TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Scott Archer, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT:
title
Work session to discuss homelessness in Salem
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe and Healthy Community; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
During the November 20, 2023 City Council Work Session: 2024 City Council Policy Agenda, City Council requested information regarding homelessness. The Council expressed interest in a current understanding of who is experiencing homelessness, what are the key causes, what we are doing together to address issues, and what we are learning. These requests build upon City Council’s interest in a study of the City’s work in homelessness, which was commissioned in August, 2023. A final draft of this report is attached.
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ISSUE:
Informational report regarding homelessness in Salem.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information Only.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. The City engaged Moss Adams LLP (Moss Adams) to perform an evaluation of its homelessness response (performance audit). The purpose of this study is to identify successes and opportunities for improvement within the City’s purview and ability to respond to homelessness-related issues in the community. The study provides information, findings, and recommendations in three primary areas: Planning and Strategy, Ecosystem and Resource Utilization, and Contracts. Please see Attachment Four for a copy of the final draft.
2. Three data sources provide quantitative information: the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) (attached), the Point-in-Time Count (attached), and the Gaps Analysis <chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/mwvhomelessalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/10.2023-Gaps-Analysis-v.3.2-FINAL-1.pdf>. Data is understood to underrepresent the prevalence of unsheltered homelessness. Children, young adults, individual adults, families with children, seniors, and pets are all experiencing homelessness.
3. Key causes of homelessness in Salem are varied, and include housing affordability, permanent supportive housing availability, unsafe home environments for youth, availability of options for people who are medically fragile or in need of care attendants and have a history of being unsheltered, past trauma, historic oppression, struggles coping with disability, behavioral and mental health challenges, and domestic violence. The Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance shares 70% of adults experiencing homelessness in the Marion-Polk region reported experiencing homelessness as a youth. See the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance Gaps Analysis <chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/mwvhomelessalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/10.2023-Gaps-Analysis-v.3.2-FINAL-1.pdf> for a discussion about homeless prevention services, health disorders and disabilities among people experiencing homelessness, and for other related topics.
4. Recognizing this as a regional, collective impact issue, the City works closely with the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance <https://mwvhomelessalliance.org/> and others in the Marion and Polk County region.
5. Emergency shelter bed availability increased, growing from 203 emergency shelter beds in the region in 2021 to 599 emergency shelter beds in the region in 2023, for people aged 18 and older. New emergency shelter beds were not added for unaccompanied minors.
6. City staff work with people experiencing homelessness across the lifespan; a few examples are listed here. The City’s Youth Development Education and Outreach Coordinator works on projects ranging from planning, outreach and public education, systems development, youth advisory board support, and resource coordination such as the 1000 Soles shoe donation project <https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/things-to-do/youth-events-and-activities/collect-shoes-for-salem-youth>. City emergency responders address both acute and chronic issues. City library staff assist with needs of those spending time indoors at library facilities to protect from outside elements. Center 50+ teams work with seniors who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to connect to services, shelter, and the community that the Center can foster. The Planning and Community Development Department addresses emergency needs through the investment of federal and city general fund dollars in grant programs and through code compliance enforcement. Virtually every City department plays a role.
7. The Salem Housing Authority expanded permanent supportive housing units with the addition of Redwood Crossing, Sequoia Crossing and Yaquina Hall.
8. The City of Salem launched the Salem Outreach and Livability Services team, known as SOS. This collaboration includes a full-time staff team that removes debris from city properties, currently averaging 23 tons of trash removal per month. This collaboration works closely with the Homeless Services Team, made up of two sworn officers at Salem Police Department to provide safety, develop relationships and collaborate to assist people experiencing homelessness. The City coordinates through an Internal Homelessness Team, which brings together staff from the Salem Housing Authority and nine City divisions into collaboration.
9. City General Fund, State Sheltering Dollars, and Federal CARES Act funds were leveraged by City Council to expand alternative, low-barrier emergency shelter options in Salem. During the past three years, the City of Salem launched the Safe Park program, the Navigation Center, and three micro-shelter villages. The City invested in other sheltering strategies, including the expansion of the SafeSleep United shelter for women through the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, the Mosaic shelter at Center for Hope and Safety, and the Project Turnkey Arches Inn hotel program with the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency. The City also utilized dollars for hoteling services through a short term grant agreement with Family Promise, and with the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency. The City has been granting funds to the Salem Warming Network with the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, mini grants to Youth Advisory Board development and for emergency resource needs to partners who serve youth experiencing homelessness.
10. Federal Housing and Urban Development funds, and additional City General Fund dollars, were utilized by City Council to invest in emergency assistance, Community Development and Block Grant programs and HOME Investment partnership programs.
BACKGROUND:
Further information regarding the City of Salem and homelessness can be found in the draft Homelessness Study, which will be discussed in the second portion of this evening’s work session.
Gretchen Bennett
Homelessness Liaison
Attachments:
1. Homeless Management Information System Marion and Polk 2023
2. Point in Time Count Salem 2023
3. NW Human Services 2023
4. Homelessness Study Final Draft
5. Church @ the Park 2023
6. MWVCAA Arches 2023