HOMELESSNESS

A look inside Salem’s newest shelter for homeless families

Some of the first residents at Salem’s newest shelter are teddy bears on tiny chairs, action figures and smiling dinosaur bookshelves hosting hundreds of books.

ARCHES Nest will soon welcome homeless infants, children, parents and relatives, offering private rooms and supportive services. The shelter held a grand opening celebration on Jan. 24 to share the inside of the rooms, community spaces and kitchens before the first families arrive in February.

The building at 2933 Center St. N.E. was originally a nursing home before becoming the Tanner Project in November 2020, a transitional shelter for homeless veterans. In 2023, that program was moved to the ARCHES Lodge, a repurposed hotel, which gave veterans private rooms and bathrooms. 

Renovating the building into a family shelter with space for 36 people took $1.8 million from Gov. Tina Kotek’s 2023 emergency order, distributed by the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance. About $200,000 for the remaining project cost came from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, part of a $5 million grant they secured in 2023, according to Ashley Hamilton, deputy executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, which will run the shelter.

Families will have access to food and case management, including mental health resources for the children.

Earlier this month, Salem Reporter toured the building while it was still being decorated and spoke with Sara Webb, Community Action’s program manager. Learn more about the shelter and its programs in the story below.

About 100 people attended the opening celebration, which included remarks from Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, Rep. Kevin Mannix and Salem Mayor Julie Hoy. Mike Savara, special initiatives director for Oregon Housing and Community Services, also spoke.

In her speech, Hamilton said the shelter was named after birds nests, which are often be made with a combination of unlikely materials. She said the shelter will provide the families sanctuary from the challenges of unsheltered homelessness.

“No family should ever have to choose between staying together and staying inside,” Hamilton said.

Ashley Hamilton, deputy executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, speaks at the ribbon-cutting of ARCHES Nest on Jan. 24, 2025. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
A bathroom connects two rooms at The ARCHES Nest, which is set to welcome its first families in February 2025. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
ARCHES is collecting donations for families moving into the new ARCHES Nest family shelter. They’ve posted an Amazon wishlist for shelter donations. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
Smaller rooms at ARCHES Nest, Salem’s newest shelter, have space for a single parent and an infant. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
Several dinosaur bookshelves throughout The ARCHES Nest shelter feature box-sets of kid favorites, like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Nancy Drew.” (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
The ARCHES Nest shelter will be open to families with at least one child under 18. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
The ARCHES Nest shelter features community spaces, multiple play areas and several kitchens for homeless families. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
A toddler attending the opening celebration of The ARCHES Nest quickly settled into a shelter community space playing the show “Bluey.” The space also has video game consoles for the teens who will live there. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)
An outdoor space with games, including a toy axe-throwing set, at The ARCHES Nest, a shelter which will house children, teens and their families. (Abbey McDonald/ Salem Reporter)

Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.

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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.