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Marion County commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to grant nearly $750,000 to help the Hope Pregnancy Clinic in Salem expand to serve more pregnant women.
The nonprofit expects to start construction in June on expanding one of its buildings and be ready to move in the expanded clinic at 2630 Market St N.E. by July 2026, according to the clinic’s application to the county.
The project is projected to cost about $4.4 million, and fundraising is underway. So far the organization has raised roughly $2.8 million from grants and private donors, the application showed. The organization is also in the process of applying for an M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust worth about $800,000.
County Commissioner Colm Willis brought the motion to his colleagues on Wednesday after hearing about how the Hope Pregnancy Clinic was serving an increasing number of women.
“They (Hope Pregnancy Clinic) are a free medical clinic for pregnant moms in our community, and most of the people they serve are in pretty precarious situations. They do really good work for moms who may not have a stable housing environment, may not have stable relationships in their lives…who may have some struggles with substance abuse,” Willis said.
According to the organization’s executive director the clinic serves about 900 women a year and sees roughly 2,000 visitors, which includes repeat visits.
WIllis once served as the political director for Oregon Right To Life, an anti-abortion nonprofit group that sued the state in 2023 over birth control and abortion insurance mandates.
The Hope Pregnancy Clinic is a crisis pregnancy center which “exists to empower women who are unprepared for pregnancy to make healthy, life affirming decisions, and to introduce them to Jesus,” according to its website.
The clinic provides free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and pre-medical consultations for women who are newly pregnant, and often low income. It does not provide abortions.
Executive Director Mike Reid said the clinic is clear on its stance on abortions, but does not actively dissuade women from seeking abortions and will provide information if requested.
“If they ask us why, our truthful answer is that we don’t think abortion is good for women,” Reid said. “We will ask them then if they want more information about the type of abortion that they would get, depending on how far along they are, and if they are interested in understanding about the risks. If they want us to give them information and say, ‘Yes, I’m interested,’ then we will tell them, and if they say they are not interested, then we move on.”
He said while the organization is faith-based, it leaves the choice to discuss faith up to clients.
“What governs the conversation is what the patients want. Our integrity demands that we be honest with them, that we don’t support abortion, but we really do support the women that come in and we want to help them however we can,” Reid said.
County Commissioner Danielle Bethell said Wednesday that a couple of years ago the county provided funding to increase capacity in the organization’s facility on Market Street.
“It’s fascinating to me in fact, heartening to me, that they have a need to double this facility. This only improves the health of our community,” Bethell said. “I think that facts matter. The data matters. I know that there are folks in our community that struggle with some of the investments that we make, but I believe that there should be a service system on every corner. The pillar of needs that exists, and this is one that has a large gap in it.”
Bethell said she believes the neighborhood the clinic is in is predominantly white, but pointed out that the clinic’s largest demographic is Hispanic women. This statistic was reflected in the organization’s own data which showed in 2023 that 45% of its clients were Hispanic.
“This really expands the access in the service system that we provide. It is a compliment to the work that we provide in health and human services, and their (Hope Pregnancy Clinic) ability to take the dollar further is easier,” Bethell said. “Because they don’t have so many restrictions and costs that are tied to them as a non government entity. They can essentially service more folks with more unique services.”
CORRECTION: The Hope Pregnancy Clinic is currently applying for a grant of about $800,000 from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust but has not been awarded a grant. The Hope Pregnancy Clinic also serves roughly 900 women per year. Salem Reporter apologizes for the errors.
Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.
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Joe Siess is a reporter for Salem Reporter. Joe joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and primarily covers city and county government but loves surprises. Joe previously reported for the Redmond Spokesman, the Bulletin in Bend, Klamath Falls Herald and News and the Malheur Enterprise. He was born in Independence, MO, where the Oregon Trail officially starts, and grew up in the Kansas City area.
