City considers ways to build more housing and lower rents as part of state initiative

Half of Salem’s renters and a quarter of its homeowners are struggling to make ends meet, spending more than 30% of their income on keeping a roof overhead. 

That’s according to a presentation the Salem City Council and Salem Planning Commission heard during a joint session on Monday, sharing an overview of 18 proposals to make housing more affordable, accessible and to build more of it.

They included offering homeowners help with their down…