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

Siess, J. "Here's how Salem-area governments spent their Covid relief money."(3 October 2024, Salem Reporter.).

Lugo, D. "Kotek touts gains made on homelessness as Oregon nears some goals, lags on others." (3 October 2024, Statesman Journal.).  

Tabrizian, A. "Salem police cutting downtown, behavioral health teams."  (9 October 2024, Salem Reporter.). 

Mason, A. "Oregon's new Medicaid rental assistance aims to prevent homeless."  (30 October 2024, Statesman Journal.).  

Changes at the Archive

City contacts for questions or comments about CANDO

At CANDO’s Annual Meeting on October 15, two board members retired and two were reelected to the Board.  No other individuals were nominated.  There were no nominations for office at the regular meeting that followed.  Given the absence of duly elected officers willing and able to shoulder the responsibility for routine administration, the regular meeting of the Board is suspended until further notice.  Contact Irma Coleman, Neighborhood Program Manager at icoleman@cityofsalem.net with questions or to volunteer.

 

Although the CANDO Archive will no longer be supporting the City sponsored neighborhood group, we will continue to post occasionally on subjects and in the manner we have posted on previously.  If you would like to us to post a guest blog, drop us a note with your contact information in the comments.

Sarah Owens and Michael Livingston   

10/15/24 Minutes

 

Individual Members: Deb Comini, Woody Dukes 

City, County and State Representatives:  Councilor Nishioka, Ward 2 City Councilor; Councilor Stapleton, Ward 1 City Councilor; Sgt. Jeff Wiedemann, Salem Police Department Community Action Unit (CAU) 

Guests: Tanny Kunz, Greater Northeast Keizer Neighborhood Association 

Organizations: none  

The annual meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

The agenda and minutes of the September meeting were approved unanimously. 

Sgt Jeff Wiedemann, 503-588-6212, jwiedemann@cityofsalem.net, has taken over leadership of the CAU which will be disbanded at the end of the year.  SPD is working with the Union Pacific Railroad on a cleanup along a section of rail downtown.  

Councilor Nishioka reported several developments such as the welcoming of the new fire department chief and transferring control of the City ambulance service from Falck back to the City, and touched on the continuing interest in better traffic control strategies.  Councilor Stapleton reported on efforts to improve pedestrian safety, consideration of eliminating the railroad quiet zone in response to increased fatalities, and “illicit massage parlors”, among other things.      

In interested citizen comments, Tammy Kunz shared that there will be a safety awareness meeting 5-8 pm on December 10 at Keizer City Hall.

The Chair opened the floor for nominations to the Board of Directors.  There being none,  the Chair moved to re-elect members Jim Griggs and Bryant Baird to the Board by unanimous consent.  There being no objection, Jim and Bryant were re-elected to the board.  The Chair then closed the Annual Meeting, called to order a meeting of the Board, and opened the floor for nomination of officers.  There being none, the Chair called for a motion to direct the City to use up to $150.00 of its communications funds to renew CANDO’s video-conferencing (Zoom) account.  There being none, the Chair called for a motion authorizing the maker to apply for a SPIF grant on behalf of CANDO.  There being none, the Chair moved to readopt last year’s annual goal, i.e., to use $500 of its communication funds to sponsor Northwest Human Services’ Mid-Valley Resources at the Silver level, which passed unanimously.  

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:33 pm.

Come Back Monday

"But, I cain't GIT a housin' assessment!" 

"You say you're single?" 

"Yes ma'am."  

"Veteran?" 

"No ma'am.  Wouldn't take me."  

"Fleeing domestic violence?

"Howzat ma'am?  Fleein' what?"

"How long have you been living outside?"

"Ten year, I reckon.  Cain't take it no more. Gettin' too old."  

"You have a case-worker?"

"I reckon not, ma'am, been livin' up d'canyon, most of it."

"Where are you now?" 

"Woods."  

"You'll need to be assessed."  

"What fer?"

"Housing.  It's how you get on the list when something comes available."

"What list?"

"The prioritized housing list.  It's like a wait list, but it's called an interest list, don't ask me why."

"Yes ma'am." 

"Let me just check...looks like you will need to make an appointment to get assessed at HOAP on Church Street on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 9 and 3, and at Church at the Park on Portland Road on Mondays through Fridays between 11 and 1."

"I ain't too good wid 'ppointmunts.  How 'bout now?"  

"It's after 2.  You'll have to come back Monday, if you can get an appointment."  

"But I ain't got a ride on Monday.  I only got a ride today, n' I cain't drag dis here laig tree mile n' back nohow.  How 'bout you assess me?"

"I'm not certified to do assessments."  

"Cain't you jes' take m'name 'n stick me onter dat list?"

"No, I can't.  You have to be assessed so they know what sort of housing is appropriate.  

"I reckon I'll take enytin' wid a roof."  

"It's not that simple.  You have to be enrolled in something called "coordinated entry."  And they have to know where to find you when your name comes up, which may take some time, depending."

"Dependin' on what?" 

"On your assessment score, and available housing, and whether you've recently been engaged in services."

"Services?  Like church services?"

"No, like going to HOAP or The ARCHES Project to check your mail."  

"But, I don't get no mail.  Nobuddy gets mail no more."

"You still have to check in from time to time, so they can make a note in they system, so they know where you are."

"But I cain't get in town reg'lar.  It's lack I done told you, ma'am, it's hard fer me to git 'round." 

"I'll see if one of the outreach teams can check on you."  

"Thanky, much obliged."  

"But you'll still have to come to town sometime, because the outreach teams don't make a habit of noting contacts in the system."  

"Law.  I reckon they'll note it well enuff when they find me daid."  

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"  

"No ma'am.  I reckon you've give me no morn' I deserve."      

_________________________________________

Alliance Director Elaine Lozier, responding to the charge that Alliance leadership is ill-equipped to confront serious problems of the sort identified in the recent review of Marion and Polk's Coordinated Entry program:

To fulfill our responsibilities well, and in a manner responsive to the needs of our community, the CoC continues in its ever-evolving process to foster true collaboration among its partners and within its governance. This past year, we have focused on deepening relationships with organizations inside and outside the CoC and clearly communicating common goals and priorities by re-visiting our mission and
purpose, creating a vision and designing a 5 year strategic plan. We also agreed upon shared values for how we will go about our work (Collaboration, Stewardship, Inclusion, Compassion, Leadership, Commitment and Adaptability).

                                                                                                    ---Elaine Lozier, 10/11/24