TO: Chair and Housing Authority Commissioners
THROUGH: Steve Powers, Executive Director
FROM: Andy Wilch, Housing Administrator
SUBJECT:
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Partnership with Salem Health to provide medical respite units at 4107 Fisher Road NE Salem
Ward(s): All Wards
Commissioners(s): All Commissioners
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Partnership with Salem Health to provide six units of medical respite care at 4107 Fisher Road NE.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The Salem Housing Authority (SHA) has acquired a 19,336 square foot multi-family building located at 4107 Fisher Road NE as an affordable site for low-income housing. Salem Health has approached SHA regarding including six medical respite units. The opportunity to provide medical respite and 29 affordable single room occupancy (SRO) units for homeless individuals at a building already constructed is unique and mutually beneficial.
The medical respite care is acute and post-acute medical care for homeless individuals who are too ill or frail to recover from a physical illness or injury on the streets but are not ill enough to be hospitalized. These individuals are typically the hospital’s high-end utilizers of services and releasing them with nowhere to recover perpetuates their need for future expensive emergency room visits. Medical respite care is offered at freestanding facilities, homeless shelters, nursing homes, transitional housing developments and Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), such as 4107 Fisher Road.
In addition to the cost savings to the hospital and community, a benefit of this partnership is that many of these individuals are enrolled in the Homeless Rental Assistance Program (HRAP) or would be eligible. SHA will provide HRAP clients with wrap-around services and assistance with permanent housing upon release from respite care, including one of the 29 SRO units if there is a vacancy.
The building was constructed to house senior citizens in 19 suites on three floors. The building is 80% complete, with the second and third floors in roughed-in condition and ready for finish work. The building has six units on the first floor that are close to completion and are the appropriate design for medical respite care. There is a nurse’s station on the first floor that Salem Health can use for onsite staff and basic medical treatment.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
SHA anticipates client occupancy in January 2019. Salem Health and SHA are developing programming, operational, and staffing plans for the facility. Staff will return to the Commission later this year to request approval of a formal agreement between SHA and Salem Health to memorialize the partnership.
Salem Health Foundation will provide $270,000 to SHA for the initial construction of six medical respite units. Salem Health will manage the overall building and common spaces and oversee the medical respite unit operation. Salem Health will provide operating support to SHA for maintenance and common area charges.
The partnership impacts SHA’s LIFT application to Oregon Housing and Community Services. The six medical respite beds are ineligible for LIFT funding, causing a $270,000 gap. Salem Health Foundation’s contribution funds the gap of $45,000 per unit for the six medical respite units.
Andrew Wilch
Administrator
Attachments
1. Salem Health Foundation Award Letter
2. Collaborative Partnership Agreement
3. Memo from Salem Health