Unsheltered Salemites report frequent discrimination, annual city survey finds

Every week in Salem, people are discriminated against for being homeless, having a disability, being LGBTQ+ and for their race.

That’s according to this year’s community belonging survey conducted by the city’s Human Rights Commission and Western Oregon University, which surveyed over 800 Salemites about their experiences with discrimination, including slurs, feeling discomfort, intimidation and physical assault.

One third of housed respondents and 91% of unhoused respondents said they’ve personally experienced discrimination in the past…