One person at a time, new team eases homelessness, crises on Salem’s streets

By MADELEINE MOORE – Salem Reporter

Sitting on an east Salem sidewalk, Nate Okada struck up another conversation with the woman surrounded by scattered food and belongings.

In the past, she told him to “f— off.” On other days, she had been friendly and offered food or helped him find someone else he was looking for.

As part of the REACH Team, Okada has met with the woman more than a dozen times since January,…